Flatulence

Flatulence, commonly known as the act of passing gas, is a natural bodily function that, although often met with embarrassment, is a part of human digestion. However, when this act becomes excessive, it can signal underlying health issues or result from dietary choices. Understanding the reason for flatulence and identifying effective remedies for flatulence is crucial in maintaining physical comfort and social confidence. 

What is Flatulence? 

Flatulence, commonly referred to as 'farting', is a normal bodily function caused by gas in the bowel. The intestines produce between 500 and 2,000 mls of gas daily. This gas gets passed out of the anus at regular intervals. This gas, or 'flatus', combines gasses, including methane, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. 

Causes of Flatulence 

Several factors can cause intestinal flatulence: 

• Swallowed Air: We swallow small quantities of air with food and liquid. The small intestine absorbs oxygen and nitrogen from swallowed air into the bloodstream, and any excess is expelled through the bowel. 
• Normal Digestion: Stomach acid gets neutralised by pancreatic secretions. The resulting interaction creates gas CO2 (carbon dioxide) as a residual product. 
• Intestinal Bacteria: The bowel contains a large number of bacteria that aid digestion by fermenting food components. This fermentation process synthesises gas as a residual product. Some of this gas is absorbed into the bloodstream and exhaled through the lungs, while the remainder is pushed along the bowel. 
• Medication Side Effects: Certain medications, including non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), laxatives, antifungal medicines, and statins, can contribute to excessive or smelly flatulence as a side effect. 
• High-fibre Foods: Fibre-rich food is essential for digestive health but can create excessive gas. The small intestine cannot break down certain compounds. It means extra work for the gas-producing intestinal bacteria, thus causing flatulence. 
• Lactose Intolerance: The person's inability to digest the particular sugars present in cow's milk. This condition can produce excessive amounts of intestinal gas. 
• Intolerance of Short-Chain Carbohydrates: Certain people may be susceptible to gas production from the fermentation of carbohydrates, such as fructose, present in many food products, including honey, corn syrup, and some fruits. 
• Underlying Digestive Disorders: Excessive gas can be a symptom of digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, or lactose intolerance. 

Diagnosis of Flatulence 

Your doctor will likely determine the cause of your excessive gas and gas pains based on the following: 

• Medical History: 
  • A review of your dietary habits, including any recent dietary changes or the introduction of new foods or beverages, will help identify potential triggers. 
• Physical Exam: During the physical exam, your doctor will: 
  • Tap your abdomen to check for tenderness or abnormalities. 
  • Use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds within your abdomen, which can indicate how well your digestive tract is functioning. 
  • Potentially perform a digital rectal exam. 
• Additional Tests: Sometimes, your doctor may order additional diagnostic tests, such as: 
  • Blood tests to check for conditions like celiac disease 
  • Breath tests to identify lactose intolerance or bacterial overgrowth 
  • Colon screening (sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) to detect digestive disorders like Crohn's disease or colon cancer 
  • Food elimination trials to determine if specific foods are causing gas 
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) tract exam, like an upper GI series or barium swallow, to evaluate the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine 

Treatment for Flatulence

The treatment approach varies based on the underlying cause and severity of the symptoms. 

• Dietary Changes: 
  • Reducing High-fibre Foods: Gradually reducing these foods or temporarily limiting their intake may alleviate symptoms. 
  • Avoiding Dairy Products: If you're lactose intolerant, limiting or eliminating dairy products from the diet can lessen gas and bloating. 
  • Limiting Sugar Substitutes: Artificial sweeteners like sorbitol and xylitol can be challenging to digest and may cause gas. 
  • Reducing Fatty and Fried Foods: These foods can delay gas clearance from the intestines, leading to discomfort. 
  • Cutting Back on Carbonated Beverages: The carbonation in these drinks can introduce excess gas into the digestive tract. 
• Lifestyle Modifications: 
  • Certain lifestyle changes can help prevent excessive air swallowing and promote better digestion, thus reducing flatulence: 
  • Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly 
  • Avoiding talking while eating 
  • Quitting smoking 
  • Ensuring proper denture fit (if applicable) 
• Over-the-Counter Medications and Supplements: 
  • Several over-the-counter products, such as simethicone, alpha-galactosidase, lactase supplements, and activated charcoal, may provide relief from gas and bloating. 

