Shirley Webber - Research Dietitian, 02 August 2016
Abdominal Pain and Bloating
This week we are highlighting some strategies to manage
abdominal pain and bloating that generally occur due to a build up of gas in
the intestinal tract. These are the most common IBS symptoms.
Often a heat pack placed on
the area of pain can help to loosen up the muscles and alleviate some of the pain
and discomfort with cramping. A heat pack also allows more blood to flow to the
area where the heat is placed and can assist in relieving the cramping.
Over the counter medication
such as Buscopan or Mintec may help with managing symptoms. Ask your pharmacist
what they would recommend.
Stretch it out – sometimes
a bit of Pilates or yoga stretching can help with relieving some of the gas
that is built up in the gastrointestinal tract reducing the pressure on the gut
and therefore reducing the pain.
Better out than in. If you
do have gas then it is okay to let it out. If you’re in a closed environment
and feeling uncomfortable to deflate, go for a walk outside or move away from
others. Remember gas is a sign of a healthy gut – see a previous blog post on
this https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog/a-bit-of-bloating-is-beneficial/
