What Is Flatulence?

Flatulence is caused by having excess gas in the stomach or in the intestines. It can give you the feeling of being bloated and can result in you passing gas from the rectum or by belching. Flatulence is not a dangerous condition but it can lead to potentially embarrassing situations, which often leads people to seek medical help for the condition.

Types

• There are two causes of flatulence. One is to swallow air when you eat and the other comes from bacteria breaking down undigested foods in your colon. People can swallow air while eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco or sucking on candy. The majority of people release this built-up air by burping and belching, but sometimes air gets into the small intestine and works its way through the digestive tract until it comes out the rectum. The other type of flatulence results when undigested carbohydrates in food are broken down by bacteria in your intestines.

Effects

• It has been found that foods that cause flatulence in one person might not do so in another. Some people have a bacterial balance in their system that negates the gas, destroying it before it can emerge as flatulence. Some foods that are known to have the effect of producing flatulence are beans, cabbage, broccoli and asparagus; they all contain a complex sugar responsible for the gas. Starchy foods like potatoes and corn can do the trick as can onions, pears, artichokes and wheat. Dark beers and red wine are also notorious gas producing agents.

Identification

• Flatulence in excess can sometimes be an indicator of digestive problems. A deficiency of the enzyme lactase can make it hard for some people to digest lactose, a sugar found in many dairy products. This will cause flatulence and often can be an identifying factor in a diagnosis of being lactose intolerant. There are other conditions that precipitate flatulence in the digestive tract, such as those associated with poor absorption of nutrients, parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal obstructions that can include cancers, and a disease called diverticulitis, where the intestines can develop pockets that trap certain foods.

Time Frame

• Everyone is going to pass a certain amount of gas daily. There is always some gas in your intestines or rectum at any given time. The average individual will have flatulence 10 times a day and as much as 25. Higher than that is considered excessive and could indicate a problem. Belching is also a normal function, but if it occurs too frequently, it could be a sign of conditions such as peptic ulcers or reflux disease.

Prevention/Solution

• Most people can reduce excess flatulence by changing their diets, trying to monitor the amount of air they swallow and by taking medications. Some antibiotics can be effective if too much bacterial growth in your digestive tract is suspected to be the reason for your flatulence. To reduce constipation, which can add to flatulence, laxatives and fiber supplements are beneficial.