Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMorning Gas CausesNighttime FlatulencePreventionWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Morning Gas Causes
Nighttime Flatulence
Prevention
When to Seek Medical Care
Morning gas and farting in your sleep can have a few different causes. You might fart at night or first thing in the morning because of normal variations in your anal sphincter, the ring of muscle that keeps the anus shut. Your anal sphincter is more relaxed during sleep and will spontaneously relax as you awaken, which makes it easier for gas to escape.
Other factors like older age,diet, obesity, and even the position of your body in bed can also contribute to night farts and morning gas. So cangastrointestinal problems,rectal injury, and medications.
Causes of Morning Gas and Bloating
The causes of morning gas are the same as they are for all farts, also known asflatus. Gas enters your digestive tract when you swallow air while eating, or as acids and bacteria in your digestive system break down food and drink.
Throughout the night, healthy bacteria work in your gut to digest food. The process of creating gas continues as you sleep, which can cause you to wake up with morning gas.
When you eat, it also stimulates the digestive system muscle activity that’s suppressed when you sleep.Getting up in the morning and starting your day may spur a bout of morning farts, especially if you have a routine morning bowel movement.
In some cases, medical conditions can also cause excess gas.
Morning Gas and Inability to BelchIn 2019, researchers described a digestive syndrome called retrogradecricopharyngeusdysfunction (R-CPD) in which people are unable to belch. When air can’t escape through the esophagus, it instead travels through the intestinal tract and eventually escapes as flatulence. This can cause excess morning gas. Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections in muscles of the throat have proven effective in relieving R-CPD symptoms.
Morning Gas and Inability to Belch
In 2019, researchers described a digestive syndrome called retrogradecricopharyngeusdysfunction (R-CPD) in which people are unable to belch. When air can’t escape through the esophagus, it instead travels through the intestinal tract and eventually escapes as flatulence. This can cause excess morning gas. Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections in muscles of the throat have proven effective in relieving R-CPD symptoms.
Short-Term Causes
There are a few possible reasons why you might wake upbloated. Trapped gas in your digestive tract can make you feel gassy, distended, and painful.
This uncomfortable morning feeling often has something to do with what you ate the night before. Food and drinks that cause gas can cause morning bloating, too, especially if consumed late at night.
Other things that can contribute to morning bloating include:
If morning bloating is a frequent problem for you, try these tips:
If your morning bloating persists, you may need to see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Why Is My Face Bloated in the Morning?A bloated face can happen alongside abdominal bloating. Fluid retention from eating high-sodium foods or drinking alcohol can cause this, but underlying medical conditions can, too. If this happens more than occasionally, see your healthcare provider.
Why Is My Face Bloated in the Morning?
A bloated face can happen alongside abdominal bloating. Fluid retention from eating high-sodium foods or drinking alcohol can cause this, but underlying medical conditions can, too. If this happens more than occasionally, see your healthcare provider.
Medications That Cause Gas
Medications and vitamin supplements can cause gas, too. Some of the more commonly used over-the-counter products that can cause gas include:
Facts About Gas and FartingThe average person produces between 0.6 and 1.8 liters of gas per day. It leaves the body either as a burp or fart. The average person farts 12 to 25 times a day.
Facts About Gas and Farting
The average person produces between 0.6 and 1.8 liters of gas per day. It leaves the body either as a burp or fart. The average person farts 12 to 25 times a day.
Long-Term Causes
Medical conditions may contribute to how much gas your digestive system produces. This includes digestive diseases, like:
It also includes digestive conditions, such as:
And, other medical conditions including:
Causes of Farting in Your Sleep
It may seem like you have more morning gas, but experts say that’s not always true. You’re less likely to swallow air while sleeping, but you may actually be more likely to fart than you are while you’re awake.
This may have to do with the body’s metabolic state while sleeping, although it remains poorly understood.It’s also likely related to the way your anal sphincter works, its level of relaxation, and the pressure inside your rectum that helps you to expel gas and feces (poop).
Sometimes, the anal and rectal pressures associated with farting and passing feces are assessed with ananorectal manometertest, often used when treating bowel movement difficulties in children.
The sphincter controls your ability to pass gas, which relies on specific reflexes and messages from the nervous system. One, called the coloanal reflex, is at work when you fart because it allows for both the internal and external anal sphincter to relax in response to pressure waves in the rectum.
Another, called therectoanal inhibitory reflex(RAIR), allows the internal sphincter to relax but not the external sphincter. This helps with control over gas and bowel movements.
People don’t typically lose bowel control when sleeping unless there’s an underlying medical reason, but the gas itself may pass. On the other hand, sleep inhibits muscle activity that’s involved in these responses, so some people may find they have far more morning gas when they wake up.
