Causes, Remedies, Complications, and More

While most people experience flatulence, swallowing air or eating certain foods like broccoli may cause it to occur more frequently. Some health conditions like celiac disease may cause excessive gas.

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

Gas collects in the digestive tract when your body breaks down food. It can also happen when you swallow air while eating or drinking. Gas is usually made up of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and occasionally methane.

On average, people experience flatulence between 13 and 21 times a day, according to the National Institutes of Health. Some conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and gastroparesis can cause excessive flatulence. You may also pass wind more frequently if you eat certain foods.

In some cases, gas can cause pain and bloating and affect your daily activities. Adjusting your diet, taking medications, and exercising may help reduce gas discomfort.

Gas collects in two main ways. Swallowing air (aerophagia) while you eat or drink can cause oxygen and nitrogen to collect in the digestive tract. Second, as your body breaks down food, gases like hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide collect in the digestive tract. Either method can cause flatulence.

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
• wearing loose dentures
• sucking on objects like pen tops
• drinking carbonated beverages
• eating or drinking too quickly

Dietary choices

The foods you eat could lead to excessive flatulence. Carbohydrates, for example, are known to cause gas.

Proteins and fats tend to cause less gas than carbohydrates. Some proteins can cause gas to have a stronger odor, though.

Some foods that increase gas include:

• beans
• cabbage
• broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• whole grains
• asparagus
• milk
• dairy products
• onions
• pears
• artichokes
• wheat
• oat bran
• peas
• potatoes
• corn
• raisins
• lentils
• prunes
• apples
• foods high in fructose or sorbitol, like fruit juices and sugar-free candies
• processed foods

These foods can take a long time to digest, leading to the unpleasant smell associated with flatulence. Also, there are 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.

Not all foods will cause gas in all people. Keeping track of the foods you eat and flatulence symptoms you experience can help narrow down which ones cause gas in your body.

Underlying conditions

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 caused by a medical condition.

The conditions that can cause flatulence range from temporary health issues to chronic digestive problems. Some of these conditions include:

• constipation
• gastroenteritis
• food intolerances, like lactose intolerance
• IBS
• Crohn’s disease
• celiac disease
• diabetes
• eating disorders
• ulcerative colitis
• dumping syndrome
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• autoimmune pancreatitis
• peptic ulcers

You may be able to relieve excess gas and reduce flatulence through a mix of lifestyle changes and diet adjustments. Home remedies for flatulence include:

• Keeping a food diary. This will help you figure out which foods increase gas in your body. After you identify some foods that cause you excessive flatulence, you can try to eat less of them or avoid them altogether.
• Adjusting your diet. If your diet includes a large amount of carbohydrates that are difficult to digest, try to replace them. Carbohydrates that are easier to digest, such rice and bananas, are substitutes that may reduce flatulence.
• Eating smaller meals more frequently. Eating around five to six small meals a day instead of three larger ones may be easier on your digestive system.
• Trying to swallow less air. 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, smoking, and straws.
• Drinking lots of water. Staying hydrated can help you avoid constipation, which causes gas.
• Exercising regularly. Some people find that exercising helps to promote digestion and can prevent flatulence.
• Taking probiotics. Probiotics, like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, may promote regular digestion, which can help reduce gas. These can be found in over-the-counter (OTC) supplements and fermented foods, like sauerkraut and yogurt.
• Using charcoal pads. Lining your underwear with a “fart pad” made of charcoal could help reduce odor in some cases of excessive flatulence.
• Changing your posture. Sitting in an upright position can help your body release excess gas.
• Using a heating pad. Placing a heating pad or hot water bottle on your belly can help reduce pain and cramping from excess gas.
• Consuming ginger. Ginger is known to promote digestion. Improving your digestion may help relieve flatulence and bloating.

Medications can also be used to treat flatulence, depending on the cause of the problem. Treatment options include:

• OTC medications: Drugstores offer a variety of medications, like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) and simethicone (Gas-X, Phazyme), that can help relieve flatulence.
• Prescription drugs: Certain prescription medications can target underlying conditions, like IBS or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, that cause gas. Treating the condition may, in turn, reduce flatulence.
• Supplements: If you’re lactose intolerant, taking lactase (available OTC) may help relieve gas when you consume dairy products. Another supplement, alpha-galactosidase (Beano), can help the body break down legumes and vegetables in order to reduce gas.

Before adding any medications or supplements to your diet, consider checking in with a healthcare professional to make sure they’re safe for you.

