Flatulence: Why You Pass Excess Gas and How to Stop It

What Is Flatulence?

Flatulence is the release of gas from your digestive tract through your anus. The gas that you pass is called flatus. It affects how gas is produced or moves through your gut.

Your digestive system naturally contains gas. Some of it comes from air you swallow while eating, drinking or talking. Bacteria in your large intestine break down carbohydrates your small intestine hasn't fully digested, producing more gas.

So, passing gas does not automatically mean that something is wrong with your digestion. The amount of gas you produce and how often you pass it can vary from person to person.

Flatulence Meaning: What Does It Mean?

In simple terms, flatulence means passing gas from your digestive tract through your anus. You may also hear it described as gas, wind, or farting. The medical term is flatulence.

It is different from belching, which is when gas leaves your stomach through your mouth. You may experience both because gas can enter your digestive tract through swallowed air and can also be produced further down your digestive system.

How Does Gas Form in Your Digestive System?

Gas can enter your digestive tract in two main ways:

• Swallowed air: You naturally swallow small amounts of air when you eat and drink. You may swallow more air if you eat quickly, chew gum, drink fizzy drinks, or use a straw.
• Digestion by gut bacteria: Your small intestine doesn’t fully digest some carbohydrates. When they reach your large intestine, gut bacteria break them down and produce gas.

This is why certain foods can make you feel more gassy even though they are otherwise nutritious.

How Much Flatulence Is Normal?

Research cited by the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) suggests that people pass gas around eight to fourteen times a day on average, while passing gas up to about 25 times a day can still fall within the normal range.

What matters is also how you feel: if your gas has suddenly increased, is affecting your daily life, or occurs with other digestive symptoms, it is worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

Note: No single number defines excessive flatulence for everyone.

What Are the Symptoms of Flatulence?

The most obvious symptom of flatulence is passing gas through your anus. However, gas-related symptoms can occur alongside other symptoms. You may experience:

• Frequent passing of gas.
• A feeling of fullness or pressure in your abdomen.
• Bloating or abdominal distension.
• Abdominal discomfort.
• Belching or an unpleasant smell from passing gas.

The smell doesn't necessarily mean you have more gas. Certain sulphur-containing gases can contribute to the odour of flatus.

When Is Excessive Gas a Concern?

Flatulence is more likely to need medical attention when it is new, persistent, bothersome or accompanied by other symptoms.

You should speak with your doctor if you have frequent gas along with abdominal pain, persistent bloating, constipation, diarrhoea or unexplained weight loss. Blood in your stool also warrants immediate medical evaluation.

What Causes Flatulence?

Flatulence can have several causes. In many cases, your eating habits or how your body digests certain carbohydrates cause it.

Swallowing Too Much Air

You may swallow more air than usual without realising it. This can happen when you:

• Eat or drink quickly.
• Talk while eating.
• Chew gum.
• Suck on hard sweets.
• Drink fizzy drinks.
• Drink through a straw.
• Smoke

Some of this swallowed air may travel into your intestines instead of leaving through a burp, eventually contributing to flatulence.

Foods That Can Cause Excess Gas

Your small intestine doesn't fully absorb the carbohydrates in some foods. When these reach your large intestine, bacteria ferment them and produce gas. Foods that may increase gas include:

• Beans, peas, and lentils.
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables (belong to the plant family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae).
• Onions
• Some fruits such as apples, pears, and peaches.
• Dairy products if you have difficulty digesting lactose.
• Whole grains
• Foods containing high amounts of fructose.
• Sugar-free products containing sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, or maltitol.
• Fizzy drinks

You do not necessarily need to avoid all these foods. Your triggers may be different from someone else's, so identifying patterns can be more useful than removing large groups of foods unnecessarily.

Constipation

Constipation can make it harder for stool and gas to move through your digestive tract. If you are passing stools less often, straining, or feeling that your bowel does not empty completely, trapped gas may contribute to bloating and discomfort.

Treating constipation may help reduce gas-related symptoms when constipation contributes to the problem.

Food Intolerances and Sensitivities

Your body may have difficulty digesting certain carbohydrates. Lactose intolerance can cause bloating, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, and gas after consuming milk or other lactose-containing foods.

You may also experience symptoms after consuming large amounts of fructose or other poorly absorbed carbohydrates.

Changes in Gut Bacteria

Your large intestine contains a complex community of microorganisms that help break down food components that were not fully digested earlier. Changes in this gut environment can influence the amount and type of gas produced during digestion.

Other Digestive Causes of Flatulence

Flatulence may sometimes occur alongside digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastroparesis, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

Certain medicines can also contribute to excessive or smelly gas in some people. These include some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), laxatives, antifungal medicines, and statins. You should not stop a prescribed medicine without discussing it with your doctor.

Note: Statins are a group of prescription medications used to lower LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Conditions That Can Worsen Flatulence

Sometimes, persistent flatulence is linked to an underlying digestive condition rather than a single food or eating habit. Excess gas can sometimes occur alongside digestive conditions that affect digestion, gut movement or how your body handles certain foods. Some common conditions include:

Condition	Why it may cause gas	Other symptoms
IBS	Affects how the gut handles gas.	Pain, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation.
Lactose intolerance	Undigested lactose produces gas when gut bacteria break it down.	Bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal (stomach and gut area) discomfort.
Coeliac disease	Can affect digestion and cause excess gas.	Bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort.
GERD	Gas may occur alongside reflux symptoms.	Heartburn, regurgitation (vomiting or throwing up).
SIBO	Excess bacteria in the small intestine can produce more gas.	Bloating, diarrhoea.
Other conditions	Constipation and other digestive disorders may contribute to gas.	Bloating, indigestion, constipation.

