What is Flatulence?
Flatulence is a by-product of digestion and it happens in all mammals as well as a range of other animals. Flatulence is an expulsion of a mixture of gases known as flatus through the rectum and is most commonly known as a fart. On average, people pass gas up to 14 times a day. The noise associated with flatulence is usually caused by the anal sphincter vibrating, in a similar way that our vocal chords produce sound. It can also sometimes be caused by a closed buttock. Some people suffer from excessive flatulence. Among other things, this can be caused by certain foods, smoking, lactose intolerance, a high amount of bacteria in the colon or swallowing too much air. Feeling bloated is one of the most common precursors to flatulence and as such, many people find discomfort in their lower abdomen prior to passing gas.
Who is at Risk?
Flatulence can hit anybody at any time, and cause a lot of embarrassment for people who can’t control it. Once the gas building in your digestion system it has to go somewhere and while some people can control passing gas when they’re with other people, it has to go somewhere in the end and the most you can do is put flatulence on hold. Unlike a lot of other conditions, however, flatulence isn’t hereditary and it most commonly caused by bacteria problems or simply the person’s diet. Some people can control their flatulence by swallowing air, as a kind of party trick.
Managing Flatulence
If you find you have excessive flatulence, the first thing you should do is try cutting back certain foods from your diet. Beans have a reputation for causing stomach gas, but if you prepare them in the right way they’re less likely to cause flatulence. For example, soaking beans overnight in a few tablespoons of vinegar is thought to reduce their gas-inducing properties. However, beans are not the only foods that can cause high amounts of flatulence. Most starches also produce gases when they pass through the large intestine, such as those found in wheat, corn, potatoes and noodles. The only starch known not to produce gas is rice. If you eat a lot of one or more of these foods, try cutting back on your intake of them, one at a time. If you notice a reduction in flatulence when you eat less of a certain food, then you can eat less of it to reduce your flatulence in the long run. In addition to cutting certain foods out of your diet, adding some foods in can also reduce the amount of stomach gas you have that produces flatulence. Cumin, coriander and caraway are three spices that are thought to counteract internal gas production. Another option for controlling flatulence is to use dietary supplements. Probiotics, such as those in live yoghurts can help to re-balance intestinal flora and therefore reduce flatulence.
Complications Flatulence Causes
While the complications caused by flatulence are more to do with general discomfort and social embarrassment, excessive flatulence can be a symptom of other internal problems, such as appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome, gallstones and stomach ulcers.
Flatulence Treatments
If you are constantly feeling bloated and varying your diet doesn’t help, or if you have a history of one of the above conditions in your family and you think you might be suffering from one, it might be worth consulting a general practitioner. One should also be directed to not only see their doctor but also by visiting their local health products retailer to speak to an alternative medicine practitioner. Assessing all of your options will better enable you to make the right decision and find a solution that suits your lifestyle.
