Flatulence

What is it?

Flatulence is passing gas from the digestive system out of the back passage. Excessive flatulence can be embarrassing and make you feel uncomfortable around others. Flatulence is a normal biological process and is something everyone experiences regularly.

Why it happens

When you swallow food, water or saliva, you also swallow small amounts of air, which collects in the digestive system. Gases can also build up when you digest food.

The body needs to get rid of the build-up of flatulence by belching.

Excessive flatulence can be down to swallowing more air than usual or eating food that’s difficult to digest. It can also be related irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

When to see your GP

There are no medical guidelines defining what the normal frequency or volume of flatulence is.

You should see your GP if your flatulence is particularly troublesome, such as frequently passing smelly gas. And for additional symptoms, such as persistent abdominal pain and bloating; recurring episodes of diarrhoea or constipation; unexplained weight loss; bowel incontinence; blood in your stools; and signs of an infection, such as a high temperature, vomiting, chills, joint pain and muscle pain.

These symptoms could indicate a more serious health problem and require investigation.

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 – like onions, peas and beans; eating smaller and more frequent meals; eating and drinking slowly, and exercising regularly.

There are also some over-thecounter medicines which can help if your flatulence is troublesome, such as charcoal tablets or Simethicone.

If flatulence is related to a health problem, treating the condition may help resolve the problem.