Flatulence: what it is, causes and symptoms

Your stomach rumbles, feels distended, looks bigger than usual — that is usually what flatulence looks like. All of us have it at least occasionally, and in most cases it is not a disease. Let's figure out where gas comes from, what is considered normal, and at what point bloating becomes a reason to get checked.

Flatulence: what it is

Flatulence is an excessive accumulation of gas in the intestines. It manifests as abdominal bloating and sometimes as excessive gas discharge — flatus.

Gas in the digestive tract is normal. A healthy adult has about a liter of gas in the stomach and intestines, and 0.1–0.5 liters is expelled per day. With flatulence, the volume of expelled gas reaches three liters or more — hence the distension.

Everyone has gas in the intestines: it forms from swallowed air and from the breakdown of undigested food by bacteria in the colon.

Symptoms of intestinal flatulence

The abdomen feels full or noticeably larger than usual, discomfort or pain appears, along with rumbling, and more gas is passed than usual.

• a feeling of heaviness and distension in the abdomen;
• cramping pain that subsides after passing gas;
• nausea, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, decreased appetite;
• alternating diarrhea and constipation.

The norm is 13–21 times a day for most people. The odor comes from sulfur-containing compounds released by colon bacteria.

What causes flatulence: main causes

Gas comes from two sources: the air we swallow and the breakdown of undigested food by colon bacteria. About 90% of gas is exogenous, 10% is endogenous.

Food and drinks: foods high in carbohydrates, legumes, cabbage, apples, highly carbonated drinks; things that cause fermentation — black bread, kvass, beer, kombucha; dairy products in cases of lactose intolerance. The same product causes gas in one person and not in another.

Aerophagia — increased swallowing of air while eating. Digestive problems that cause bloating include constipation, food intolerance, celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome; in some women, bloating appears before menstruation.

Increased and pronounced flatulence: what may be behind it

If bloating is regular and pronounced, the doctor also considers other possibilities: intestinal dysbiosis, pancreatitis, enteritis, colitis, liver cirrhosis, acute intestinal infections, helminth infections. Separately — disorders of gas passage: intestinal obstruction, intestinal atony against the background of peritonitis, neurosis.

Bloating that does not go away sometimes turns out to be a sign of a more serious condition, so prolonged bloating is not dismissed as "something I ate."

How the cause of flatulence is determined

Often no treatment is required. If dietary changes do not help, the doctor may refer you to a dietitian or to a specialist for examinations to determine the cause of the bloating.

When bloating and gas require a visit to the doctor

Book an appointment: if bloating is regular; if you changed your diet and did not feel better; if bloating comes with unintentional weight loss or blood in the stool.

Urgent doctor's visit — bloating with vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation; with abdominal pain; with high fever or chills; with swelling or a lump in the abdomen; when you are unable to urinate, have a bowel movement, or pass gas; with burning in the chest due to acid reflux.

Bloating by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. 103 or 112 — if bloating is combined with a swollen abdomen and sudden severe pain; with vomiting blood or vomiting that looks like coffee grounds; with severe difficulty breathing, when the person is gasping and cannot speak.

This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation: with regular bloating, it is better to schedule an appointment than to keep reading articles.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer