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Flatulence

Condition Overview:

Flatulence is the sensation of an increased amount of gas in the digestive tract.

Increased amounts of gas can gather in the stomach or farther along the digestive tract. Excess gas is expelled through the mouth (belching) or through the anus (known colloquially as farting and called flatus by doctors), or it is absorbed through the walls of the digestive tract into the blood and then excreted by the lungs. Bacteria in the digestive system also break down (metabolize) some gases.Air is a gas, which can be swallowed with food. Swallowing small amounts of air is normal, but some people unconsciously swallow large amounts (aerophagia), especially when they feel anxious. Most swallowed air is later belched up, so only some air passes from the stomach into the rest of the digestive system. Swallowing large amounts of air may make a person feel full, and the person may belch excessively or pass the air through the anus.

Flatulence is often associated with abdominal pain and bloating; however, the exact relationship between flatulence and any of these symptoms is not really known. Some people appear to be particularly sensitive to the effects of gas in the digestive system; others can tolerate large amounts without developing any symptoms. Belching is more likely to occur shortly after eating or during periods of stress. Drinking carbonated beverages sometimes leads to belching. Some people feel a tightness in their chest or stomach just before belching that is relieved as the gas is expelled.

People normally pass gas through the anus more than 10 times a day, but flatulence may cause a person to pass gas more often. Gas passed through the anus may or may not have an odor. On occasion, fecal incontinence occurs as a person tries to pass gas, only to be surprised by the expulsion of stool as well.

Infants with crampy abdominal pain sometimes pass excessive amounts of gas. Whether these children actually produce more gas than others or are simply more sensitive to gas is not clear.