Flatulence is passing gas from the digestive system out of the back passage. It is more commonly known as ‘passing wind’ or ‘farting’.
Farting is often something that is laughed about but excessive flatulence can be embarrassing and make you feel uncomfortable around other people. However, it can usually be controlled with changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Flatulence is very common and it is something that everyone experiences regularly. Like breathing and sweating, flatulence is a normal biological process. Some people pass wind only a few times a day, others a lot more, but the average is said to be about 15 times a day.
Why do we fart?
When you swallow food, water or saliva, you also swallow small amounts of air, which collects in the digestive system. This gas is mostly made up of nitrogen and oxygen. Gas is also released when you digest food, mostly in the form of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide.
The body needs to get rid of the build-up of excess gas and does so either by flatulence (farting) or belching (burping).
Sometimes, you may not notice that you have passed wind because the gases are odorless and are often released in small quantities. The bad smell that is commonly associated with flatulence is caused by trace elements of sulphur gases, which can develop if food has not been properly digested and starts to decompose.
There are several possible causes of flatulence. It can be caused by swallowing more air than usual or eating food that is difficult to digest. Or it can be due to an underlying health problem that is affecting the digestive system.
There are also several medical conditions that can cause flatulence, such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is a condition that causes indigestion and bloating.
Read more about the causes of flatulence.
When to see your GP
You should visit your GP if you are experiencing other symptoms as well as flatulence, such as abdominal pain, recurring diarrhoea or constipation, unexplained weight loss or blood in your stools. Read more about the symptoms of flatulence.
Treatment
If you have excessive flatulence, the problem can usually be controlled by making changes to your diet and lifestyle. If the cause of your flatulence is related to a separate health problem, you may need medication to help control your symptoms while the underlying health condition is treated.
Read more about treating flatulence.
