Flatulence, also known as "farting" or "passing wind", is the passing of gas from the digestive system out of the back passage.
Flatus is the medical word for gas generated in the intestinal tract. Medical literature describes flatulence as "flatus expelled through the anus" .
Flatulence is commonly a source of laughter or embarrassment. Excessive flatulence can cause enormous discomfort and distress, mainly when there are other people around. A bout of flatulence can strike at the most undesirable moments - during a meeting, or even worse in a crowded elevator. In the majority of cases, it is not a serious condition.
Doctors say that in the majority of cases, excessive gas can be controlled with a change of diet and lifestyle.
Passing wind is a normal biological process, like sweating, burping or breathing. Everybody farts, even those who seem not to. So don't feel about it
The average human passes wind approximately 15 times a day. (NHS, UK)
Why do humans fart?
When we eat, drink or swallow saliva, we also swallow tiny amounts of air. This swallowed air accumulates in the gut. The gas within our digestive system consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
When we digest food, gas, mainly in the form of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide is released.
As the gas builds up, the body may need to get rid of it - this is done by either burping (belching) or flatulence (farting).
Many times, flatulence occurs and the person is unaware of it - there is no smell, and the amount is tiny. When there is a smell, there are usually small amounts of sulfur gases. If food has not been digested properly, it starts to decompose (rot), releasing sulfur.
Flatulence signs and symptoms
In the majority of cases, flatulence is nothing to worry about; it is a normal human condition which can be treated with self-care techniques.
Flatulence is not usually a reason to go and see your doctor, unless the symptoms are severe, it occurs too frequently and with a foul smell, or there are some additional symptoms which could indicate the presence of an underlying digestive condition.
A bloated feeling or pains in the abdomen can commonly accompany flatulence.
Below are some signs and symptoms of flatulence when they are seen as troublesome:
- Episodes of flatulence occur frequently, often involuntarily
- When an episode of flatulence occurs, a lot of wind is released
- Farting is consistently foul-smelling
- There may be sharp, jabbing pains (cramps) in the abdomen. Sometimes they may change location, within the abdomen
A bloated feeling in the abdomen
A knotted sensation in the abdomen.
What causes flatulence?
Flatulence can have several natural causes, and may also be the consequence of a condition that affects the digestive system.
Intestinal gas consists of:
Exogenous sources - air that comes in from outside. We swallow it when we eat, drink or swallow saliva. It can occur when we experience nausea or acid reflux and excess saliva is produced.
Endogenous sources - it is produced within the gut. Gas may be produced as a by-product of digestion of certain foods, or when foods are not digested completely.
Anything that causes food not to be
digested completely by the stomach and/or small intestine can cause flatulence when it reaches the large intestine.
Foods that cause flatulence are generally those high in certain polysaccharides, particularly oligosaccharides, such as inulin.
Inulin belongs to a class of dietary fibers known as fructans.
Examples include:
Artichokes
Beans
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cashews
Cauliflower
Dairy products
Egg
Garlic
Leeks
Lentils
Oats
Onions
Radishes
Rutabagas
Scallions
Sweet potatoes
Turnips
Wheat
Yeast (in baked products, such as bread).
Generally foods that dont easily digest.
Sources: MedicalNewsToday & Tbthealth.
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