# Simple Ways to Manage Digestive Problems > Learn practical steps to reduce gas, bloating, heartburn, and other common digestive issues. - Title: Simple Ways to Manage Digestive Problems · WebMD | Shortify - Summary: Learn practical steps to reduce gas, bloating, heartburn, and other common digestive issues. Simple dietary changes and over-the-counter medicines can help… - Keywords: digestive problems, gas, bloating, heartburn, gerd, constipation, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, fiber, probiotics, health, medicine - Source: WebMD — https://webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-health-tips - Read time: 2 min - Topics: digestive problems, gas, bloating, heartburn, gerd, constipation, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, fiber, probiotics, health, medicine ## What is gas? Gas is a normal part of healthy digestion, released through burping or passing gas. > Gas is a normal part of healthy digestion ## How often do you pass gas? You typically pass gas 13 to 21 times a day. > You typically pass gas 13 to 21 times a day ## What causes gas? Swallowing air while eating, food breakdown, and certain medications can cause gas. > Gas is created when you swallow air, such as when you eat and drink ## Foods that cause gas Apples, asparagus, beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, milk, mushrooms, onions, peaches, pears, prunes, and wheat cause gas. > Cut back on the common culprits: apples, asparagus, beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, milk and dairy products, mushrooms, onions, peaches, pears, prunes, wheat ## What causes bloating? Gas buildup, stomach infections, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, hormonal changes, and constipation cause bloating. > When gas builds up in your stomach and intestines, you may have bloating, swelling in your belly and a feeling of fullness ## How to reduce gas and bloating Cut back on fatty foods, avoid fizzy drinks, eat slowly, quit smoking, avoid gas-causing foods, and avoid sweeteners like fructose and sorbitol. > Cut back on fatty foods. Avoid fizzy drinks. Eat and drink slowly. Quit smoking. Don’t chew gum. Exercise more. Avoid foods that cause gas. ## What is heartburn? Heartburn is a painful, burning feeling in the chest or upper stomach that can spread to your neck, jaw, or arms. > Heartburn, sometimes called acid indigestion, is a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest or the upper part of your stomach ## What causes heartburn? When the lower esophageal sphincter opens too often or isn’t tight enough, stomach acid rises into the esophagus. > There’s a muscle at the entrance of your stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), that acts like a gate: It opens to let food move from your esophagus to your stomach, and it shuts to stop food and acid from coming back out ## What triggers heartburn? Overeating, spicy/fatty foods, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, lying down after eating, and stress can trigger heartburn. > You may be more likely to get heartburn when you: overeat, eat spicy, fatty, acidic, or greasy foods, consume caffeine or alcohol, smoke, lie down shortly after you eat, are under stress ## How to avoid heartburn Eat small meals, avoid trigger foods, lose weight, wear loose clothing, quit smoking, and avoid high-impact exercise. > Try to eat several small meals throughout the day. Lose weight if you’re overweight. Wear loose clothing. If you smoke, quit. Avoid high-impact exercise ## What is GERD? GERD is a long-term condition where heartburn happens frequently, at least twice a week for weeks. > Everyone has heartburn from time to time. But when you have it frequently (at least twice a week for a few weeks), or when it begins to interfere with your daily life or damage your esophagus, your doctor may tell you that you have a long-term condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD ## Symptoms of GERD Bad breath, coughing, hoarse voice, nausea, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, tooth decay, and vomiting are GERD symptoms. > Besides the frequent burning in your chest, you might also have symptoms like: bad breath or a sour taste in your mouth or in the back of your throat, breathing problems, coughing, feeling like you have a lump in the back of your throat, hoarse or raspy voice, nausea, difficult or painful swallowing, sore throat, tooth decay, vomiting ## When to see a doctor for heartburn Call your doctor if heartburn lasts more than 2 days, causes pain, or you have black/tarry stools, blood in stool, or severe symptoms. > Call your doctor or make an appointment with a gastroenterologist if you have heartburn frequently so you can avoid complications from GERD and uncover any other problems ## Medicines for heartburn Antacids neutralize stomach acid quickly, H2 blockers reduce acid production, and PPIs lower acid for longer periods. > Antacids help neutralize stomach acid. H2 blockers help relieve and prevent occasional heartburn by lowering the amount of acid your stomach makes. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are used to prevent frequent heartburn that happens more than twice a week ## How to treat constipation Drink 60-80 ounces of water daily, eat prunes or bran cereal, eat more vegetables and fruits, and exercise regularly. > Drink plenty of water (60-80 ounces per day). An extra two to four glasses a day may help. Eat prunes or bran cereal to get 20-35 grams of fiber per day. Eat more vegetables and fruit. Drink warm water or herbal tea in the morning. Exercise often ## What causes hemorrhoids? Constipation, straining during bowel movements, low fiber intake, pregnancy, being overweight, and sitting for long periods cause hemorrhoids. > Constipation or straining during bowel movements causes most hemorrhoids. You may also have hemorrhoids if you don't get enough fiber in your diet. Being pregnant or overweight can cause hemorrhoids because of the extra pressure on your rectum ## How to treat hemorrhoids Add fiber to your diet, try a stool softener, exercise, avoid straining, soak in warm baths, keep the area clean, and avoid spicy foods. > Add fiber to your diet to help relieve constipation and make your stools softer. Try a stool softener. Exercise to help relieve constipation. Don’t strain during bowel movements. Soak in a plain, warm bath or sitz bath to help relieve the pain ## What is diarrhea? Diarrhea is loose, watery stool that sends you to the bathroom more often than usual. > Diarrhea is loose, watery stool that sends you to the bathroom more often than usual. When you have diarrhea, you may have stomach pain and cramps or bloating ## How to treat diarrhea Drink fluids, avoid alcohol and caffeine, eat bland foods like bananas and toast, and try over-the-counter treatments like loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate. > Drink plenty of fluids (water, sports drinks, fruit juice) to keep from getting dehydrated. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and dairy. If you aren’t nauseated, you can eat plain, bland, low-fiber foods including bananas, plain white rice, toast, and crackers ## Key takeaway Simple dietary changes and over-the-counter medicines can help manage frequent gas, bloating, and heartburn.