Everyone passes gas, and passing gas at night is normal. However, if a person experiences other symptoms at the same time, it could signal the presence of an underlying digestive issue.
Having gas in the digestive system is a normal part of the digestion process. The body gets rid of any excess gas by burping or through flatulence.
A person may experience pain if gas does not continuously move through the system or if it becomes trapped.
An increase in gas or pain can occur from eating foods with a higher chance of producing gas. In this case, making certain dietary changes may alleviate gas. Certain digestive disorders can also cause excess gas and discomfort.
This article will examine the potential causes of gas at night. It will also look at some treatment options and prevention tips for excess gas.
Having gas is normal. In fact, most people expel around 600700 milliliters of gas daily and pass gas around 14 times every day.
Even if people think that they burp or have flatulence too frequently, medically passing too much gas on a regular basis is uncommon.
People may experience gas at night due to eating close to bedtime. Specifically, lying down very soon after eating may cause indigestion, which can produce gas.
Also, eating a large meal can trigger some conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). If a person eats their largest meal at the end of the day, they may experience gas at night.
Some people may also be more aware of their bodies when they have stopped their daytime activities and are relaxing at night. This may cause them to notice more gas.
People may be able to reduce gas at night by making certain changes to their dietary habits.
If a person has excessive gas at night and other symptoms are also present, there could be an underlying gastrointestinal issue.
There are several potential causes of gas at night. The following sections will look at these in more detail.
Many foods and beverages can cause gas, including:
Some people may have fructose intolerance, which means that they may experience gas, bloating, or diarrhea after eating substances containing fructose.
People may find it helpful to keep a food diary to see if any specific items cause excess gas. This can help them determine the amount of gas-producing foods or beverages that they can tolerate.
Avoiding or reducing the intake of certain foods or beverages may help reduce gas.
Swallowing air can also cause gas. People may swallow air by:
Most of the time, the body will release the majority of swallowed air through burping, and the remaining gas will pass through the intestines and out through the rectum.
IBS is a gastrointestinal condition that affects the large and small intestines.
Although there is no exact cause of IBS, some factors that may play a role in its development include:
IBS can cause other symptoms alongside gas, such as:
People can usually manage IBS symptoms by making certain dietary changes. These include:
The bodies of people with lactose intolerance cannot break down lactose, which is the natural sugar in dairy products.
People with lactose intolerance may experience the following symptoms after eating or drinking milk products:
A healthcare professional may carry out a breath test to diagnose lactose intolerance. The body produces certain gases, which a breath test can detect, if it is unable to digest lactose.
Avoiding or limiting the intake of products containing lactose can help people manage their symptoms.
Lactose-containing products include dairy, such as cheese, yogurt, and butter, as well as some processed and baked goods. Some medications may also contain lactose.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that causes damage to the small intestine when a person with it eats gluten.
Digestive issues are more common in children than in adults. Symptoms in children may include:
Symptoms in adults may include:
A healthcare professional may use an endoscope to take a tissue sample from a persons intestines to test for celiac disease. If they detect and diagnose celiac disease, the person will need to follow a gluten-free diet.
Some people may be sensitive to gluten, sulfur, or other substances in foods and beverages, and this can cause digestive issues.
These people may need to work with a healthcare professional to follow an elimination diet. An elimination diet can help identify specific foods or beverages that cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as gas and bloating.
People will usually follow an elimination diet for 48 weeks. During this time, they will eliminate the substance that they suspect is causing problems to see if their symptoms improve. They can then gradually reintroduce the substance to see how much of it their body can tolerate.
Gas can sometimes be a side effect of certain medications. These include:
If a person thinks that a medication is causing their gas, they can talk with a healthcare professional about alternative options.
To help prevent gas, people can try avoiding or limiting the following foods and beverages:
If a person finds that high fiber foods are causing their gas, they may wish to limit their intake for a few weeks before gradually increasing it again.
Some other things to try to prevent gas include:
If a person has a particular condition, such as IBS or a food sensitivity, avoiding trigger foods and working alongside a healthcare professional can help reduce or prevent gas.
Gas at night may affect a persons sleep quality. Gastrointestinal conditions may lead to sleep conditions, which can impact health and worsen gastrointestinal symptoms.
A person should seek treatment for any health condition they suspect because, without treatment, these can reduce quality of life and lead to complications.
A person should contact a doctor if other symptoms, such as the following, accompany gas at night:
A person should also seek advice from a healthcare professional if home remedies or dietary changes are not effective at relieving their symptoms.
Gas at night may occur for many reasons and could be a normal part of the digestive process. Eating a large meal before bedtime or consuming certain foods and beverages could trigger excess gas.
If a person has gas at night alongside other symptoms, a healthcare professional can check for underlying conditions.
People can reduce excess gas by making certain dietary changes. If a person has a medical condition that causes gas, treating the condition may reduce their symptoms and discomfort.
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Gas at night: Causes, treatment, and prevention - Medical News Today
