Flatulence: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, & Prevention

This is some text inside of a div block.

July 14, 2022

min read

This is some text inside of a div block.

views

Home

/

What is flatulence?

Flatulence is the medical term for the collection of gas in the digestive system. The gas is released through the anus. It is a common process and is commonly called farting or passing wind.Two types of flatulence can take place:

Swallowing air while eating or drinking can lead to the collection of oxygen and nitrogen in the digestive tract.
During the process of digestion of food, digestive gases such as hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide get collected in the digestive tract.

Too much flatulence can cause abdominal discomfort. While flatulence can be a result of consuming certain foods, excessive flatulence can also be a sign of a more serious condition.

‍Flatulence Symptoms

‍Excessive flatulence symptoms include:

Passing wind often
Passing smelly gas
Loud flatus
Abdominal discomfort or distress
Rumblings in the lower abdomen

Who is at risk?

‍Flatulence risk factors include:

Chewing gum
Smoking
Consuming carbonated drinks
Unhealthy diet
Consuming food that produces excess bowel gas
Lack of exercise

Flatulence Causes

‍Flatulence is common and intestinal gases are a part of the digestive system. Causes of flatulence include:

Swallowed air:

While small amounts of air are normally swallowed during eating and drinking, an excessive amount of air, if swallowed, can contribute to flatulence.

Normal digestion:‍

During digestion, stomach acid is neutralized by pancreatic secretions. This can create intestinal gases.

Intestinal bacteria:‍

Some food components are digested with the help of bacteria by the process of fermentation. This process produces gas as a by-product.

High fibre foods:

While fibre is essential for digestive health, it has the potential to create gas. The digestion of high-fibre means extra work for the gas-producing bacteria, resulting in flatulence.

Lactose intolerance:

The body digests the particular sugars in cow's milk by fermentation. This can lead to the formation of gas.

Intolerance of short-chain carbohydrates:

Some people may be prone to gas production from fermentation of other carbohydrates like short-chain carbohydrate such as fructose which is present in many foods like honey, corn syrups, and some fruits.

One of the other reasons for flatulence is an underlying medical condition. Some of these conditions include:

Constipation
Irritable bowel syndrome
Gastroenteritis
Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance
Crohns disease
Celiac disease
Diabetes
Eating disorders
Peptic ulcers
Ulcerative colitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

How is flatulence diagnosed?

‍If a person has unexplained flatulence or is experiencing additional symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, abdominal pain, etc. they should see a flatulence doctor.Gastroenterologists will begin by discussing the symptoms, when they started occurring and the frequency of the occurrence. He may also do a physical examination of the abdomen.For flatulence diagnosis, a doctor may order for a blood test to check for any infections, identify any likely food intolerance, and to rule out the possibility of an underlying medical condition.Care.fit is a premium medical and healthcare provider offering on-time consultations, digital records, free follow-ups, and quality care to provide you with a hassle-free experience. It is a top-grade health centre with an in-house Pharmacy & diagnostics set up full body check-ups and doctor consultations with a team of expert General Physicians, Paediatricians, Physiotherapists, Orthopaedics, and Medical and Lifestyle Coaches for complete healthcare.How is flatulence treated?Flatulence is not a grave problem and, in most cases, flatulence cure is done by bringing about a change in the diet and lifestyle. Some of these remedies are:

Look at your diet:

Replace carbohydrates that are difficult to digest with carbohydrates that are easier to digest like potatoes, rice, and banana, etc.

Keep a food diary:

This will help in the identification of triggers and working towards avoiding and eliminating them

Eat less more:

Instead of three large meals, try eating five to six small meals. This will help in the digestive process.

Chew properly:

Chewing the food slowly and properly is important because digestion starts in the mouth.

Avoiding gum and carbonated drinks:

‍Chewing gum and consuming carbonated drinks can increase the amount of air swallowed.

Exercise:

Exercising can help in enhancing the functioning of the digestive system and preventing flatulence while promoting healthy digestion.

If lifestyle and dietary changes are not enough, doctors may prescribe over-the-counter medicine for flatulence like charcoal tablets, antacids, and dietary supplements. These will help in the flatulence treatment.If the flatulence is because of an underlying medical condition, it is important to treat flatulence.