How do you get rid of gas in the elderly?

Over half of adults aged 65 and older experience persistent digestive symptoms, including gas and bloating. For caregivers seeking to provide relief, understanding the specific needs of an aging digestive system is key to knowing how do you get rid of gas in the elderly.

Quick Summary

Helping an elderly person relieve gas often involves a combination of dietary changes, such as avoiding trigger foods and eating smaller meals, and lifestyle adjustments like increasing physical activity and proper hydration. Over-the-counter remedies and herbal teas can also provide effective relief for discomfort.

Key Points

• Identify Trigger Foods: Keep a food diary to pinpoint specific foods that cause gas and limit their consumption, especially cruciferous vegetables, beans, and high-fructose fruits.

• Adjust Eating Habits: Encourage eating smaller, more frequent meals slowly and mindfully to reduce the amount of air swallowed.

• Promote Gentle Movement: Simple physical activity, like a short walk after eating or specific yoga poses, helps move trapped gas through the digestive system.

• Consider OTC Aids and Herbal Teas: Over-the-counter enzyme supplements like Beano or lactase, along with herbal teas such as peppermint or ginger, can provide targeted relief.

• Evaluate Denture Fit: Poorly fitting dentures can cause a senior to swallow excess air; ensure they are properly fitted by a dentist.

• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of non-carbonated water can help prevent constipation, which contributes to increased gas and bloating.

• Consult a Doctor for Persistent Symptoms: While home remedies are effective for most cases, persistent or severe gas with other symptoms warrants a medical evaluation to rule out underlying issues.

Understanding the Causes of Gas in Seniors

Gas is a natural part of digestion, but as people age, several factors can increase its frequency and discomfort. The digestive process naturally slows down in seniors, leading to a higher risk of constipation, where stool ferments longer in the colon and produces more gas. Additionally, a decrease in physical activity can contribute to sluggish digestion. Medications, changes in diet, and conditions like lactose intolerance also play a significant role.

Why the Elderly are More Susceptible

• Slower Digestion: The motility of the gastrointestinal tract decreases with age. This means food moves more slowly through the system, giving bacteria more time to ferment and create gas.
• Reduced Muscle Tone: Decreased abdominal and pelvic floor muscle tone can make it harder to pass gas naturally.
• Swallowing Air: Activities like drinking from a straw, using ill-fitting dentures, or eating too quickly can cause seniors to swallow excess air.
• Medication Side Effects: Many common medications, such as some blood pressure medications and fiber supplements, can increase gas production.
• Food Intolerances: Conditions like lactose intolerance can develop or worsen with age, causing gas, bloating, and diarrhea after consuming dairy products.

Natural and Lifestyle-Based Remedies

Before resorting to medication, several simple, non-invasive strategies can help manage and reduce gas in the elderly.

Gentle Movement

Physical activity helps stimulate the digestive tract and encourages trapped gas to move through the intestines. A short, gentle walk after meals can be very effective.

Yoga Poses for Gas Relief

• Knee-to-Chest Pose: Lying on the back, bring one or both knees gently toward the chest. This compresses the abdomen and can help release trapped gas.
• Child's Pose: This relaxing pose can apply gentle pressure to the abdomen.
• Seated Spinal Twist: Twisting gently can help stimulate the digestive organs.

Dietary Adjustments

What and how a person eats is one of the most significant factors influencing gas. A food diary can help identify specific triggers.

Foods to Limit or Avoid

• Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can be difficult to digest.
• Beans and Legumes: These are notorious for causing gas, though proper preparation (like soaking overnight) can help.
• Dairy Products: If lactose intolerance is suspected, switching to lactose-free products or limiting dairy can be beneficial.
• High-Fructose Foods: Onions, pears, and some fruit juices contain fructose, a sugar that can ferment and produce gas.
• Sugar Substitutes: Sorbitol, xylitol, and other artificial sweeteners can cause gas and bloating.

