Gas Pains

Every human being has suffered from gas pains from time to time. Fearful adults call 911 and head for the Emergency Room when they have severe upper abdominal and chest pain, only to find out after exhaustive cardiac tests that it was just gas ( A "Fart Attack" is really preferable to a heart attack, however).

Grandpas sit in their recliners and proudly proclaim an infestation of barking spiders; much to the delight of their grandchildren who will no longer pull their fingers. Teenagers can belch the alphabet after quickly downing a carbonated drink. I see people with gas-related issues nearly everyday in my practice, but flatulence is not really what I would like to blog about.

With gasoline prices hitting $3.00 per gallon and promises that it will hit $4.00 by the summer, we are facing a crisis. In the U.S., we depend so much on our cars. Compared to other countries, our public transportation is a joke, unless you live in a large city like New York or Chicago. If I had to take public transportation to work, it would take my three hours to go 30 miles and cost me twice as much. Without my car, I wouldn't be able go to meetings, stay late in the office to answer phone calls, or even work after-hours on charts.

I live at the 2,400 foot level in the Sierra foothills, so I could ride a bike...downhill. I would most likely never make it back home again. I could buy a motorcycle that gets 80 miles to the gallon, but I would eventually end up in a wheelchair going much slower. I could buy a hybrid car that gets twice the milage of my small pick-up truck, but how am I going to haul manure and mulch? I could car-pool if I found some other fool that works 14 hours a day in my same office. I could retire early and just stay home and do my Internet-based jobs.

Or, I can just pay it and shut up.

I feel particularly bad for people who are already going from paycheck to paycheck. My own medical assistant is a single mother with four children, one of which could eat enough to run Bill Gates into bankruptcy. She doesn't really have the extra money to spare at the pump. That $50 dollars or more per month that will go for gasoline is going to really hurt. We have twenty more medical assistants and staff in our office in the same financial boat.

World oil prices are going over the top for political reasons. Oil companies are reaping profits they do not deserve. As the dominos continue to fall, prices will increase in just about every aspect of our lives. In no time, you will see costs increase at medical offices, and you will likely pay more for your intestinal gas medication, like Mylicon.

So, high gasoline prices are causing everyone stress. Stress can lead to increased intestinal gas (flatulence). Intestinal gas is partly composed of flammable methane, an alternative fuel source. Now, if we can get our cars to run far enough on intestinal methane...

Related Topics: Fiber Good, And Not Just For Your Gut, Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Herbal Help?

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