Preventing Morning Gas and Nighttime Flatulence
If you’re looking to prevent morning gas, consider a few lifestyle changes first. You may want to avoid some of the activities that can introduce gas into your digestive system. These include:
Avoiding certain foods like beans can help, too. Other foods that lead to gas include:
Exercise also can help to establish healthier bowel habits and less frequent gas.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including products withsimethiconeto relieve gas, can also help.
How Do I Release Gas From My Stomach?You may be able torelieve bloatingwith techniques like massaging your belly, drinking peppermint tea, or going for a walk.
How Do I Release Gas From My Stomach?
You may be able torelieve bloatingwith techniques like massaging your belly, drinking peppermint tea, or going for a walk.
8 Foods That Can Cause Gas and Bloating: Beans, Mushrooms, and More
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Consult a healthcare provider for gas and flatulence if you experience:
Summary
Morning gassiness is common and typically related to diet and lifestyle choices like food intolerances or smoking. The digestive process also generates gas, along with swallowed air. While you pass gas when asleep, the act of starting your day and your normal bowel routine may contribute to morning flatulence.
Treatment involves OTC gas relief products and dietary and lifestyle changes. However, if symptom management doesn’t lead to lasting relief, consult a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Rarely, excessive gas may be due to a serious medical condition.
15 SourcesVerywell 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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gas in the digestive tract.Nocera F, Angehrn F, von Flüe M, Steinemann DC.Optimising functional outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2021 Mar;406(2):233-250. doi:10.1007/s00423-020-01937-5.Hoesli RC, Wingo ML, Bastian RW.The long-term efficacy of botulinum toxin injection to treat retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction.OTO Open. 2020 Jun 29;4(2):2473974X20938342. doi:10.1177/2473974X20938342.Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of the DASH diet and sodium intake on bloating: Results from the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283Fifi AC, Axelrod CH, Chakraborty P, Saps M.Herbs and spices in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders: A review of clinical trials.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1715. doi:10.3390/nu10111715Swami OC, Shah NJ.Functional dyspepsia and the role of digestive enzymes supplement in its therapy.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(5):1035-41. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20171653Penn Medicine Lancaster.Medicines or vitamins that can cause gas, bloating, or burping.Gastrointestinal Society.Intestinal gas.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of Gas in the Digestive Tract.Leeds JS, Hadjivassiliou M, Tesfaye S, Sanders DS.Lower gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with worse glycemic control and quality of life in type 1 diabetes mellitus.BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2018;6(1):e000514. Published 2018 May 29. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000514Shukla C, Basheer R.Metabolic signals in sleep regulation: recent insights.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:9–20. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62365Carrington EV, Brokjaer A, Craven H, Zarate N, Horrocks EJ, Palit S,et al.Traditional measures of normal anal sphincter function using high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) in 115 healthy volunteers.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014 May;26(5):625-35. doi:10.1111/nmo.12307.Huizinga JD, Liu L, Barbier A, Chen JH.Distal Colon Motor Coordination: The Role of the Coloanal Reflex and the Rectoanal Inhibitory Reflex in Sampling, Flatulence, and Defecation.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Sep 6;8:720558. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.Merck Manual.Gas - Evaluation.Mount Sinai.Gas - flatulence.
15 Sources
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.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gas in the digestive tract.Nocera F, Angehrn F, von Flüe M, Steinemann DC.Optimising functional outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2021 Mar;406(2):233-250. doi:10.1007/s00423-020-01937-5.Hoesli RC, Wingo ML, Bastian RW.The long-term efficacy of botulinum toxin injection to treat retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction.OTO Open. 2020 Jun 29;4(2):2473974X20938342. doi:10.1177/2473974X20938342.Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of the DASH diet and sodium intake on bloating: Results from the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283Fifi AC, Axelrod CH, Chakraborty P, Saps M.Herbs and spices in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders: A review of clinical trials.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1715. doi:10.3390/nu10111715Swami OC, Shah NJ.Functional dyspepsia and the role of digestive enzymes supplement in its therapy.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(5):1035-41. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20171653Penn Medicine Lancaster.Medicines or vitamins that can cause gas, bloating, or burping.Gastrointestinal Society.Intestinal gas.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of Gas in the Digestive Tract.Leeds JS, Hadjivassiliou M, Tesfaye S, Sanders DS.Lower gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with worse glycemic control and quality of life in type 1 diabetes mellitus.BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2018;6(1):e000514. Published 2018 May 29. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000514Shukla C, Basheer R.Metabolic signals in sleep regulation: recent insights.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:9–20. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62365Carrington EV, Brokjaer A, Craven H, Zarate N, Horrocks EJ, Palit S,et al.Traditional measures of normal anal sphincter function using high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) in 115 healthy volunteers.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014 May;26(5):625-35. doi:10.1111/nmo.12307.Huizinga JD, Liu L, Barbier A, Chen JH.Distal Colon Motor Coordination: The Role of the Coloanal Reflex and the Rectoanal Inhibitory Reflex in Sampling, Flatulence, and Defecation.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Sep 6;8:720558. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.Merck Manual.Gas - Evaluation.Mount Sinai.Gas - flatulence.
