Trapped Wind in Chest – Causes and Treatment

Trapped wind in chest is a common phenomenon. It is a sort of gas pain, which is very likely to occur at least once during a person’s lifetime. Although the condition can be very discomforting and painful, it does not necessarily be a sign of some serious health problem.

Pain in chest area always appears disturbing and commonly associated with possible heart attack. People are often wrong assuming chest pain has to do with heart failure and severe heart diseases and conditions. Pain caused by trapped gas in the area is not an unusual condition and, in the most cases, it has nothing to do with heart health.

However, it is best to get assured your heart is fine. Go to see a doctor to determine the exact cause of your chest pain.

Trapped gas in chest area usually occurs when the gas gets accumulated in abdomen and stomach area. It puts pressure on esophagus and irritates nerve endings. The pressure and pain then spread into the chest area and give a person the sensation of sharp pain, similar to impending heart attack pain. There are different reasons why the wind gets trapped in abdomen and chest area. It is a common phenomenon for all population. The cause of pain itself is clear. When the gas, which is supposed to get out of the body, is not relieved, it creates pressure. Pressure irritates nerves in a particular muscular area of the body and gives a person very discomforting, piercing painful sensation. Let us find out what may be the possible causes of the phenomenon and how to relieve the pain.

Trapped wind in chest causes

There are various reason that may cause you feel disturbing sharp chest pain, due to trapped wind in the body. They don’t have anything in common with heart issues and heart attack, as many people would think.

Since the sensation is similar to pre-heart attack pain, it is not unusual the condition to get mistaken for heart failure symptom. Building up of gas in your body and not relieving it is the most common reason for feeling pain in the chest. Trapped gas is the one responsible for it.

So, what actually causes it to get stuck in our body? How the wind gets trapped in the first place and why it won’t go out immediately?

  • Indigestion and bloating

You’ve certainly experienced discomforting bloating sensation after an abundant meal, at least a couple of times in your life. It feels like your belly has turned into a big and, sometimes, painful balloon. The bloating of your belly could also make you experience chest pain, because the trapped air puts a lot of pressure on your diaphragm, esophagus etc. The air accumulates in your stomach because your digestive system cannot process all that food so fast. Therefore, the wind builds up in your body. Another reason for accumulation of gas in your abdomen are certain viands you’ve had.

Sometimes, bloating comes from a particular food, not the amount. The wind gets trapped in your body due to indigestion; your body is unable to digest some ingredients quickly enough, so you end up bloated. As your body tries to get rid of the gas, it may sometimes spread to chest area and cause you extremely unpleasant and painful sensation.

People who suffer from digestive tract issues are more susceptible to trapped wind in chest and its symptoms. All the conditions that are commonly accompanied with bloating are likely to cause a patient trapped wind in chest, as well. Those are irritable bowel syndrome, gastritis and ulcerous esophagus issues.

  • Swallowed air

It is not just important to wisely choose food you eat and mind the amounts, but also to pay attention on how you eat and drink. If you suffer from any of digestive tract issues, you’ve certainly developed habits of eating certain viands, preparing food in a way that would sooth your stomach etc.

However, it is also important to eat right. Chewing and swallowing food may not seem like a science, but if you don’t do it nicely, it is very likely you get bloated and have chest pain from trapped wind. It is important to eat slowly and thoroughly chew your food. If you eat too fast and just devour your meal, you would most likely ingest too much air. The air then stays trapped in your chest and cause you discomfort.

Also, try not to talk too much if you’re having conversation during lunch or some cocktail, for example. Not just it is inappropriate to speak with full mouth, but it would also lead to building up of air in your abdomen and chest and cause you hiccups, trapped wind pain and so on.

  • Gallbladder or hernia

Those two conditions are often associated with trapped wind in chest symptoms. Gallbladder pain is an extremely unpleasant and painful condition. The pain is caused by gallstones and it may spread to right shoulder, abdomen and chest. Gallstones are usually small and do not require treatment; the body removes them on its own. Gallbladder stones attack can be seriously painful. Gallbladder surgery is performed when the stones grow big.

Since it requires carbon dioxide to inflate the abdomen for undertaking the procedure, it may get trapped in chest for a few days after surgery and also cause pain. Another condition that may cause trapped wind in chest is hiatal hernia; it causes the air to get trapped in stomach and sometimes spread to chest area.

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease

This condition is very likely to cause wind get trapped in chest. It is a disease characterized by burning sensations and pain, coming from acids that travel from your stomach to esophagus. It makes a patient’s digestive functions decrease and thus allow accumulation of gas in your abdomen and chest. This condition could develop in persons who suffer from anxiety, panic attacks or are under serious stress.

Trapped wind in chest treatment

There are ways to prevent the condition from happening, in the first place. If you take care of your nutrition and consume viands and beverages that please your organism, it is less likely you would experience chest pain from trapped wind. If you eat the right way and don’t swallow additional air, you could also reduce risk from bloating and trapped wind. It is important to take certain precautions if you suffer from any of digestive system issues.

However, there are times you might ‘trap’ wind in your chest, no matter what. You certainly want to know how to deal with it.

  • Positions and activity

There are revealing positions that would allow the air travels out of your body and relieve the pain. Lie down on your bed and push your kneels towards your stomach; do that on an empty stomach. Some yoga positions are also good for getting rid of excessive air and, thus, chest or abdominal pain. Common yoga and gymnastics candle position improves digestion and helps your body relieve the trapped wind. Physical activities, in general, help reduce the problem. Move around, take a walk or do some mild exercises.

  • Food

Since food we eat is commonly the cause of poor digestion, bloating and trapped wind in abdomen and chest area, choose it wisely. Try avoiding dairy products; they are known to cause bloating and, thus, trapped wind. You might suffer from lactose intolerance, so avoiding dairy products may help you. Try the same with viands high in gluten. Once you discover which products make you bloated and cause you trapped wind, reduce them or remove from your diet and find a proper substitute. In general, consume food your body is able to properly digest and process; you’ll need to experiment a bit, in order to determine which suit you best.

  • Instant home remedies

Baking soda is known to be very efficient in instantly removing the trapped air. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of warm water and drink it slowly. Apple cider vinegar is of the same efficiency for many people. Daily consumption of a couple of teaspoons prevents bloating and improves digestion. Charcoal capsules are also recommended for getting rid of trapped wind. Certain spices, such as mustard, cardamom, cumin and turmeric are proven helpful, as well.

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