{"id":20421,"date":"2023-04-20T13:41:40","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T18:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20421"},"modified":"2023-07-19T10:50:20","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T15:50:20","slug":"lets-clear-the-air-on-farts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/lets-clear-the-air-on-farts\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s Clear the Air on Farts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flatulence may be the brunt of many jokes, but it\u2019s also a completely normal, even medically necessary bodily function.\u00a0<\/span>Your digestive system \u2014 your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon \u2014\u00a0is made up of one long, balloon-like tube. \u201cLike a real balloon, too much gas in your digestive system can cause it to pop, which is life-threatening,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. <\/span>Andrew Boxer<\/span><\/a>, a gastroenterologist in Clifton, New Jersey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If too much gas builds up inside your gastrointestinal tract, your body finds a way to release it. You burp when there\u2019s gas in your stomach, and you fart when you have gas in your small intestines and colon. <\/span>On average<\/span><\/a>, adults produce up to three pints of gas daily, which passes through the anus each day anywhere from 14 to 23 times (yes, that means 23 farts).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While passing gas is an important bodily function, certain signs can indicate mild to potentially severe health problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We spoke to the experts about common fart patterns, what they could mean and when it\u2019s time to check in with a doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Stinky farts<\/h3>\n

Flatulence stinks for a reason. When you digest food, your gut bacteria help break down your food, creating gas in the process. Depending on what you eat, this gas can range from slightly smelly to straight-up offensive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The occasional very stinky fart usually isn\u2019t a concern. Commonly, stinky farts occur after you eat a type of carbohydrates called <\/span>FODMAPs<\/span><\/a>, which your gut bacteria ferment and turn into a stinkier gas. Common examples include asparagus, artichokes, garlic and onions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, as well as eggs, contain chemicals that release sulfur. That\u2019s why you might also notice a particular stench after eating these types of foods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, more intense fart odors can occur if your pancreas isn\u2019t properly absorbing fat in your diet. If this is the case, you might also notice floating, greasy fat in your poop. \u201cWhen people have malodorous gas or stools that aren\u2019t due to diet changes, that could relate to pancreatic insufficiency,\u201d says gastroenterologist <\/span>Dr. Sarah Robbins<\/span><\/a>, based in Kelowna, British Columbia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inflammation of the pancreas, also called pancreatitis, could be one cause. Sometimes gallbladder problems can also cause fat-absorbing problems.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

More frequent farts<\/h3>\n

Excess farting usually happens due to changes in gut motility, or how quickly your gut digests food. The longer your food stays inside your digestive tract, the more your gut bacteria can ferment it, potentially causing an increase in flatulence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Increased gut motility, which means your digestive tract is breaking down food faster than usual,\u00a0can also cause you to poop or toot more. This often happens when your body can\u2019t properly process carbohydrates. Lactose intolerance and celiac disease (the inability to process wheat gluten) are other common causes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, can also cause increased gas and bloating. \u201cWith SIBO, you have too much bacteria in your intestinal tract, so you experience more gas when you eat any food,\u201d says Boxer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Loud farts<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not only your digestion that causes you to fart. You can also accumulate excess gas by swallowing air when you talk, eat or drink too quickly, drink carbonated beverages or chew gum. When this happens, your body expels the gas with more velocity, so your flatulence will be louder (but probably less smelly).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Louder farts can sometimes signal excessive gas due to something you\u2019re eating or a digestive problem, such as an infection. \u201cIf someone came to me with frequent louder gas, I\u2019d try to check them for SIBO and dietary problems,\u201d says Boxer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Farts with pain or other symptoms<\/h3>\n

If you eat lots of high-fiber foods \u2014\u00a0for example, beans and\/or whole grains \u2014\u00a0you might get a buildup of gas that makes your flatulence feel kind of painful. \u201cIf you have a big accumulation of air, your gut can be like a balloon under pressure, which may hurt,\u201d says Robbins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But in general, it\u2019s not normal to experience pain because of farting. If it happens a lot, you should definitely see a doctor \u2014 especially if you notice other bothersome GI symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Any persistent or worsening patterns, such as changes in fart odor or frequency or farts that come with other symptoms, warrant a check-in with your medical provider. If needed, your primary care provider can refer you to a gastroenterologist for investigation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See your medical provider ASAP if you have persistent GI problems accompanied by weight loss or anytime you notice blood in stool (which may appear black rather than red).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news? Temporary changes in your farting habits (while frustrating and maybe a little gross) are usually nothing to worry about, as long as they go away. \u201cThe vast majority of the time, it\u2019s just the cabbage,\u201d says Robbins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Need an appointment with a gastroenterologist<\/a>? Find one on Zocdoc.<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

They are actually pretty great indicators of health. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":20422,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[103,83],"class_list":["post-20421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-prep","tag-wellness","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"\nLet's Clear the Air on Farts - Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"They are actually pretty great indicators of health.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/lets-clear-the-air-on-farts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Let's Clear the Air on Farts - 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