If you’re concerned about flatulence, connect with a healthcare professional. They’ll ask about:

• your symptoms
• your diet
• your eating and drinking habits (like meal sizes and how quickly you eat)
• medications and supplements you take
• your medical history

They may also conduct a physical exam to check for swelling, tenderness, or sounds in your abdomen. This may include a physical exam of your rectum.

A healthcare professional may order additional medical tests, including X-rays, blood tests, and stool tests, to see if a potential health problem is behind your flatulence.

You may need to keep a food diary and adjust your eating habits as you work to find the cause of your excess gas.

Severe and persistent flatulence can make an impact on your physical well-being. It may cause pain, cramping, bloating, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Excess gas can also create complications for your mental health. You may find it stressful or embarrassing to deal with frequent flatulence, especially in social situations.

Relieving gas with home remedies, medications, or both can help reduce the likelihood of complications, though. Try different strategies to see which ones work best for you, and consider talking with a healthcare professional if flatulence is causing complications in your life.

If you have unexplained flatulence, or if you experience the following symptoms along with flatulence, you should see your doctor:

• swollen abdomen
• abdominal pain
• gas that’s persistent and severe
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• unintentional weight loss
• heartburn
• blood in stool

These symptoms may be a sign of a serious underlying condition.

How to stop farting: 12 tips and remedies

Tips for reducing gassiness and the passing of wind include eating slowly, avoiding gum, and limiting the intake of fizzy drinks. However, excessive flatulence may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs medical attention.

Farting is a natural part of the digestion cycle. It is essential that the body releases the gas it produces. If not, it can build up and become very uncomfortable.

People can expect to fart between 5 and 15 times per day. This may seem like a lot, but it is entirely normal. Most farts do not smell and are not noisy, and so they go unnoticed.

Many people may feel as though they are unusually gassy, but it is probably just because they are more aware of their farts than anybody else’s. It is usual to pass 1–3 pints of gas per day.

For those who feel as though they have excessive gas, there are several steps to reduce flatulence. Here, we look at 12 possible remedies.

Share on PinterestEating quickly causes excess air to enter the body, which can lead to trapped wind.

There is usually no need to worry about farting. While some people do it more than others, it is a regular part of how the body works.

However, if a person feels that their farting has changed, or it is making them feel particularly embarrassed and uncomfortable, there are some things they can try to reduce the amount they fart:

1. Eat meals and snacks slowly and carefully

The majority of gas produced by the body forms because of swallowed air. A person cannot completely avoid swallowing air, but certain habits can cause excess air to enter the body. Eating too quickly is one of them.

Eating slowly with the mouth closed will reduce the amount of air a person swallows at mealtimes. People should try to sit down and take time over food rather than eating on the go.

2. Stop chewing gum

Many people chew gum to keep their breath fresh and to help avoid snacking. However, those that do may find they have more gas than others. Chewing gum means continually swallowing air, which builds up and increases the number of times a person needs to fart.

3. Look out for food intolerances and allergies

Different people may be sensitive to different foods and may have allergies that bring about a reaction in the body. These can lead to gas and other unpleasant symptoms, such as bloating, nausea, and diarrhea.

A person with excessive gas may find that an elimination diet helps. An elimination diet is where a person would cut out all of the known gas-causing foods before introducing them back in, one at a time, to find out which ones cause the problems.

4. Avoid tight-fitting clothes

Loose clothing helps to ensure a person remains as comfortable as possible should bloating occur. Wearing clothes that are not too tight also helps when gas does occur, allowing it to pass freely out of the body.

5. Avoid or reduce intake of gas-producing foods

Some foods are known to increase gas production. Carbohydrates that contain fructose, lactose, insoluble fiber, and starch ferment in the large intestine. Gas releases as they ferment.

Cutting these foods out entirely, however, is not recommended, as they are an essential part of a healthful, balanced diet.

Fruit and vegetables can often cause gas, but eating several portions of fruit and vegetables a day is more important than eliminating gas. However, reducing the amount of these gas-producing foods may help to minimize a person’s flatulence.

Foods to eat less of include:

• Beans, green leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus. These vegetables contain complex sugars that are difficult for the body to break down.
• Soft drinks, fruit juice, and other fruits, as well as onions, pears, and artichokes. All of these foods contain fructose, a gas-producing ingredient.
• Dairy products as dairy foods and drinks contain lactose, which can also cause gas to build up.
• Fruits, oat bran, peas, and beans. These foods all contain insoluble fiber.
• Starchy foods, such as potatoes, pasta, corn, and products that contain wheat.

6. Give up smoking

People who smoke swallow more air than those who do not. The more frequently a person smokes, the more air they swallow. There are, of course, lots of other health benefits to giving up smoking, too.

