Bloating

Everyone suffers from flatulence from time to time. However, particularly severe, painful, or frequent accumulations of gas in the intestines can indicate serious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. In these cases, medical treatment is essential for your long-term health. At avi Medical, we support you at all our locations.

Flatulence is present when additional accompanying symptoms arise alongside regular passage of gas. These include a reduced bowel frequency (fewer than three times a week), a sensation of bloating, or abdominal pain.

The triggers of primary flatulence include:

• a disrupted interaction of the pelvic floor musculature
• abnormalities of the intestinal musculature
• conditions of the so-called enteric nervous system (the gut's own nervous system, which operates involuntarily and independently of the central nervous system)
• irritable bowel syndrome

Triggers of secondary flatulence include:

• an unhealthy diet (such as insufficient fluid and/or fibre intake)
• medications (particularly opioids, antispasmodics, neuroleptics, and antidepressants)
• toxic substances such as recreational drugs
• physical inactivity
• conditions such as hypothyroidism, neurological disorders, diabetes, rheumatic disease, and food intolerances
• narrowing of the intestine, up to and including bowel obstruction
• psychological stress

The typical symptoms of flatulence include:

• passing wind
• reduced bowel frequency
• hard stool consistency
• a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying
• a sensation of bloating
• abdominal pain

Our experienced doctors will support you at every stage of your treatment. This begins with diagnostics, which encompasses:

• taking a medical history including physical examination
• sonography (ultrasound)
• laboratory testing where necessary to exclude serious underlying conditions

This is followed by stepwise therapy, which includes:

• dietary optimisation (high-fibre diet with adequate fluid intake)
• physical activity
• support of digestion with bulking agents (e.g. psyllium husk and linseed)

Depending on the cause of the flatulence, the following may also be added:

• pelvic floor training via biofeedback
• medications in the form of laxatives (as tablets, powder, or suppositories)
• complementary medicine approaches such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), probiotics, or massage