While these may not be a good idea if a person already has excessive bloating and pain, they may help someone release gas more easily. Farting is the way the body releases swallowed air and other trapped gasses.
The positions listed above may help relieve gas temporarily, but many people also look for ways to reduce the need to pass gas. While it may be impossible to make farts disappear completely, there are some ways to reduce the number of times a person has to pass gas each day. Many foods increase the amount of gas that results from the digestion of food.
Beans are well-known culprits, but these pulses contain many nutrients so should still be included in a healthful diet. Soaking beans before cooking them may help reduce flatulence in some people, while others may want to limit the quantity of beans they eat. Cutting down on other foods that cause gas may help as well. This includes foods high in sulfur or certain fermentable carbs and fibers, such as:. Dairy foods, including cheese and ice cream, may also cause gas, especially for people who are sensitive to lactose.
Another important tip is to chew all food slowly and with a closed mouth. A lot of trapped gas is swallowed air, which is more likely to happen if a person eats quickly or with their mouth open. While it is not always best to hold in a fart, sometimes it is necessary.
Whether in a crowded room or on a first date, there are plenty of reasons to hold in potentially embarrassing gas until it can be let out discreetly. Clenching the anus may help in the short term, and changing positions until the gas shifts in the body may also help. The best solution is for a person to take a moment to relieve the gas in a bathroom or away from other people. This way it will not build up and lead to uncomfortable bloating or pain.
Flatulence See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About flatulence 2. Causes of flatulence 3. Treating flatulence. About flatulence Flatulence is passing gas from the digestive system out of the back passage. Why it happens When you swallow food, water or saliva, you also swallow small amounts of air, which collects in the digestive system.
When to see your GP There are no medical guidelines defining the normal frequency or volume of flatulence. You should also visit your GP if you experience additional symptoms, such as: persistent abdominal pain and bloating recurring episodes of diarrhoea or constipation unexplained weight loss bowel incontinence blood in your stools faeces signs of an infection, such as a high temperature, vomiting, chills, joint pain and muscle pain These symptoms could be an indicator of a more serious health problem and may require investigation, such as a blood or stool test to look for an infection.
Controlling the problem Excessive flatulence can usually be controlled by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as: avoiding foods known to cause flatulence eating smaller and more frequent meals eating and drinking slowly exercising regularly There are also some over-the-counter medications that can help if your flatulence is troublesome, such as charcoal tablets or simethicone.
Causes of flatulence There are several natural causes of flatulence. Swallowing air It's perfectly normal to swallow air while breathing and eating. Excess air can be swallowed by: chewing gum smoking sucking on pen tops or hard sweets having loose-fitting dentures not chewing food slowly and thoroughly — swallowing large pieces of food causes you to swallow more air Hot and fizzy drinks also increase the amount of carbon dioxide in your stomach, although this is more likely to cause belching rather than flatulence.
Food and drink Some carbohydrates in food can't be digested and absorbed by the intestines. Foods containing a high amount of unabsorbable carbohydrates include: beans broccoli cabbage cauliflower artichokes raisins pulses lentils onions prunes apples Brussels sprouts Foods containing a lot of unrefined cereal fibre, such as bran, can also sometimes cause problems with wind and bloating.
Health conditions Certain health conditions can cause symptoms of flatulence, including: indigestion constipation irritable bowel syndrome IBS — a common digestive condition, which can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation coeliac disease — an intolerance to a protein called gluten, found in wheat, rye and barley lactose intolerance — where the body is unable to break down lactose a natural sugar found in milk and dairy products and can't absorb it into the blood gastroenteritis — a stomach and bowel infection malabsorption — where the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients properly giardiasis — an infection of the digestive system caused by tiny parasites Medicine Flatulence, often caused by indigestion , is a possible side effect of many types of medicine, including: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen some laxatives antifungal medicines statins varenicline Champix — used to help people stop smoking.
Treating flatulence Excessive flatulence can usually be treated by making changes to your diet and lifestyle. Several over-the-counter treatments are also available if your flatulence is becoming a problem.
Self care advice Diet You should try to avoid eating foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates. Certain processed foods should also be avoided as they can contain ingredients that cause flatulence, including: any foods with artifical sweeteners sugar-free sweets or chewing gum fizzy drinks However, it's still important to eat a healthy balanced diet , including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
These include: potatoes rice lettuce bananas grapes citrus fruits, such as oranges yoghurt It's important to note that people react differently to certain foods, so some foods listed above may still cause flatulence.
Swallowing air When eating, make sure you chew food slowly to reduce the amount of air you swallow. Exercise Getting plenty of exercise can help improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel. Medications and other remedies There are several over-the-counter remedies that can help treat the symptoms of flatulence, some of which are described below.
Charcoal tablets Charcoal tablets are a type of medication available over the counter from pharmacists. Dietary supplements Alpha-galactosidase is a dietary supplement that may help improve the digestion of carbohydrates and reduce symptoms of flatulence.
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Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Gas in the digestive tract. Accessed Jan. Papadakis MA, et al.
Gastrointestinal disorders. New York, N. Abraczinskas D. Intestinal gas and bloating. Feldman M, et al. Intestinal gas. Philadelphia, Pa. Overview of nutrition. Merck Manual Professional Version.
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