Gas and gas pains - Flatulence

Intestinal gas can strike at the worst possible moment - during an important meeting, on a crowded elevator or on a first date. And although passing intestinal gas (flatus) usually isn't serious, it can be seriously embarrassing.
The fact is that everyone passes gas - a combination of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane - at least 12 or more times a day. But some people have excessive gas that bothers them most of the time. In some cases, gas you can't expel or that accompanies irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, celiac disease or stomach flu (gastroenteritis) can cause intense, intermittent pain.

• Celiac disease
• flu
• Gastroenteritis
• IBS
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance
• Stomach flu
  

The good news is that although you can't stop gas from forming, a few simple measures can go a long way toward reducing the amount of gas you produce and relieving your discomfort and embarrassment.