Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Truth be told, passing gas happens a lot, likely between 14 and 23 times throughout your day, often without attracting much notice. Gas can accumulate in your digestive tract simply because you swallow air while drinking, eating or even laughing. But some foods produce excess gas as well.
This can make the need to control its passing more challenging. If your intestines are sluggish, moving food through your gut too slowly slow motility , excess gas can collect.
The longer food sits in your system, the more gas-producing bacteria build up , causing abdominal discomfort. Sometimes you may not notice you have passed wind because most of the gases are odourless and often released in small quantities. Flatulence usually only has a bad smell if it contains gases that smell, such as sulphur. However, it's important to remember it's normal for the gas you pass to sometimes smell a bit.
Excessive flatulence can be caused by swallowing more air than usual or eating food that's difficult to digest. It can also be related to an underlying health problem affecting the digestive system, such as recurring indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Read more about the causes of flatulence. There are no medical guidelines defining the normal frequency or volume of flatulence.
You're probably the best person to assess your own symptoms. See your GP if your flatulence is particularly troublesome — for example, if you're frequently passing smelly gas. These symptoms could be an indicator of a more serious health problem and may require investigation, such as a blood or stool test to look for an infection. Excessive flatulence can usually be controlled by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as:.
There are also some over-the-counter medications that can help if your flatulence is troublesome, such as charcoal tablets or simethicone. If your flatulence is related to an underlying health problem, treating the condition may help resolve it. Read more about treating flatulence. There are several natural causes of flatulence. Flatulence can also be caused by some health conditions related to the digestive system, or as a side effect of certain medicines.
It's perfectly normal to swallow air while breathing and eating. However, it's easy to swallow a lot more air than usual without realising it. This can cause excessive flatulence. Hot and fizzy drinks also increase the amount of carbon dioxide in your stomach, although this is more likely to cause belching rather than flatulence. Some carbohydrates in food can't be digested and absorbed by the intestines. These pass down into your colon to be broken down by bacteria, producing gas, which is released as flatulence.
Foods containing a lot of unrefined cereal fibre, such as bran, can also sometimes cause problems with wind and bloating. Other foods and drinks that contain a sweetener called sorbitol such as sugar-free gum or slimming products or a type of sugar called fructose such as fruit juice can also cause flatulence.
This means chewing sugar-free gum can cause flatulence from both the sweetener and swallowing air. Certain foods, such as cabbage or onions, can lead to the production of gases containing sulphur, which can result in foul-smelling wind.
However, the production of smelly wind can vary from person to person depending on what you eat, so it's up to you to work out which foods cause the most smell. Flatulence, often caused by indigestion , is a possible side effect of many types of medicine, including:.
You should try to avoid eating foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates. For a list of these foods, see causes of flatulence. Certain processed foods should also be avoided as they can contain ingredients that cause flatulence, including:.
However, it's still important to eat a healthy balanced diet , including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Choose foods containing carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These include:. It's important to note that people react differently to certain foods, so some foods listed above may still cause flatulence.
You may find it useful to keep a food diary to see whether certain foods make your symptoms better or worse. Excessive or smelly wind can occasionally be a sign of a medical problem.
If a person has concerns about their flatulence, they should make an appointment with their doctor. Certain medications can also cause excessive or smelly wind.
It is essential always to consult with a doctor before stopping or switching medication. Excess gas is not usually anything to be concerned about.
Making a few lifestyle changes can often help improve symptoms. However, in some instances, excess farting could be a sign of something more serious. A person should make an appointment with their doctor if excess gas is accompanied by:.
Farting is an everyday term for the expulsion of gas that builds up in the body. Gas can cause uncomfortable bloating and pain, but many yoga poses…. In this article we look at what causes uncomfortable gas in the chest, how to tell it apart from a heart attack, and how to relieve symptoms.
Vaginal gas occurs when air becomes trapped in the vagina. While it can cause embarrassment for the women experiencing it, vaginal gas is common and…. Constipation develops when stool becomes hard and difficult to pass. Reasons include a blockage and a low fiber diet. Learn more about the causes and….
Eating too much fiber can cause bloating, gas, and constipation. Find out how much fiber is too much and how to relieve symptoms in this article. What home remedies can stop flatulence? Ways to stop farting Causes When to see a doctor We include products we think are useful for our readers. Ways to stop farting.
Share on Pinterest Eating quickly causes excess air to enter the body, which can lead to trapped wind. Share on Pinterest Staying hydrated reduces the likelihood of constipation, by allowing waste to pass smoothly through the digestive system. Share on Pinterest Peppermint tea can settle the stomach and aid digestion, which may reduce excess gas.
Causes of farting. When to see a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.
Related Coverage. How to make yourself fart. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. What to know about gas pain in the chest. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. What's to know about vaginal gas?
0コメント