What causes gas?
Gas, or flatulence, is caused by excess air and gases from undigested food that build up in the digestive tract. The most common causes of gas include:
- Swallowing excess air while eating or drinking
- Eating certain foods that are difficult to digest, such as beans, vegetables, fruit, and grains
- Lactose intolerance or difficulty digesting milk products
- Food sensitivities or allergies
- Gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or celiac disease
The bacteria in your gut also produce gases like methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide when they help digest certain foods. Most people pass gas up to 20 times per day, and this is completely normal. However, excessive gas can cause discomfort.
Is passing gas healthy?
Passing gas is a healthy, normal bodily function. Holding in gas can cause abdominal distension, bloating, and cramping. Letting it out provides relief for most people. Gas is not harmful, unless it is accompanied by symptoms like pain, diarrhea, or vomiting. Some additional benefits of passing gas include:
- Releases trapped air from the intestines
- Expels waste gases from the gut
- Provides relief from discomfort and pain
- Prevents bloating and cramping
- Promotes gut health and motility
However, excess flatulence can sometimes signal an underlying digestive problem that needs medical attention. It’s best to see a doctor if you experience painful gas, sudden increases in gas, or it disrupts your quality of life.
Tips for reducing excess gas
While passing gas is healthy, excess gas can cause embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms. Here are some tips to help reduce excess gas:
- Eat slowly and avoid gulping air
- Limit carbonated drinks and gas-forming foods like beans
- Try over-the-counter gas relief medications like simethicone
- Exercise regularly to promote motility
- Try probiotic supplements to improve gut health
- Reduce gluten, dairy, and other foods that cause sensitivities
- Use activated charcoal supplements to trap intestinal gas
Making dietary and lifestyle changes can help minimize excess flatulence. Keeping a food journal is useful for identifying your personal gas triggers.
When to see a doctor
Occasional gas and bloating after eating is normal, but excessive flatulence or other concerning symptoms should prompt a discussion with your doctor. Seek medical advice if you experience:
- Prolonged or frequent flatulence
- New onset of gas
- Painful gas or bloating
- Gas associated with diarrhea or vomiting
- Unintentional changes in bowel habits
- Blood in the stool
- Unexplained weight loss
Your doctor can examine your symptoms, review your medical history, and order diagnostic tests to determine an underlying cause like:
- Food intolerances
- Gastroenteritis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Celiac disease
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Chronic constipation
Based on your test results, your doctor can offer personalized treatment options to help manage excessive gas.
Lifestyle changes to prevent gas
Diet and lifestyle factors often contribute to excess gas. Making the following changes may help reduce flatulence:
| Change | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Eat slowly | Prevents swallowing excess air while eating |
| Limit carbonated drinks | Reduces gas volume in GI tract |
| Limit dairy | Improves lactose intolerance symptoms |
| Reduce gluten | Improves celiac and gluten intolerance symptoms |
| Quit smoking | Smoking causes swallowing air and gas |
| Exercise regularly | Promotes motility and gas passage |
Making dietary changes, eating slower, quitting smoking, and exercising more can all help reduce flatulence. Keeping a food journal makes it easier to identify problem foods.
Gas-producing foods to avoid
Certain foods are notorious for causing gas and bloating in many people. Limiting the following gas-producing foods can help reduce flatulence:
- Beans, lentils, soybeans
- Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts
- Onions, leeks, garlic
- Apples, pears, peaches
- Whole grains and fiber cereals
- Milk, ice cream, cheese
- Sodas and carbonated drinks
- Beer, wine, champagne
- Sugar alcohols like xylitol, sorbitol
- Artificial sweeteners
However, keep in mind that the foods which cause gas are generally very healthy. Completely eliminating these nutritious foods long-term is not recommended. Instead, try limiting portion sizes of problem foods.
