Maybe because of menopause? Under the supervision of a doctor, detailed explanations are provided on the causes and possible diseases of the stomach and intestines, such as stomach bloating, gas accumulation, painful bloating, and worrying about rumbling. We will also introduce self-care and elimination methods that you can do at home to aim for a clean stomach.
Table of contents
- Bloating and gas are common symptoms of menopause.
- Causes of bloating and gas accumulation (abdominal bloating)
- Illnesses that can occur when you feel bloated
- Relief and prevention of menopausal bloating
- Eliminate menopausal stomach tension and feel refreshed!
Bloating and gas are common symptoms of menopause.
Bloating, bloating, stomach pain, and gas are common symptoms in menopausal women.
Menopause is defined as the 10 years before and after menopause, i.e. between the ages of 45 and 55. During this period, the balance of female hormones changes rapidly, which can make your stomach more prone to bloating.
Bloating is caused by an imbalance between gas production in the digestive tract and excretion through breathing and farting, resulting in excessive gas buildup.
When gas builds up, you may not be able to eat delicious meals due to the discomfort caused by bloated stomach, you may not be able to dress well with pants style or tight clothes, and you may be worried about your bloated stomach.
Also, your stomach may suddenly growl in a quiet place or at a quiet time, which leads to stress.
Causes of bloating and gas accumulation (abdominal bloating)
Bloating can be caused by a number of factors, including menopausal symptoms.
From here, we will introduce the causes of stomach bloating and gas accumulation (abdominal bloating).
Menopausal stress, coldness, and decreased gastrointestinal function
During menopause, the amount of estrogen (female hormone) secreted so far decreases sharply, and the hormone balance changes drastically.
As a result, the balance of the autonomic nerves is disturbed, the function of the gastrointestinal tract decreases, and gas tends to accumulate. One of the reasons is that the function of the intestines declines with age.
In addition to bloating, if you feel hot flashes, hot flashes, and sweating even though it’s not hot, menopause may be the cause.
imbalance of intestinal flora
The “flora” of intestinal flora is a flower garden, and it is called the intestinal flora because more than 1000 types of bacteria living in the intestines spread like a flower garden.
When the balance of the intestinal flora is disturbed due to an increase in bad bacteria, gas tends to accumulate and the stomach feels bloated.
Irregular eating habits, unbalanced diets, and unbalanced lifestyle habits lead to an imbalance in the intestinal flora.
Due to symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) refers to physical and mental symptoms that occur between 3 and 10 days before menstruation. Bloating before your period is one of the symptoms of PMS.
Progesterone increases before menstruation, but progesterone has the effect of suppressing intestinal peristalsis, so gas accumulation and constipation are likely to occur.
PMS symptoms usually subside when menstruation begins.
constipation
Nutrients in food are digested and absorbed in the digestive tract, and finally excreted from the body as feces. Gas is produced from digested food, but when stool remains in the intestine due to constipation, a lot of gas accumulates and leads to bloating.
holding the toilet
If you continue to put up with the urge to have a bowel movement or fart while on the go, stool and gas will remain in your stomach. It also puts a strain on the intestines, making it difficult to move and gas.
Illnesses that can occur when you feel bloated
Stomach bloating and gas are common symptoms of menopause, but other hospitals may be the cause.
From here, we will introduce the diseases that can be considered when you are hungry.
Anorexia (air swallowing)
Aerophagia, also called aerophagia, is a disorder in which a person swallows too much air while eating food or swallows air due to nervousness.
Unconsciously swallowing a lot of air causes symptoms such as bloating, uncontrollable burping, and uncontrollable farts.
Normally, the air swallowed while eating and drinking is expelled by farting or burping, but if the amount of swallowing is too large, the air cannot be expelled and the air accumulates in the stomach and large intestine.
It is a disease that is commonly seen in people who eat fast, who drink a lot of carbonated drinks, and who are nervous.
irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition in which the intestines become hypersensitive due to factors such as stress and autonomic imbalance, resulting in symptoms such as chronic abdominal swelling, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.
People may suddenly feel the urge to defecate while commuting or while talking, which leads to a decrease in quality of life (QOL).
Gynecological disease
As diseases such as uterine fibroids, uterine cancer, and ovarian cysts progress, they can spread to the nearby large intestine, impairing motility and putting pressure on it, leading to bloating and constipation.
other diseases
In addition, bloating can be caused by acute gastritis, intestinal obstruction, liver or gallbladder disease, and colon cancer.
Relief and prevention of menopausal bloating
From here, we will introduce self-care methods and preventive methods to relieve stomach tension during menopause.
don’t stay in the same position
If you stay in the same position for a long time, your peristaltic movement will be weaker because your intestines will not be stimulated, and you will be more likely to accumulate gas.
For people who often sit for desk work, twisting their waist and back while sitting in a chair, stretching their body, and occasionally standing up and moving their limbs can stimulate their intestines.
Review what you eat and how you eat it
People who eat without chewing well or who eat quickly tend to swallow excess air along with their meals, making them more likely to feel bloated and gas. Eat slowly, remembering to chew each mouthful 30 times.
Also, it is important to eat breakfast every morning because eating breakfast can turn on the switch to wake up your body. To improve digestion, it’s a good idea to eat hot food instead of cold food.
Below are some recommended ingredients for breakfast.