People who use e-cigarettes also swallow more air than people who do not, so avoiding e-cigarettes could also help when a person has excess gas.

7. Do more exercise

Regular exercise helps keep the digestive system in good shape. A gentle walk after large meals can also help kick the digestive system into action and move the food along smoothly.

Share on PinterestStaying hydrated reduces the likelihood of constipation, by allowing waste to pass smoothly through the digestive system.

8. Drink plenty of fluids

Staying well-hydrated encourages waste to pass smoothly through a person’s digestive system. This helps keep their stools soft, and so drinking enough through the day is essential.

Also, a lack of fluid may cause constipation, which can result in smelly wind.

People should try to drink a glass of water with every meal to help the body digest foods more easily.

9. Avoid carbonated beverages

Carbonated beverages contain air bubbles, and a person who drinks a lot of carbonated beverages may find they burp and fart more than others.

When someone reduces or removes these types of drinks from their diet, it may help cut the amount of gas they have.

10. Take probiotics

Probiotics are supplements that contain the healthy bacteria already found in a person’s digestive tract. These good bacteria help to break down food, and can even work to break down the hydrogen gas that is produced during digestion.

Occasionally, probiotics may cause an increase in gas and bloating. This is usually short-lived, and it will probably lessen when the body gets used to the new bacteria.

Many probiotic supplements are available online.

11. Try enzyme supplements

Research suggests that enzyme supplements can aid the breakdown of proteins and complex carbohydrates. This means they could help with numerous digestive diseases and their symptoms.

If complex carbohydrates can be broken down in the small intestine, a person will produce less gas.

However, if they do not break down in the small intestine and move to the large intestine, it is the gas-producing bacteria that work to break them down. This means more gas will develop that will need to be released.

Lactase enzyme supplements may help people whose excess gas is caused by lactose intolerance. Lactase is the enzyme that helps people digest dairy products, and so can make people less gassy after eating meals that include dairy. These supplements are also available to purchase online.

Share on PinterestPeppermint tea can settle the stomach and aid digestion, which may reduce excess gas.

12. Tackle constipation

Constipation could be a cause of excess gas. If stool remains in the colon for extended periods of time, it will continue to ferment inside the body. This produces extra gas that can smell particularly foul.

Treatment for constipation varies. However, drinking lots of water and increasing fiber intake can help to reduce the risk of it occurring.

Certain medications and stool softeners, which are available online, can also help.

General tips

Do

• eat little and often, and avoid huge meals
• take time to chew food and take sips rather than large gulps of drinks
• take regular exercise, which will help to improve digestion
• eat a healthful, balanced diet
• drink peppermint tea, which is thought to aid digestion and settle the stomach

Do not

• smoke
• chew gum, suck pen tops, or hard sweets
• wear dentures that do not fit properly
• eat any trigger foods that are hard to digest, or foods known to cause farts

If a person is embarrassed about excessive wind or farts that smell, they can speak to a pharmacist. A pharmacist may recommend specific medication or remedies to help.

Charcoal tablets are thought to absorb excess gas in the stomach, which could reduce flatulence.

A person who has smelly wind could also try special underwear and pads that absorb the smells.

Many farts are due to swallowing air throughout the day. Swallowing air is not something a person can entirely avoid.

Other gas develops as the gut works to break down the foods a person eats.

Farts are a combination of mostly odorless gases, such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sometimes methane.

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.

Farting can be a symptom of conditions that may require medical treatment, such as:

• constipation
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• indigestion
• celiac disease
• food intolerances or allergies

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:

• stomach aches or pain
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea
• unexpected weight loss
• blood in stool
• continual instances of constipation or diarrhea
• high temperature or feeling hot and shivery

If flatulence affects a person’s life badly, and dietary and lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications have not worked, they should see a doctor for further advice.

Flatulence. Causes, diagnosis, treatment | Directory KLRTS

Moscow, st. Partizanskaya, 41

Kuntsevsky
medical and rehabilitation center.

What is flatulence

Flatulence is the accumulation of gases in the intestines due to their entry from the caecum.
Flatulence occurs after overeating or constantly as a result of diseases of the digestive system. In this case, you need to consult a doctor to identify the causes of the appearance of an unpleasant condition.

Causes

In addition to overeating and food intolerance, increased gas formation develops due to the progression of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as cholecystitis, dysbacteriosis, gastritis, duodenitis, pancreatitis, colitis, intestinal obstruction, etc.
In adult patients, often the reason lies in the lunch on the run at a fast pace. In addition, a lack of enzymes, a disturbed intestinal microflora, can provoke the production of gases. In some cases, after operations in the peritoneal region, the motor activity of the intestine slows down, which is why the products are slowly processed.

