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It's not exactly a favorite topic at cocktail parties, but everyone has experienced a problem with gas many times throughout their life. Although gas, or flatulence, is pretty common and most people know it can be caused by eating certain foods or drinking certain liquids, there are some things about it that are not generally understood by the public.

Gas Bloat Syndrome

Gas bloat syndrome is actually a medical condition, often resulting from a surgical procedure, that's frequently accompanied by flatulence.

It's natural for gas and air to build up in the stomach. It can be caused by a condition called aerophagia which occurs when air enters through the mouth. When this gas and air moves up the esophagus it is expelled through a process known as belching. Gas bloat syndrome is caused when gas that is built up in your stomach can't escape through belching. This gas trapped in your stomach will make you feel full and bloated.

This condition usually occurs when a person has a surgery called Nissen's Fundoplication. There are millions of people that suffer from acid reflux disease and many of them choose to have this type of surgery to relieve their symptoms. Acid reflux is also known as heartburn or GERD and it can completely disrupt your life. It's caused when the acid in your stomach travels up the esophagus. Nissen's Fundoplication will prevent this from happening and relieve the pain and discomfort.

Understanding Nissen's Fundoplication

To understand how this type of surgery can cause gas bloat syndrome you need to have an idea of how it works. This surgery is an elective procedure that involves narrowing the junction between the stomach and the beginning of the esophagus by wrapping stomach tissue around the opening. This prevents the acid from escaping the stomach but it also can prevent the gas from traveling up the esophagus and out the mouth. This causes cramps and a bloated feeling.

Since the gas can no longer escape that way, it will move down the digestive tract. This causes flatulence. Even though about twenty-five to fifty percent of the people who have this surgery will suffer from gas bloat syndrome it will normally go away after three to four weeks. Therefore, it's not considered to be very serious.

What Causes Flatulence?

There are different types of gas located throughout the body and flatulence occurs in the digestive tract, even though it technically begins in the stomach. The stomach and small intestine can't break down certain foods, we eat: usually foods that contain polysaccharides and sugars. These foods simply pass through the small intestine and stomach without being digested.

The next stop is the large intestine and the colon. Since these foods have not been property digested, bacteria sets in and this combination creates gas. As a result, hydrogen and methane are produced and these are released as vapors that contain hydrogen sulfide and partially the odor of flatulence.

Gas bloat syndrome and flatulence can be uncomfortable and even sometimes embarrassing but they don't normally cause any serious threats to overall health and well being.