- Soy
Rich in isoflavones that act like female hormones. If isoflavones are converted to equol by intestinal bacteria, it can be expected to act like a female hormone. - Koya-dofu
Rich in resistant protein, it has the effect of promoting the excretion of waste products and suppressing the rise of blood sugar levels. - Tomatoes
contain lycopene, which is said to have 100 times more antioxidant activity than vitamin E. Ripe tomatoes contain a large amount of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is made from glutamic acid, and have effects such as preventing digestion and relieving stress. - Broccoli
Broccoli is rich in sulforaphane, which increases the activity of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. - Mushrooms
Rich in dietary fiber that is not digested and absorbed in the digestive tract and is decomposed by the action of intestinal bacteria, helping to increase beneficial bacteria
A high-fat or high-protein diet feeds the bad bacteria that cause gas.
In addition, dietary fiber is effective in preventing constipation and intestinal regulation if taken in moderation, but if taken in excess, it becomes food for bad bacteria, so be careful not to take too much. In particular, if you take too much insoluble fiber, which is found in beans and potatoes, your stools will become bulky, which can lead to bloating.
If you’re worried about your stomach bloating, it’s recommended to incorporate low-fat, nutritious ingredients.
Find ways to de-stress and relax
Tension, mental pressure, and stress make it easier for gas to build up in your stomach. Find stress relief and relaxation methods that work for you and get rid of stress well.
Even simple things like closing your eyes and taking slow, deep breaths when you’re feeling stressed can help.
moderate exercise
When your stomach becomes weak, gas tends to build up in your stomach. Insufficient exercise will result in insufficient stimulation of the intestines, so let’s incorporate moderate exercise.
Exercise improves blood flow throughout the abdomen and improves bowel movements.
For those who do not have a habit of exercising, it is recommended to start with walking , which is easy to do. Rather than walking for a long time or walking a long distance, first of all, be aware of continuing and incorporate exercise into your life at your own pace.
Massage
“Intestine massage”, which improves movement by rubbing and stimulating the intestines, is also effective for stomach bloating and gas accumulation.
Poor colonic motility can lead to constipation and gas. Here, we will introduce “colon fir tree”. In addition, let’s avoid bowel massage within 1 hour after eating and when you are not feeling well.
- Place both hands on top of each other and slowly push in the order of 1 to 5 while exhaling.
- For the last 5, press firmly in a circular motion.
Degassing Pose (Yoga Pose)
Gas-releasing poses (yoga poses) are recommended for stomach problems such as bloating, gas, and constipation. It is also recommended for people who often stay in the same posture for a long time.
- Lie on your back and hold both knees
- Using your arms, exhale and draw your knees to your chest to lift your torso. Press your thighs into your lower abdomen and lift your buttocks for five breaths. This allows the gas to escape naturally.
- Return to the starting position, inhale and repeat the movement
pressure points
When you are worried about your stomach, we also recommend pressing points.
Three finger-widths outside the navel and on both sides of the navel, the pressure points called Tensu are good for bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, chronic gastritis, nausea, lumbago, fatigue, and gynecological diseases. It works.
The red dot in the image is the location of the zenith. Use your index finger, middle finger, and ring finger to stimulate in a circular motion.
herbal medicines and over-the-counter medicines
Stomach bloating and gas such as Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s “Gaspitan”, Taiko Pharmaceutical’s “Rappa Intestinal Medicine BF”, Daiichi Sankyo’s “Daiichi Sankyo Ichoyaku Plus”, Ohta’s Isan’s “Ohta’s Isan Intestinal Tablets” There are over-the-counter medicines that can help with stuffiness and indigestion.
Also, if you want to fundamentally improve your constitution, it is recommended to take Chinese herbal medicine. Kampo medicine aims for ideal health by balancing the mind and body with the medicinal effects of herbal medicines.
For stomach bloating and gas, choose herbal medicines that restore gastrointestinal motility. In addition, by improving the blood flow, we will deliver nutrients throughout the body and improve the function of warming the body, and various other approaches will fundamentally improve the symptoms.
In addition, Kampo medicine, which uses the blessings of nature, is characterized by a low risk of side effects, unlike chemically synthesized Western medicine. In recent years, natural herbal medicines have been attracting attention again, and are now being used by people of all ages.
Recommended herbal medicine for menopausal bloating and gas
・Daikenchuto
It is effective in improving coldness and abdominal pain.
It is recommended for people who have low physical strength. It warms the stomach and improves gastrointestinal function, relieving abdominal pain and bloating.
・Keishikashakuyakuto (Keishikashakuyakuto)
This herbal medicine is suitable for people who have weak stomach, feel bloated, and are prone to recurring abdominal pain and diarrhea.
By warming the body and relieving intestinal spasms, it can be expected to reduce stomach pain. An online service called “ Anshin Kampo
” is attracting attention as a Kampo that can be practiced at home . With the motto of personal herbal medicine that matches your symptoms and constitution, we will deliver herbal medicine at a reasonable price.
If it does not get better, do not leave it and go to the hospital
If the feeling of bloating gets worse or pain comes out, don’t assume that it’s menopause. Getting treatment is important.
It may be a sign of some disease, so if you suddenly feel swollen and swollen, or if you have severe abdominal pain or difficulty breathing, see a doctor immediately.
Eliminate menopausal stomach tension and feel refreshed!
Bloating and gas are common symptoms of menopause. Self-care can be done by improving your eating habits, exercising, massage, and pressing points, so let’s start with something you can easily do.
However, if it does not get better or if it gets worse, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Let’s spend every day comfortably by refreshing the painful stomach tension.