Symptoms

By itself, flatulence is not dangerous for humans, but sometimes, together with other symptoms, the accumulation of gases indicates a pathological condition of the digestive tract. Among these signs it should be noted:

• swelling with a feeling of fullness,
• rumbling belly,
• abdominal enlargement,
• belching,
• uncontrolled release of gases with and without odor,
• stool disorder (alternating diarrhea and constipation),
• heartburn,
• pain and cutting in the abdomen.

If this clinical picture occurs frequently and the reason for its development is not malnutrition, then you need to consult a doctor.

Which doctor treats flatulence

With any problems of impaired functioning of the digestive tract, they turn to a gastroenterologist. To consult with a doctor, you must first make an appointment with a gastroenterologist, to do this, choose any method convenient for you:

• clinic call +7 (495) 103-99-55,
• order a callback,
• leave an application for an appointment, through a convenient form on the website:

Flatulence is a phenomenon that requires serious attention from both the patient and the attending physician.

IMPORTANT! The fact is that increased gas formation can appear both due to a certain nature of food (coarse, requiring long digestion), and due to the occurrence of a pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

In any case, it is necessary to refuse self-treatment, which will certainly lead to complications. Make an appointment with the gastroenterologist of the Kuntsevsky Medical and Rehabilitation Center to determine the causes of flatulence and determine the treatment tactics to eliminate the symptom.

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Methods of treatment

To normalize the motor function of the intestine, the gastroenterologist develops a complex treatment. As part of therapy, he prescribes the use of pharmacological agents to normalize the microflora of the colon and split gases:

• enzymes of different groups to restore the missing elements in the body,
• sorbents that reduce bloating,
• prokinetics that accelerate the movement of food through the intestines and promote the removal of gases,
• defoamers that destroy gas bubbles,
• probiotics and prebiotics to help digest food in the intestines.

If, according to the results of the tests, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are detected, then the gastroenterologist selects a therapy aimed at eradicating their cause.

Rehabilitation and restoration of lifestyle

Since many foods provoke gas formation, legumes, potatoes, cabbage, lamb, kvass, beer and soda should be abandoned. Smoking and bad habits also negatively affect intestinal motility, so it is important to get rid of addiction.
The gastroenterologist advises to give up chewing gums, because. they produce the production of gastric juice, and also chew food thoroughly, while not drinking it with water.

Why you need to treat flatulence with us

Experienced gastroenterologists see you at the Kuntsevsky medical and rehabilitation center, located a stone’s throw from the Molodyozhnaya metro station. They regularly improve their skills and learn new methods of treatment, helping to cure the disease in a short time. Doctors not only carry out symptomatic treatment, but also identify the true cause of increased gas formation so that flatulence does not occur again.

References:

1. Flatulence syndrome: causes and possibilities of treatment / Golovenko O.V. etc.// Farmateka – 2009 – No. 2.
2. Flatulence: a modern view on the pathogenesis and methods of correction / Poluektova A.E.// Directory of a polyclinic doctor – 2008 – No. 6.
3. Excessive intestinal gas syndrome: clinical significance and principles of therapy / Butorova L.I.,
4. Kolomoets A.N. etc.// Difficult patient – 2005 – No. 6.
5. Bloating in clinical practice: a guide for doctors / T.B. Topchy, M.D. Ardatskaya, L.I. Butorova. – M.: Prima Print, 2021

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Treatment and prevention of bloating

Contents:

Flatulence or a feeling of distended abdomen happens regularly in every person of any age. Usually, food that provokes gas formation, or various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lead to bloating. Normally, flatulence quickly passes with the passage of gases. But if bloating is frequent and accompanied by abdominal pain, you should seek medical help.

Signs of bloating

Bloating is not a disease per se. This is a symptom of various pathologies, in which there is an increase in the abdomen with possible rumbling, belching and gas discharge. Flatulence is inherent in people of all ages and is the most common syndrome of gastroenterology.

The main signs of bloating are:

• palpable or visible enlargement of the abdominal cavity
• rumbling sounds inside the abdomen
• passing gas through the mouth (belching) or anus

Depending on the location of gases in the large intestine bloating may be accompanied by pain in the right or left hypochondrium. The accumulation of gases in the small intestine is characterized by general bloating and discomfort over the entire surface of the abdomen.

Gas mechanism

The main sources of internal gases are naturally swallowed air, gases produced by our gastrointestinal bacteria, and gases excreted from the blood. At the same time, the composition of gases is very heterogeneous, it is a mixture of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and even methane. Normally, during the day, up to 2 liters of gases are formed inside the human gastrointestinal tract. Most of them are absorbed by the intestines, only hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen are excreted through the rectum.

