Have you started noticing that you have back pain and gas pain at the same time? You might be surprised to learn that back pain can actually be caused by gas! Issues in your digestive system can lead to gas pain that causes cramping and flatulence, along with back pain. Gas pain in the back can be an incredibly uncomfortable experience.
If you are dealing with frequent occurrences of gas pain and back pain, then a back pain chiropractor may be able to help you. There are typically underlying reasons for symptoms like gas, and because the digestive system is located so close to the spine, it can cause pain and discomfort in those areas as well. It helps to identify why you are experiencing gas in order to determine the best ways to relieve both gas pain and back pain.
Reasons Why You May Have Gas
There are many reasons why you might have gas, bloating, cramping, back pain, and other symptoms. Here are a few examples of what can cause excess gas in your daily life.
Swallowing Air
While breathing is obviously a requirement for your body, swallowing air also occurs throughout your day. It is common to swallow a small amount of air when you eat and drink. However, some people swallow more air than others, which can cause excessive gas.
Food Choices
Certain foods can also lead to excessive gas. Carbohydrates like bread, pasta, cereal, and rice can cause an excess of gas. Some fruits also contain more carbohydrates than others, like apples and bananas. Eating and drinking dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt can irritate the stomach and cause gas because it takes longer for the body to digest these types of foods.
Stress & Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can also aggravate your digestive system and even lead to irritable bowel syndrome. One of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is excessive gas or flatulence. When you experience higher levels of anxiety or stress, this can trigger a flare-up of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.
Gastrointestinal Problems
There are many different types of gastrointestinal problems and digestive disorders that can lead to excessive gas. Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease,
Hormonal Shifts
Both men and women have hormones that help send chemical messages through the body and help support certain functions in the body. When your hormone levels shift, it can change how your body typically functions. A woman’s menstrual cycle is a common example of how hormonal changes can cause gas and other gut issues.
Pregnancy
As the uterus grows during a woman’s pregnancy, it can put pressure on the nearby organs like those that make up the digestive system. Gas and other gut issues can occur with pregnancy, and it is also common to experience back pain due to the stress and strain of pregnancy.
How to Relieve Excess Gas
The good news is that there are several ways to relieve excess gas through a variety of at-home methods and with your doctor. Here are five ways to relieve excess gas so you can experience relief from gas pain.
Adjust Your Diet
If you tend to eat a diet high in carbohydrates and fats, then you may want to adjust your diet. Certain foods can aggravate your digestive system and cause you to experience excess gas. You may also try eating smaller meals more frequently throughout your day to help reduce the amount of food your digestive system is processing each time.
Drink Water
Staying hydrated throughout your day will help keep your digestive system moving effectively. Drink plenty of water each day while also being mindful of how you drink. When you drink too fast, it can increase the amount of air that you swallow. When you drink water slowly throughout the day, it can help reduce the amount of air that enters your system and keep you from experiencing too much burping and gas.
Track Your Food
You can also keep track of the food you eat to help identify what may be causing your gas pain. A food journal or diary will help you note what foods and drinks you have recently had when you start experiencing symptoms. This can help you find out if there are certain foods you should avoid because they cause excessive gas pain.
Take Probiotics
Your digestive system has a combination of healthy bacteria that helps with the process of breaking down the food that goes into your stomach. These healthy bacteria also help break down gas that can build up inside your digestive tract. Probiotics are a type of dietary supplement with these good bacteria and can help ensure you have a healthy amount of bacteria in your digestive tract.
Exercise Often
Exercising and engaging in activities that get your heart rate up will help jumpstart and support your digestive system. You may also try taking a slow walk after meals to help aid in the digestive process.
Chiropractic Care for Gas Causing Back Pain
You might be surprised to learn that poor posture can also make gas pain worse. When your spine is out of alignment, it can impact the brain’s ability to effectively communicate with the rest of your body. This can include disrupting signals that your brain sends to help trigger the digestive response. Chiropractic treatment can help you to improve your posture through gentle and safe techniques like spinal adjustments to help realign your spine. This can improve overall functioning in your body and reduce your experience of frequent gas.
A back pain chiropractor can also help alleviate back pain associated with gas pain and walk you through stretches and exercises to help strengthen and stabilize your back muscles to better support your spine. Learn more about how our back pain chiropractors at Affordable Chiropractic Killeen can help you manage your gut issues along with back pain.
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