Aerophagia is an accumulation of air in the digestive system that leads to abdominal bloating and tension . It can be caused by frequent ingestion of large amounts of air.
What diseases can be associated with aerophagia?
The pathologies that can be associated with aerophagia are the following:
- Hiatal hernia
- Gastritis
- Pancreatitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Ovarian cancer
- Peptic ulcer
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and that it is always best to consult your doctor if symptoms persist.
What are the remedies for aerophagia?
The remedies against aerophagia are determined by the symptoms that can be chronic and stable or acute and serious episodes that can endanger your health.
In the first case, more frequent, it is recommended to limit the consumption of carbonated drinks and to eat slowly. It may also be useful to take medicines that prevent the formation of gas in the intestine. Finally, in some cases exercises to reduce the ingestion of air may be useful.
Acute and serious episodes are more frequent in people with mental disabilities and the disorder is treated with the intake of sedatives to reduce the ingestion of air or with the use of a nasogastric tube.
With aerophagia when should you contact your doctor?
Since no controlled studies have been conducted on remedies against aerophagia, the advice of a doctor can be useful to find the most suitable solution. The intervention of a specialist is also essential in the case of patients with mental disabilities who present acute episodes of severe aerophagia that also lead to breathing difficulties.