Is flatulence dangerous for life?

Patients with flatulence often complain of its discomfort and deterioration in the quality of life. Many do not like the feeling of “puffing up”, unpleasant and embarrassing manifestations of bloating in the form of belching and gas discharge. Some worry that the accumulation of gases can be hazardous to health. By itself, flatulence is not life-threatening, but it can be a symptom of some serious medical conditions.

Pathological bloating indicates the following diseases:

• irritable bowel syndrome
• dysbacteriosis
• intestinal obstruction
• pancreatitis

• cirrhosis of the liver
• cholecystitis 900 04
• dropsy
• cancer

Causes of flatulence

Bloating can be caused by natural causes inherent in human life processes as well as various diseases. The main reasons can be called physiological conditions, infections, intestinal disorders, diseases of the stomach and intestines.

• Food. The natural cause of bloating is food. The use of a large number of gas-forming products leads to flatulence. These are products such as legumes, white cabbage, rye bread, carbonated drinks, sweet confectionery, muffins, as well as beer and other fermented products.
• Aerophagy. Swallowing air. Another physiological reason for the accumulation of gases in the abdominal cavity. Normally, a person can swallow a small amount of air while eating, but it is insignificant and does not cause serious consequences. Aerophagia, on the other hand, refers to disorders of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, when air is swallowed in large quantities that can form a bubble of impressive size.
• Age. Physiological changes occur in older people, due to which gas production increases and tends to linger inside, creating bloating.
• Pregnancy. With the development of the fetus, the uterus increases and begins to put pressure on the internal organs, pushing them apart. As a result, increased gas formation and difficulty in removing gases. Pregnant women complain of flatulence mainly in the later stages, but cases of bloating may become more frequent from the second trimester.
• Intestinal infections. Acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastritis, enterocolitis, colitis, rotovirus are always accompanied by severe bloating with vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea.

• Candidiasis. Fungal lesions of the intestine may be accompanied by flatulence, diarrhea and pain behind the peritoneum. In this case, gases are mainly a waste product of fungi.
• Invasions. Infection with various parasites can lead to the formation of not only a large number of gases, but also interfere with their removal due to weakening of the intestines and constipation.
• Colon pathologies. Chronic colitis, benign tumors and polyps, enlargement of the colon, all these diseases are often accompanied by painful bloating.
• Diseases of the stomach and esophagus. Pathologies of the esophagus and stomach provoke increased gas formation, which can become one of the symptoms of diseases such as reflux, hiatal hernia, and gastritis.

Diagnosis of flatulence

Determination of the bloating itself is usually not required, the patient comes to the doctor precisely because of the subjective sensation of an increase in the abdomen and discomfort in the peritoneum. An examination is necessary precisely to determine the cause of flatulence and its further treatment. The doctor needs to determine the disease or condition that provokes swelling and eliminate them. When complaining of flatulence, clinical studies are carried out such as:

• X-ray examinations. In order to determine damage to the digestive system.
• Abdominal ultrasound. Allows you to assess the internal state of organs, the presence of formations and cysts.
• Visual inspection. Endoscopic examination of the digestive organs or gastroscopy and colonoscopy demonstrate possible inflammation and tumors.

How to treat bloating?

The treatment of flatulence is individual. In each case, first of all, it is aimed at stopping the disease that provokes swelling. However, doctors often hear the question: “What to drink for bloating?” Then, to alleviate the condition, symptomatic therapy is also prescribed, which reduces the manifestations of flatulence.

Helps relieve bloating:

• Diet
• Absorbents
• Probiotics and prebiotics

• Enzyme therapy 900 04
• Cholagogues and antispasmodics

Proper eating habits are important for the health of every person, but they are sick help you recover faster. The foundation is always food. With flatulence, fractional meals in small portions 5-6 times a day are recommended. Meals should be organized so that there is always at the same time. Gas-forming foods, sweets, pastries, carbonated drinks and alcohol should be excluded from the diet.

Medication is prescribed to stop the negative conditions of flatulence. Antispasmodics relieve pain and motor disorders of the intestines, enzymes replace the missing elements in the stomach, and absorbents reduce the volume of gases. Normalize the microflora in the state of probiotics and prebiotics.

It is worth choosing complex products that can act in several directions. One such product is Lactoflorene® Flat Stomach.

Lactoflorene® Belly Flat contains alpha-galactosidase and beta-galactosidase, enzymes involved in the processing of gas-forming products. They are able to reduce the puffy effect of even foods such as legumes, cabbage and beer.