Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesHow to Treat Excessive GasWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
How to Treat Excessive Gas
When to See a Provider
Excessive gas in your digestive tract can lead to flatulence (farting) and can cause bloating and abdominal pain or cramping. Everyone passes gas, with most people doing so 10 to 20 times per day.Gas is often treatable with diet and lifestyle changes, or withover-the-counter remedies, but with excessive gas you may need to find out the cause.
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1. Food Intolerance
There are certain foods that are gassy. These tend to be foods that take longer to be broken down and absorbed in the gut, providing them time to ferment and produce gas.
These include carbohydrates known asFODMAPs(fermentableoligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) that are especially gassy.
Foods and drinks that can cause excessive gas include:
People with certain health conditions may be more prone to having gas after eating certain foods. For example, excessive gas can occur in people withlactose intolerancewhen they eat dairy products like milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.Similarly, someone with gluten sensitivity may develop gas and other symptoms after eating wheat or other grain products that contain gluten.
Is Gassy Food Bad?Many foods that cause gas are also good for you. If you gradually add them to your diet, your body should adapt and produce less gas over time. Simply eat smaller portions when first starting and increase your intake gradually as you are better able to tolerate the foods.
Is Gassy Food Bad?
Many foods that cause gas are also good for you. If you gradually add them to your diet, your body should adapt and produce less gas over time. Simply eat smaller portions when first starting and increase your intake gradually as you are better able to tolerate the foods.
2. Swallowing Air
Gas can occur when you swallow extra air. Although some of the air will be expelled from the mouth when you belch or burp, the rest may travel through the digestive tract—moving in pockets with stool—and emerge from the anus as a fart.
There are certain habits that can cause you to swallow excess air:
Some mechanical causes, like wearing loose-fitting dentures, can cause you to swallow more air.So can the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat sleep apnea.
Anxietycan also cause you to swallow more air as it increases your respiratory rate and may even lead tohyperventilation.
Farting is perfectly normal and it occurs in healthy people many times a day. Even up to 25 episodes per day should not be a cause for concern.
3. Constipation
Constipationcan cause bloating and gas. When unpassed stool in the colon ferments, it can lead to painful gas and bloating. Other symptoms of constipation include:
4. Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack the small intestine in the presence of gluten, a protein found in certain grains such as wheat and barley. Celiac disease can cause several uncomfortable symptoms, including:
5. Digestive Disease
Other conditions of the digestive tract may have excess gas as a symptom. These include the following:
6. Cancer
Certain cancers may cause gas as a symptom. These conditions may also have other subtle symptoms in the early stages.
7. Diabetes
Diabetescan cause lower gastrointestinal symptoms such as flatulence, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. These symptoms tend to be associated with poorer blood sugar control.
Diet and lifestyle changes, along with improved blood sugar control, are treatment options. When the symptoms are due to diabetic gastroparesis, a common digestive complication, it can be treated with Reglan (metoclopramide).
8. Medications
Some over-the-counter and prescription drugs also can cause gas and bloating, including:
Does the Smell Mean Anything?
In most cases, farting is not a cause for concern. Even so, there are steps you can take to help reduce gas if you are prone to frequent farting.
Lifestyle Changes
To swallow less air, avoid drinking carbonated beverages and using straws. Gradually add someinsoluble fiberinto your diet and try not to lie down immediately after eating.
OTC Medication
OTC treatment options include:
You can also apply a heating pad to your belly whenever you’re gassy. The heat will relax muscles in the large intestine, causing them to release trapped gas.
Prescription Medications
Excessive gas can occur due to an underlying condition, and you may need to be treated for diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer, or another condition. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication for conditions that lead to gas.
Keep in mind that some treatments also can cause gas. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy for cancer may cause gas, constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive symptoms.Talk with your healthcare provider about how to manage symptoms that may be related to your care.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If the frequency of farting concerns you, speak with your healthcare provider. It may help to keep a diary so that you can describe when and how often you experienced farting, including what you ate, when, and the amount.
Other symptoms to report to a healthcare provider can include mucus orblood in the stool, chronic heartburn, or vomiting.
Summary
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have excessive gas or if frequent farting is making you uncomfortable. By changing the way you eat or avoiding certain foods or medicines, you may be able to bring the symptom under control. Some over-the-counter drugs and supplements can also help.
Does Farting Burn Calories?
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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