Stomach bloating immediately after eating, gas in the chest, severe heartburn and shortness of breath, and chronic heartburn are major health problems that bother most people today. This happens when there is excessive accumulation of air in our digestive system or stomach acid rises up. Scientifically, this is called bloating or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind gastralgia:
Aerophagia: This is a condition in which we swallow air into the stomach without realizing it. Eating too quickly, not chewing food properly, eating while talking, drinking water through a straw, and chewing gum cause large amounts of air to enter the body. This air is trapped in the digestive tract, which causes gas.
Gut Dysbiosis: There are billions of good bacteria in the gut (Gut Microbiome) that help in digestion in our large intestine. When these bacteria break down the fibers in the food we eat, a small amount of gas is naturally produced. However, when good bacteria decrease and bad bacteria increase due to excessive use of antibiotics or poor diet, food waste starts to rot in the intestines and large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane gases are produced.
LES Weakness & Acid Reflux: There is a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) at the point where our esophagus (food pipe) and stomach connect. This valve should close once the food reaches the stomach. However, when this valve becomes weak due to tea, coffee, smoking, and alcohol, the strong hydrochloric acid and gas in the stomach rush upward, causing severe heartburn and belching.
Foods that are difficult to digest and carbonated drinks: Certain foods produce more gas during the digestive process. Some carbohydrates contained in nuts, peas, beans, tubers (potatoes, yams), cabbage, and broccoli take time to digest. Also, when you drink carbonated beverages like soda water, colas, and beer, the carbon dioxide contained in them directly reaches the stomach and causes severe gas problems.
Chronic Constipation and Slow Digestion: When bowel movements do not occur properly, food waste accumulates in the large intestine for a long time. When intestinal motility is slow, bacteria will act more on these waste products and produce gas continuously, causing the stomach to always feel bloated like a stone.