Diagnosis of Flatulence

Flatulence itself is a symptom rather than a disease, so diagnosis usually focuses on finding out why you are experiencing excessive or troublesome gas.

Keeping a food and symptom diary can help you identify patterns. Your doctor may also ask you to record when you eat and when your symptoms occur. You may not need tests if your symptoms clearly fit a dietary or functional pattern.

If your doctor suspects an underlying condition, tests may include blood tests, stool tests, or imaging. Your doctor may choose additional tests based on your symptoms and suspected cause.

Effective Ways to Stop Excessive Flatulence

You may be able to reduce excessive gas by changing a few everyday habits.

Lifestyle Change	Steps to Take
Eat slowly	Chew your food properly and avoid rushing through meals.
Identify trigger foods	Keep a food diary for a few days. Note what you ate, how much you ate, when symptoms appeared, and what symptoms you noticed.
Eat smaller meals	Try smaller meals spread throughout the day if large portions worsen gas or bloating.
Reduce swallowed air	Eat slowly, avoid chewing gum and hard sweets, limit fizzy drinks, avoid straws, and try not to talk continuously while eating.
Stay physically active	Regular physical activity may support normal movement through your digestive tract, particularly when constipation contributes to flatulence.
Manage constipation	Increase fibre gradually, as a sudden increase can cause more gas.
Seek medical advice when needed.	If constipation is persistent or flatulence continues despite lifestyle changes, speak with a healthcare professional to identify the underlying cause.

What is the Treatment for Flatulence?

There is no single flatulence treatment that works for everyone because the right approach depends on what is causing your symptoms.

Treating the Underlying Cause

If your gas is related to lactose intolerance, IBS, constipation, SIBO, or another digestive condition, treating that condition may help reduce your symptoms.

If you are lactose intolerant, you may benefit from reducing lactose intake, while someone with constipation may need a treatment plan focused on improving bowel movements.

Dietary Changes

A doctor or dietitian may advise you to cut back on foods that consistently trigger your symptoms. If IBS is involved, a doctor may sometimes recommend a low-FODMAP diet for a limited period. FODMAPs are carbohydrates that can be difficult for some people to digest.

A low-FODMAP diet can be restrictive, so it is better to use it with guidance from a doctor or registered dietitian. Do not eliminate multiple food groups indefinitely without consulting with a healthcare professional.

Medicines for Flatulence

Some medicines can provide relief from gas symptoms, but the appropriate option depends on your symptoms and underlying cause. Pharmacists may recommend over-the-counter products such as simethicone if you have excessive or troublesome gas.

Doctors may prescribe other medicines when a specific condition is causing the gas. For example, lactase products may help some people with lactose intolerance, while certain digestive conditions may require prescription treatment.

Can Probiotics Help With Excess Gas?

Whether a probiotic helps depends on your symptoms and the specific product or strain. If you are considering probiotics for persistent symptoms, discuss them with a doctor or dietitian instead of assuming that any probiotic will treat the underlying cause.

Is There a Flatulence Medicine or Tablet?

If you are looking for a flatulence tablet, you may find several gas-relief products available without a prescription. However, the right medicine depends on why you are passing excess gas.

Medicines That May Help With Excess Gas

Depending on your symptoms, a doctor may suggest:

• Simethicone for some gas-related symptoms.
• Lactase products if lactose intolerance is contributing to symptoms.
• Treatment for constipation if it contributes to gas.
• Prescription medicines when an underlying digestive condition requires them.

When Might a Doctor Recommend Medication?

A doctor may consider medication when lifestyle and dietary changes haven't provided you enough relief, or when an underlying condition requires specific treatment.

If you need medication regularly to control gas, it is worth finding out why the symptoms keep returning rather than repeatedly treating the symptom on your own.

When Should You See a Doctor for Flatulence?

Occasional flatulence is normal. Seek medical advice if your symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with your daily life.

Flatulence With Abdominal Pain

See a doctor if your gas is accompanied by persistent or significant abdominal pain, particularly if the pain is new or worsening.

Flatulence With Bloating or Changes in Bowel Movements

See a doctor if you notice persistent bloating, repeated constipation, diarrhoea, or a change in your bowel habits alongside excessive gas.

Flatulence With Unexplained Weight Loss or Other Warning Signs

Seek medical advice if you have flatulence together with:

• Unexplained weight loss.
• Blood in your stool.
• Persistent abdominal pain.
• Ongoing diarrhoea or constipation.
• A sudden and persistent change in your symptoms.

These symptoms don't automatically mean you have a serious condition, but you shouldn't ignore them either.

Mool Health’s Perspective on Flatulence

Flatulence is usually a normal part of digestion, not a condition that needs to be eliminated completely. The more useful question is why your gas has increased or become troublesome.

At Mool Health, we start by looking at your eating habits, portion sizes, bowel movements, and possible food triggers. Eating slowly, reducing swallowed air, and identifying foods that consistently worsen your symptoms can help.

Rather than relying on a flatulence tablet every time symptoms occur, take a holistic approach to your gut health. The Mool Health Gut Test can help you understand the underlying cause and choose a more appropriate long-term approach.