Wellness Digestive Health What Can You Do To Relieve Gas? By Francisco J. Rivera Rosario Francisco J. Rivera Rosario Francisco J. Rivera Rosario is a science communications editor experienced in developing all types of science content including, scientific journal articles, infographics, medical educational videos, medication FAQ documents, and more. health's editorial guidelines Published on October 16, 2023 Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is a board-certified gastroenterologist who serves as vice chair of Ambulatory Services at Lower Manhattan Hospital and professor of medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College. learn more Close RealPeopleGroup / Getty Images Having gas is a common part of daily life. Most people pass gas through the anus or mouth 13 to 21 times a day and some even experience gas symptoms that are bothersome of even painful. Luckily, there are numerous proven ways to relieve your gas symptoms. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, avoiding certain foods, and eating slower are just some of the things you can do to help reduce the amount of gas you have. Gas is normally caused by two main reasons: swallowing air when eating or drinking, and as a byproduct of natural digestive processes happening in your body. Bacteria in your large intestine are responsible for breaking down any undigested carbohydrates that were not digested in the stomach. Gas is produced as a result of this process. The gas in your digestive tract is made up of oxygen and other gasses produced during digestion, like sulfur. Some health conditions like lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and celiac disease can cause a person to have more gas than usual. Symptoms of Gas Gas symptoms can vary from person to person and will depend on your current diet and any medical conditions you might have at the time. The common symptoms of gas are: Belching or burping: Passing gas from the stomach through the mouth. People can belch approximately 30 times a day. Flatulence: Passing gas through the anus. Flatulence can happen up to 14 times a day. The bad odor that comes with flatulence is caused by sulfur which can be a byproduct of the natural digestive process. Bloating: Feeling full or swelling in your abdomen Pain: Accumulation of gas or trapped gas in your digestive tract can sometimes cause pain. Depending on where the gas is trapped, this pain can be felt in the stomach or chest area. Natural Remedies for Gas Natural remedies for gas are relief strategies that do not include medications or dietary changes. A natural remedy that works for one person might nor work for another. These remedies should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Light Exercise or Physical Activity After Eating A 2021 study revealed that performing a 10-15 minute walk after a meal can improve gas symptoms. Subjects who walked after meals showed improvements in belching, flatulence, and bloating versus the control group. For the light post-meal walk subjects walked for about 1000 steps, with their hands clasped together behind their back. These results suggest that physical activity could be effective in helping relieve and/or prevent gas symptoms. Additionally, yoga has shown to help improve symptoms of IBS, which can cause excess gas symptoms. Why Do I Fart When I Walk? Abdominal Massaging Some studies suggest that abdominal massaging can help relieve symptoms of digestive conditions that contribute to gas symptoms. The “I LOV U” massage technique which includes massaging the abdomen in a way that spells the letters “I”, “L”, “U”, and “O” has been found to help gas release and reduce constipation. Hot Compresses Applying a hot compress to your abdomen can help promote bowel movement, gas release, and defecation. Kitchen Remedies Some common kitchen remedies include adding more herbs or spices like dill, ginger, parsley and coriander. Others include certain types of teas like ginger or chamomile tea. It is important to note that most of these are anecdotal remedies that might not work for everyone. Discuss with your healthcare provider before implementing any of these in your diet as gas remedies. Best and Worst Foods for Bloating Over-the-Counter Treatment for Gas There are many OTC medicines that can help you reduce and get immediate relief of gas symptoms. Some of the medication treatments include: Simethicone This is a medicine that causes gas bubbles in your stomach which helps you belch or burp gas more easily. Common examples of simethicone medicines are Alka-Seltzer, Gas X and Gas-Aide. Simethicone comes as capsules, regular tables, and liquid form. It is recommended to be taken four times a day after meals and right before bed. Simethicone is not useful to treat intestinal gas. Enzyme Lactase Enzyme lactase helps breakdown lactose during digestion. People with lactose intolerance produce low levels of the lactase. Not being able to break down lactose can cause gas