Symptom

Flatulence

Overview | Possible Causes | Care and Treatment | HOME REMEDies | When to Call the Doctor | References

Flatulence / Farting

Overview

Commonly known as farting, passing wind, or having gas, flatulence is a medical term for releasing gas from the digestive system through the anus. It occurs when gas collects inside the digestive system, and is a normal process.

Gas collects in two main ways. Swallowing air while you eat or drink can cause oxygen and nitrogen to collect in the digestive tract. Second, as you digest food, digestive gases such as hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide collect. Either method can cause flatulence.

Possible Causes

Flatulence is very common. We all accumulate gas in our digestive system. Most people pass gas about 10 times a day. If you pass wind more frequently than this on a regular basis, you could have excessive flatulence, which has a number of causes.

Swallowing air

It’s natural to swallow air throughout the day, normally during eating and drinking. Typically, you’ll only swallow a small amount of air. If you frequently swallow more air, you may find that you experience excessive flatulence. It may also cause burping.

Reasons that you may swallow more air than normal include:

Chewing gum
Smoking
Sucking on objects such as pen tops
Drinking carbonated drinks
Eating too quickly

Dietary choices

Your dietary choices could lead to excessive flatulence. Some foods that increase gas include:

Beans
Cabbage
Broccoli
Raisins
Lentils
Prunes
Apples
Foods high in fructose or sorbitol, such as fruit juices

These foods can take a long time to digest, leading to the unpleasant smell associated with flatulence. Also, some foods the body can’t fully absorb. This means that they pass from the intestines to the colon without being completely digested first.

The colon contains a large amount of bacteria that then break down the food, releasing gases as they do so. The buildup of this gas causes flatulence.

Excessive flatulence causes and complications

If your diet doesn’t contain a large amount of carbohydrates or sugars, and you don’t swallow excessive air, your excessive flatulence may be due to a medical condition.

Potential conditions underlying flatulence range from temporary conditions to digestive problems. Some of these conditions include:

Constipation
Gastroenteritis
Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Crohn’s disease
Celiac disease
Diabetes
Eating disorders
Ulcerative colitis
Dumping syndrome
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Autoimmune pancreatitis
Peptic ulcers

Care & Treatment

Your doctor will discuss your symptoms with you, including when the problem started, and if there are any apparent triggers. They’ll also do a physical examination.

A blood test may be necessary to ensure that your body isn’t fighting an infection, to identify any possible food intolerances, and to make sure there isn’t another medical condition causing your flatulence.

Your doctor will likely advise you to follow the steps above, including keeping a food diary and changing your eating habits. Depending on the cause, you may also benefit from seeing a dietitian.

In addition, you may receive medication for a specific condition. If your doctor has been able to identify an underlying condition, you’ll receive treatment for that. You may also have to undergo further tests to get a conclusive diagnosis for your excessive flatulence.

Home Remedies

There are a number of ways to treat flatulence, depending on the cause of the problem. To treat flatulence at home, try the following:

Look at your diet. If it contains a large amount of carbohydrates that are difficult to digest, try to replace them. Carbohydrates that are easier to digest, such as potatoes, rice, and bananas, are good substitutes.
Keep a food diary. This will help you to identify any triggers. After you identify some foods that cause you excessive flatulence, you can learn to avoid them or to eat less of them.
Eat less more. Try to eat around five to six small meals a day instead of three larger ones to help your digestive process.
Chew properly. Avoid doing anything that may increase the amount of air that you swallow. This includes making sure that you’re chewing your food properly, and avoiding chewing gum or smoking.
Exercise. Some people find that exercising helps to promote digestion and can prevent flatulence.
Try over-the-counter medications. These include charcoal tablets that absorb gas through the digestive system, antacids, and dietary supplements such as alpha-galactosidase (Beano). It’s important to note that these medications will only temporarily provide relief.