What is Flatulence?
Flatulence (farting) is when you pass gas (flatus) in your digestive system. You may feel embarrassed if it happens when you’re around other people. But it’s one of the ways your body releases gas. Farting is when you release gas down through your bottom. Belching is releasing gas up and out of your mouth.
Farting is common. Experts estimate we pass gas as many as 25 times a day. Most of the time, having flatulence simply means you’re getting rid of gas in your gut. Every living being produces gas, and passing gas is a normal bodily function.
What are the Symptoms of Flatulence?
Passing flatus is entirely normal though its amount tends to vary between persons and on certain factors such as the diet you consume. Some may pass wind for 5-6 times a day, whereas others may excess forty times. Average times to pass gas a day is around 13-14 times.
Few common signs of excessive flatulence are:
- Abdominal distension.
- Abdominal discomfort.
- Stinking gas.
- More frequent gas passing.
- Loud gas.
What Causes Flatulence?
Swallowing air (aerophagia) is one common cause. We all swallow air when we talk, drink or eat. But swallowing a lot of air can lead to a buildup of gas in your digestive system. You may gulp down air because you:
- Chew gum or suck on hard candies
- Drink carbonated beverages
- Have anxiety or stress
- Have loose dentures
- Use a straw to drink
- Smoke
- Talk when your mouth is full of food
How your body digests food is the other common cause. Leftover waste from the digestive process eventually passes through your large intestine. Your large intestine stores the leftover food waste. Gas accumulates as waste sits in your large intestine. The longer it sits, the more gas accumulates. Farting is how gas gets out.
There are some gas-inducing foods that are more likely to cause flatulence, like:
- Beans
- Bread, cereal or salad dressing prepared with lactose
- Dietetic foods and sugar-free candies and gum
- Fruits like apples, peaches, raisins, bananas, apricots, prune juice and pears
- Packaged foods like bread, cereal or salad dressing that use lactose as a preservative
- Several vegetables, including artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, radishes, celery and carrots
- Whole grains and bran
Likewise, there are gastrointestinal diseases that may contribute to having excessive flatulence, like:
- Celiac disease
- Connective tissue diseases like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, scleroderma and Sjögren’s syndrome
- Constipation
- Gastroparesis
- GERD
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Lactose intolerance
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Peptic ulcer disease
- SIBO (Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
Discuss the ways you can avoid excessive flatulence?
Certain modification in our lifestyle plus diet can greatly help prevent or control excessive flatulence. Have a look what you can do:
- Remember, first of all, you must regularly exercise for at least 30 minutes a day!
- You must always drink and eat slowly. It is very necessary to properly chew the solid form of food before you swallow.
- Try taking smaller meals. Also, make sure you take your meals regularly on time.
- Certain foods enriched with fiber are best known to trigger flatulence. Thus avoid, or take them in small quantity.
In case left untreated, what possible complications flatulence can lead?
If flatulence is caused as a result of digestive issue or intolerance of food, leaving it untreated can be like inviting other symptoms to occur. Moreover, an individual experiencing prolong or excessive flatulence can lead few other issues such as depression or say an eating disorder, all in all, greatly affecting the life as a whole.
How is Flatulence Diagnosed?
You may not need to visit a doctor for diagnosing flatulence unless you experience some additional symptoms. You are the one who can diagnose your condition depending upon the duration and occurrence of passing wind in a day.
How is Flatulence Treated?
Your Flatulence treatment will depend on identifying the root cause. A healthcare provider may do a physical examination and ask about your medical history. They may ask about:
- Your symptoms
- What you typically eat and drink
- If you take any over-the-counter or prescription medications
A provider may do some tests if they suspect that a digestive disease is causing your flatulence. Tests may include:
- Blood tests
- Digital rectal exam
- Stool test
- X-rays
They may ask you to track what you eat and drink to see if a specific food or drink causes flatulence.
Potential treatments
A healthcare provider may recommend you change what and how you eat. For example, they may suggest you:
- Avoid foods that you know cause excessive flatulence (they might suggest you avoid food and drinks that contain lots of sugar)
- Eat more slowly
- Exercise regularly
When should flatulence be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?
You should talk to a healthcare provider or doctor if you have more flatulence than usual. Contact a provider if you have farting along with symptoms like:
- Abdominal pain
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Numbness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Rash
Why do some farts smell so bad?
Remember that gas in your large intestine is why you fart. There are several reasons why that gas may be more pungent than usual:
- Some foods with fiber release hydrogen sulfide during digestion. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs.
- There are sulfites in the food you eat. There’s a long list of likely suspects like cruciferous veggies, eggs, garlic and meat.
- You have lactose intolerance. Eating dairy can trigger smelly farts.
- Your gut microbiome may contain bacteria that make strong-smelling flatulence.
- Antibiotics that upset your stomach can make some farts smell worse than others.
Reference: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/flatulence
By : Natural Health News