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.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gas in the digestive tract.Nocera F, Angehrn F, von Flüe M, Steinemann DC.Optimising functional outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2021 Mar;406(2):233-250. doi:10.1007/s00423-020-01937-5.Hoesli RC, Wingo ML, Bastian RW.The long-term efficacy of botulinum toxin injection to treat retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction.OTO Open. 2020 Jun 29;4(2):2473974X20938342. doi:10.1177/2473974X20938342.Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of the DASH diet and sodium intake on bloating: Results from the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283Fifi AC, Axelrod CH, Chakraborty P, Saps M.Herbs and spices in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders: A review of clinical trials.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1715. doi:10.3390/nu10111715Swami OC, Shah NJ.Functional dyspepsia and the role of digestive enzymes supplement in its therapy.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(5):1035-41. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20171653Penn Medicine Lancaster.Medicines or vitamins that can cause gas, bloating, or burping.Gastrointestinal Society.Intestinal gas.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of Gas in the Digestive Tract.Leeds JS, Hadjivassiliou M, Tesfaye S, Sanders DS.Lower gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with worse glycemic control and quality of life in type 1 diabetes mellitus.BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2018;6(1):e000514. Published 2018 May 29. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000514Shukla C, Basheer R.Metabolic signals in sleep regulation: recent insights.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:9–20. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62365Carrington EV, Brokjaer A, Craven H, Zarate N, Horrocks EJ, Palit S,et al.Traditional measures of normal anal sphincter function using high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) in 115 healthy volunteers.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014 May;26(5):625-35. doi:10.1111/nmo.12307.Huizinga JD, Liu L, Barbier A, Chen JH.Distal Colon Motor Coordination: The Role of the Coloanal Reflex and the Rectoanal Inhibitory Reflex in Sampling, Flatulence, and Defecation.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Sep 6;8:720558. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.Merck Manual.Gas - Evaluation.Mount Sinai.Gas - flatulence.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gas in the digestive tract.
Nocera F, Angehrn F, von Flüe M, Steinemann DC.Optimising functional outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2021 Mar;406(2):233-250. doi:10.1007/s00423-020-01937-5.
Hoesli RC, Wingo ML, Bastian RW.The long-term efficacy of botulinum toxin injection to treat retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction.OTO Open. 2020 Jun 29;4(2):2473974X20938342. doi:10.1177/2473974X20938342.
Peng AW, Juraschek SP, Appel LJ, Miller ER 3rd, Mueller NT.Effects of the DASH diet and sodium intake on bloating: Results from the DASH-Sodium Trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(7):1109-1115. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000283
Fifi AC, Axelrod CH, Chakraborty P, Saps M.Herbs and spices in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders: A review of clinical trials.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1715. doi:10.3390/nu10111715
Swami OC, Shah NJ.Functional dyspepsia and the role of digestive enzymes supplement in its therapy.Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(5):1035-41. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20171653
Penn Medicine Lancaster.Medicines or vitamins that can cause gas, bloating, or burping.
Gastrointestinal Society.Intestinal gas.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & Causes of Gas in the Digestive Tract.
Leeds JS, Hadjivassiliou M, Tesfaye S, Sanders DS.Lower gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with worse glycemic control and quality of life in type 1 diabetes mellitus.BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2018;6(1):e000514. Published 2018 May 29. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000514
Shukla C, Basheer R.Metabolic signals in sleep regulation: recent insights.Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:9–20. doi:10.2147/NSS.S62365
Carrington EV, Brokjaer A, Craven H, Zarate N, Horrocks EJ, Palit S,et al.Traditional measures of normal anal sphincter function using high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) in 115 healthy volunteers.Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014 May;26(5):625-35. doi:10.1111/nmo.12307.
Huizinga JD, Liu L, Barbier A, Chen JH.Distal Colon Motor Coordination: The Role of the Coloanal Reflex and the Rectoanal Inhibitory Reflex in Sampling, Flatulence, and Defecation.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Sep 6;8:720558. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.
Merck Manual.Gas - Evaluation.
Mount Sinai.Gas - flatulence.
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