Complications 

Excessive or persistent flatulence can lead to various complications that require medical attention, such as: 

• Abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating 
• Social embarrassment, leading to anxiety and stress 

Home Remedies for Flatulence

Many home remedies can help prevent or relieve flatulence. Here are some effective options: 

• Dietary Changes: 
  • Eat smaller portions instead of large meals to aid digestion. 
  • Chew food slowly and thoroughly with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing excess air. 
  • Limit gas-producing foods like beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and whole grains. 
  • Avoid carbonated beverages.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking optimal water to prevent constipation, a cause of excessive flatulence. 
• Herbal Remedies: 
  • Drink peppermint, chamomile, ginger, or anise tea to aid digestion and reduce gas. 
  • Add fennel seeds to salads and stews, or chew them after meals to freshen breath and promote digestion. 
  • Clove oil can increase digestive enzymes and reduce intestinal gas when consumed after meals. 
• Other Remedies: 
  • A hot water bottle or pad on the abdomen can relax gut muscles and facilitate gas expulsion. 
  • Prepare a solution of one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water & drink before meals to prevent gas pain and bloating. 
  • Try activated charcoal tablets, which can trap and remove gas through stools. 
  • Consider probiotic supplements to promote healthy gut bacteria and improve digestion. 
  • Engage in moderate exercise like walking or yoga to improve digestion. 
  • Practice deep breathing exercises, but avoid excessive air intake, which can increase gas. 
  • Over-the-counter medications can help break up gas bubbles for easier passage. 

When to See the Doctor for Flatulence

While occasional flatulence is normal and harmless, there are certain situations when it's advisable to consult a doctor: 

• If excessive farting is affecting your quality of life and self-help measures or over-the- counter treatments, have not provided relief. 
• Persistent stomach ache, bloating, or discomfort that doesn't go away 
• Recurrent constipation or diarrhoea 
• If you experience unexplained weight loss. 
• If you notice blood in your stool for more than three weeks 
• Excessive or smelly flatulence 
• Difficulty passing stools and stomach pain 
• Bloating, indigestion, nausea, diarrhoea, and constipation, these symptoms may suggest underlying gastrointestinal diseases. 

How to Prevent Excessive Flatulence 

You can reduce the amount of involuntary flatulence you experience with certain diet changes and over-the-counter products. These include: 

• Eating Habits: Eat slowly and avoid eating while engaging in other activities. 
• Dietary Changes: Limit consumption of food with fructose, lactose, insoluble fibre, and starch. 
• Managing Food Intolerances: An elimination diet may help you identify the cause of your excess gas. 
• Over-the-Counter Medications: A digestive enzyme called a-galactosidase helps break down complex carbohydrates. 
• Probiotics and Exercise: Probiotics and exercise can improve digestion. 
• Avoiding Smoking: Smoking can add a lot of extra air to your body. It may be helpful to try quitting smoking if you do smoke. 

Conclusion

Through exploring the causes, remedies, and prevention strategies concerning flatulence, it becomes evident that this natural bodily function, though often a source of embarrassment, holds significant importance in our overall well-being and digestive health. By understanding dietary triggers like high-fibre foods and lactose and implementing suggested lifestyle modifications such as eating slowly and practising proper food choices, individuals can effectively manage & reduce the occurrence of excessive flatulence. Moreover, the emphasis on potential medical interventions for persistent issues underscores the importance of professional guidance in addressing underlying health conditions. 

FAQs

1. What foods cause excessive flatulence? 

Foods that cause flatulence are: 

• Beans, lentils, and legumes 
• Dairy products like milk, cheese, & ice cream (for those with lactose intolerance) 
• Whole grains (wheat, oats, & brown rice) that are high in fibre and raffinose 
• Certain vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, and cauliflower 
• Fruits such as apples, peaches, pears, and prunes (high in sorbitol and soluble fibre) 
• Onions 
• Processed foods with added fructose or lactose 
• Foods high in insoluble fibre, like oat bran and peas 

2. What are the leading causes of flatulence? 

The primary causes of flatulence include: 

• Swallowed air (aerophagia) while eating or drinking 
• Normal digestion process, where stomach acid interacts with pancreatic secretions, producing gas 
• Intestinal bacteria break down undigested food components through fermentation, releasing gases 
• Underlying Gastrointestinal diseases 

3. Why do some foods cause more gas? 

Certain foods can lead to excessive gas production due to the following reasons: 

• They contain complex sugars like raffinose or fructose that the body struggles to digest fully. These undigested sugars reach the colon, where bacteria ferment them, producing gas. 
• They are high in soluble fibre or sugar alcohols like sorbitol, which undergo bacterial fermentation in the colon and release gasses. 
• They contain insoluble fibre that the small intestine cannot break down, requiring extra work from gas-producing intestinal bacteria. 
• In lactose intolerance, the body lacks the necessary enzymes to properly digest certain carbohydrates, such as lactose, leading to fermentation and gas production. 

Dr. Snehal Makeshwar

MBBS, MD (Medicine), DNB (Gastroenterology), Fellowship in EUS
Ganga CARE Hospital Limited, Nagpur

To Book an Appointment, call:

+91 406 810 6585

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