Table: High-Gas vs. Low-Gas Foods

High-Gas Foods	Low-Gas Alternatives
Beans, Lentils, Peas	Rice, Potatoes, Quinoa
Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts	Carrots, Spinach, Zucchini
Apples, Pears, Peaches	Bananas, Berries, Citrus Fruits
Soft Drinks, Carbonated Beverages	Still Water, Herbal Tea
Ice Cream, Cheese	Lactose-free milk, Yogurt (with live cultures)
Onions, Garlic	Ginger, Turmeric

Proper Eating Habits

• Eat Slowly: Encourage small, deliberate bites and thorough chewing to reduce swallowed air.
• Smaller, Frequent Meals: Several small meals throughout the day are often easier for an aging digestive system to handle than three large ones.
• Avoid Gulping: Drinking and eating too quickly can introduce a lot of air into the stomach.

Over-the-Counter and Herbal Remedies

For additional support, several non-prescription options are available. However, it is crucial to consult a doctor before introducing any new supplement, especially if the elderly individual is on other medications.

Over-the-Counter Options

• Alpha-galactosidase (Beano): This enzyme supplement helps break down the complex carbohydrates found in beans and vegetables. It's most effective when taken right before a meal.
• Lactase Supplements (Lactaid): For those with lactose intolerance, this enzyme helps digest dairy sugars.
• Simethicone (Gas-X, Mylanta Gas): This works by breaking down gas bubbles in the stomach and intestines. While its clinical evidence is limited, many find it helpful for immediate relief.
• Activated Charcoal: This substance can trap gas molecules, reducing bloating. It should be used with caution, as it can interfere with the absorption of other medications.

Herbal Remedies and Teas

• Peppermint Tea: Known for its calming effect on the gastrointestinal tract, peppermint can help relieve gas and bloating.
• Fennel Seeds: Chewing on fennel seeds after a meal or drinking fennel tea can aid digestion.
• Ginger Tea: Ginger is a well-known digestive aid that can help reduce gas and bloating.

When to See a Doctor

While gas is usually harmless, caregivers should watch for more severe or persistent symptoms. It's important to consult a healthcare provider if gas is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, sudden changes in bowel habits, bloody stools, or unintentional weight loss. These could be signs of a more serious underlying condition. The U.S. National Institute on Aging offers comprehensive resources on senior health, and it is a good source for further information National Institute on Aging: Health Information.

Conclusion

Addressing gas in the elderly requires a thoughtful, multi-faceted approach. By focusing on dietary modifications, promoting gentle physical activity, and carefully considering over-the-counter and natural remedies, caregivers can significantly reduce discomfort and improve a senior's quality of life. Always remember to consult a healthcare professional to rule out more serious issues and to ensure any new treatment is safe for the individual.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes elderly people to have more gas?

Aging naturally slows down the digestive process and decreases muscle tone in the digestive tract. This, combined with potential dietary changes, medication side effects, and conditions like lactose intolerance, makes the elderly more susceptible to gas and bloating.

Can certain medications make gas worse for seniors?

Yes, some medications, including certain antibiotics, fiber supplements, and blood pressure drugs, can increase gas production. It is important to review all medications with a doctor to understand potential side effects.

Are there any easy exercises to help an elderly person with trapped gas?

Gentle movement is very effective. A slow walk after meals, or simple yoga poses like bringing the knees to the chest while lying down, can help move gas through the intestines and provide relief.

Should a senior with gas avoid all high-fiber foods?

No, fiber is important for senior digestive health. Instead of eliminating it, try reducing portions of particularly gassy high-fiber foods and increase fiber intake gradually while staying well-hydrated to help with digestion.

What is the fastest way to relieve gas for an elderly person?

Immediate relief can often be found by drinking a warm cup of peppermint or ginger tea, engaging in light physical movement like walking, or gently massaging the abdomen. Over-the-counter products with simethicone may also help break up gas bubbles.

Could lactose intolerance be causing my elderly parent's gas?

Lactose intolerance can develop or worsen with age. If gas symptoms appear after consuming dairy products, trying lactose-free alternatives or using lactase enzyme supplements (like Lactaid) can help determine if this is the cause.

When is excessive gas a sign of a serious problem in seniors?

While usually benign, excessive gas accompanied by severe abdominal pain, bloody stools, unintentional weight loss, persistent diarrhea, or constipation should be evaluated by a doctor to rule out more serious health issues.