Tips for reducing farting sounds
The sound of flatulence comes from the vibration of anal sphincters as gas is propelled out. Here are some tips to help reduce noise from farting:
- Pass gas in the bathroom for more privacy
- Wear loose pants that don’t constrict the buttocks
- Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to fart
- Slowly let gas out instead of forcing it
- Avoid foods that make you gassy
- Try activated charcoal supplements to reduce gas volume
- Fill spaces with background noise
While it’s not possible to eliminate fart sounds completely, making some simple changes can help reduce noise and embarrassment.
Foods that relieve gas
Some foods may actually help improve digestive health and reduce flatulence. Try incorporating more of these gas-relieving foods:
- Yogurt contains probiotics to improve gut bacteria
- Papaya has the enzyme papain which aids digestion
- Ginger can relax GI muscles to release gas
- Fennel has compounds that relax the intestines
- Chamomile tea calms the digestive tract
- Peppermint relieves muscle spasms in the intestines
- Pineapple contains bromelain to improve protein digestion
Eating more gas-relieving foods can help provide relief from bloating and flatulence. Try integrating them into your diet along with other lifestyle changes.
Medical treatments for excessive gas
Several over-the-counter and prescription medications are available for managing excessive gas. Some common medical treatments include:
- Simethicone – Breaks up trapped gas bubbles
- Activated charcoal – Absorbs intestinal gas
- Beano – Contains the enzyme alpha-galactosidase to digest carbs that produce gas
- Lactase supplements – Helps digest lactose
- Antibiotics – For treating underlying SIBO or infections
- Laxatives – Relieves constipation to allow passing gas
- Antispasmodics – Relaxes GI tract muscles
- Antidepressants – Modulates GI pain perception
Your doctor can help determine if medications may be helpful for managing your gas symptoms. Prescription treatments are available for severe, persistent cases.
Tips for reducing fart smells
The odor of flatulence comes from sulfur-containing gases produced by gut bacteria as they break down certain foods. Strategies for reducing the smell include:
- Avoid foods that make your farts smelly like meat, eggs, dairy
- Eat more plant foods like fruits and vegetables
- Stay hydrated and avoid dehydration
- Take probiotic supplements to optimize your gut bacteria
- Consider activated charcoal supplements to trap smelly sulfur gases
- Pass gas in well-ventilated areas
- Burn a match or candle after passing gas
While you can’t eliminate all fart smells, simple tricks can help reduce the odor. Be sure to see your doctor if smelly flatulence is persistent or worsening.
When flatulence may indicate a health problem
Occasional gas and bloating is normal, but excessive or smelly flatulence can sometimes indicate an underlying health issue. See your doctor if you experience:
- Prolonged increase in gas
- New onset of foul-smelling flatulence
- Gas accompanied by diarrhea or constipation
- Very frequent passing of gas 10+ times per day
- Abdominal bloating and distension
- Sharp pains or cramps when passing gas
- Unexplained weight loss
These symptoms may be signs of lactose intolerance, IBS, SIBO, food sensitivities, gastrointestinal infections, or other chronic digestive problems. It’s important to seek medical attention to identify the cause and appropriate treatment.
When is excessive flatulence an emergency?
Most cases of increased gas are not emergencies. However, seek immediate medical care if you experience:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Blood in the stool
- Severe or worsening abdominal pain
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Fever higher than 101°F (38°C)
- Signs of an intestinal blockage like constipation and vomiting
These rare symptoms may indicate a medical emergency like a bowel obstruction, perforation, ischemia, or gastrointestinal infection requiring urgent evaluation and treatment.
Conclusion
Passing gas is generally a normal, healthy process that provides relief. But excessive flatulence can cause embarrassment and disrupt daily activities. Simple diet and lifestyle changes often help reduce gas. Speak with your doctor if excess gas persists or you experience concerning symptoms. Treatments are available for managing problematic flatulence. While passing gas is no one’s favorite topic, it’s a natural bodily function. Don’t suffer in silence – make changes to improve your digestive health and feel comfortable in your own skin.