symptoms. Taking enzyme lactase medicines like Dairy Ease and Lactaid can help people avoid these symptoms. Enzyme lactase often comes in liquid form and tablet form. You should take this medicine just before you consume foods that contain milk or foods that have added lactose like pancakes, cookies and cakes. Alpha-Galactosidase Alpha-galactosidase is an enzyme that digests sugars that can be found in beans and vegetables which can cause gas. Taking alpha-galactosidase medications like Beano and BeanAssist can help break down these sugars and gas relieve symptoms. These medicines can come in tablet or liquid form. Alpha-galactosidase medicines are not recommended for people with galactosemia, a condition that prevents a person from digesting the sugar galactose. Consult with your health care provider prior to using alpha-galactosidase medicine. How to Prevent Gas Taking preventative measures can help you reduce the excess gas symptoms and help relieve any pain you might be feeling in your chest or stomach. Swallow Less Air One of the main ways that you can prevent or reduce your gas symptoms is swallowing less air. We swallow air daily when eating and drinking. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, some ways to reduce swallowing air are: Avoiding chewing gum or sucking on candy Avoiding fizzy and/or carbonated drinks (i.e., seltzers, sodas, beer, energy drinks etc.) Avoid speaking while eating Eating more slowly Avoiding eating while standing or walking Quitting smoking If wearing dentures, make sure your dentures fit your mouth correctly Dietary Changes If you are struggling with gas symptoms, your healthcare provider might suggest for you to make slight changes to your eating and drinking habits. Because gas usually comes from the breakdown of carbohydrates in the large intestine, diet has a major impact on the amount of gas a person can have in their digestive tract. Some foods that have carbohydrates that can cause excess gas are: Cruciferous vegetables which include broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale Legumes like beans peas and lentils Fruits, including peaches, pears, apples and fruit juices Whole grains and high fiber foods If you are lactose intolerant, foods that contain lactose like milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt If you have celiac disease, foods that contain gluten like, pasta, bread, cereal, and granola Food that is high in fat like fried foods, beef, pork and foods that require a lot of butter during preparation It is important to note that gas symptoms caused by eating these foods will vary from person to person. One person might have more symptoms when eating cruciferous vegetables, while others might experience more symptoms after eating highly fatty foods. You should make sure to discuss with your healthcare provider prior to making any dietary changes. You might be referred to a registered dietitian to help you come up with a plan to implement these changes to your diet. When to Contact a Healthcare Provider While gas symptoms are a part of everyday life, there are situations when gas symptoms might require a visit to your healthcare provider. Changes in your gas symptoms could mean you have a more serious medical condition like lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, reflux diseases and many others. You should reach out to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of the following along with gas symptoms: Severe pain Abdominal pain Constipation or diarrhea Weight loss Heartburn Blood in your stool Gas symptoms that change suddenly ( for example a sudden increase in the amount of burping or flatulence you experience daily) You should also contact your healthcare provider prior to using any supplements or medications to treat your gas symptoms. A Quick Review Having gas is a normal part of the body’s digestive process. However, at times gas can cause symptoms like belching, flatulence, bloating, and pain symptoms that can be uncomfortable to deal with on a day to day basis. To get rid of these symptoms you can try natural remedies like exercising or hot compresses, or OTC medicines. Additionally, small changes in your diet can also go a long way in managing the amount of gas you have in your digestive tract which will help relieve symptoms. If you experience sudden changes in the amount of gas you are experiencing, reach out to your healthcare provider. Sometimes these changes might be indicative of more serious health conditions like lactose intolerance, celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 15 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Gas. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment for gas in the digestive tract. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of gas in the digestive tract. American College of Gastroenterology. Belching, bloating, and flatulence. Hosseini-Asl MK, Taherifard E, Mousavi MR. 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