Increased gas formation in the intestines - be careful with gases!

Flatulence is a common condition in adults. According to statistics, at least 40% of people who consult a gastroenterologist complain of constant increased gas formation, and up to 100% of people have experienced it at least once in their lives. In the absence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, flatulence in adults does not pose a serious threat to health, but it significantly reduces the quality of life and causes a lot of inconvenience.

There are three sources of gas in the intestines:

• air swallowed during eating, talking, smoking;
• formation of gases in the intestinal lumen, including production by intestinal bacteria;
• gases entering the intestines from the blood.

Normally, about 200 ml of gas is present in the gastrointestinal tract at a time. During the day, more than 20 liters are formed, and most of the gases are destroyed and absorbed through the intestinal walls. The exceptions are nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide - they are removed only through the rectum. With flatulence, the volume of gas becomes larger, which causes serious discomfort to the person.

Gas formation in the intestines

The human gastrointestinal tract contains approximately 200 ml of gases. Gradually, they accumulate and are eliminated from the body through the intestine (this process is called flatulence or farting). A certain portion of complex carbohydrates remains undigested and begins to decompose and rot. As a result, flatulence develops, which can be accompanied by a very unpleasant odor. Sometimes other manifestations appear that significantly complicate a person’s life.

Unpleasant odor due to gas formation

Normally, approximately 0.1-0.5 liters of gases are excreted during the day. For problems with digestion and severe flatulence, this volume increases to 3 liters. The process of involuntary release of gases, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, is called flatus in medical practice. This indicates disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal gases are continuously produced and consist of 5 components:

• nitrogen;
• oxygen;
• hydrogen;

• carbon dioxide;
• methane.

Sulfur-containing components give gases a specific odor. They are produced by bacteria living in the intestines. You can cope with flatulence and foul odor if you know the root cause of the problem.

Mechanisms of flatulence development

The development of flatulence may be associated with excess air intake into the gastrointestinal tract (aerophagia), increased gas production and impaired discharge of gases from the intestines1,2.

Origin of intestinal gases (normal)

• 65-70% - exogenous, that is, when swallowing air and consuming food and drinks1;
• 30-35% – endogenous, gaseous substances are formed directly in the gastrointestinal tract1;
• 75% of endogenous intestinal gases are products of bacterial fermentation1.

Aerophagia

Aerophagia is one of the main causes of flatulence1. All people swallow air - this is normal. On average, with one sip during a meal or when swallowing saliva, 2-3 ml of air enters the stomach1. Partially it comes back out during belching and, mixing with exhaled air, is removed outside. About 20-30%, together with the food bolus, enters the underlying parts of the digestive tract1. If too much air is swallowed or the processes of its elimination are disrupted, an excess amount of gaseous contents appears in the intestines1.

Aerophagia is promoted by:

• hasty eating;
• insufficient chewing of food and swallowing large lumps;
• habit of talking while eating;
• smoking while eating;
• drinking through a straw;
• drinking carbonated drinks;
• use of chewing gum;
• congenital and acquired defects of the maxillofacial apparatus, in particular malocclusion, palate defects;
• pathology of the nasopharynx, forcing frequent swallowing movements, for example, nasopharyngitis, adenoiditis;
• excessive salivation (production of saliva), particularly in diseases of the oral cavity;
• foreign bodies in the oral cavity: dentures, braces, etc.1,2

Top

Increased gas formation

Excessive gas production can have physiological and pathological causes. It occurs occasionally in all people, but most often it occurs in patients with gastrointestinal diseases and disorders of the intestinal microflora - 85% of patients who consult a doctor suffer from flatulence to one degree or another1,2.

For example, flatulence accompanies the following pathologies6,7,8:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS);
• Chronic gastritis;
• Chronic pancreatitis;
• Cholecystitis;
• Cholelithiasis;
• Functional dyspepsia;
• Lactose intolerance;
• Celiac disease.

Composition of gases in the gastrointestinal tract:

By the way! The foul odor of intestinal gases is due to the content of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), ammonia (NH3) and aromatic hydrocarbons: indole, skatole and mercaptan1.

How are gases formed in the gastrointestinal tract?

1. Small amounts of carbon dioxide can be produced in the stomach as a result of a chemical reaction between hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice and carbonates contained in food2.
2. The metabolic activity of intestinal microflora is the main source of gas formation.

Normally, the human gastrointestinal tract is home to about 500 species of different bacteria1. They are involved in the digestion and absorption of essential nutrients, vitamins and microelements1,2. Gas formation occurs most intensively in the large intestine1.

If food is not completely digested and unused carbohydrates, proteins and fats end up in the large intestine, bacteria are activated - fermentation and putrefaction processes develop, accompanied by the release of large amounts of gaseous substances1,2.

Increased gas formation can be the result of diseases accompanied by a violation of the intestinal microflora: lactose intolerance (lactase deficiency), celiac disease (gluten intolerance), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and others2.

Top

Disturbance in the passage of gases

The reason for the retention of gaseous substances in the gastrointestinal tract may be:

• a mechanical obstacle to the movement of intestinal contents, for example, adhesions or tumors in the abdominal cavity, narrowing or torsion of the intestine;
• decreased motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, with intestinal atony in the postoperative period, with IBS and peritonitis1.

If flatulence often occurs regardless of food intake and the nature of nutrition, is accompanied by intense abdominal pain, stool disturbances and the appearance of blood, mucus and pus in it, you should definitely consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

Top

Causes of excessive gas formation

One of the common causes of excessive gas formation with a characteristic foul odor is errors in diet. Eating foods high in coarse fiber and gluten leads to flatulence. Also, this problem is faced by people who abuse dairy products with identified lactose intolerance, or foods that increase fermentation in the intestines. Excessive gas formation can be caused by stress and emotional stress. The nervous system controls the main processes occurring in the body.

If it malfunctions, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract becomes difficult, which leads to the appearance of various disorders, including flatulence. Gases with a specific odor are formed in excess quantities due to dysbacteriosis. In case of long-term therapy with antibiotics, the natural intestinal microflora is disrupted. This leads to unpleasant symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea and even bloating.

Why do quiet, warm farts stink more than loud farts?

First of all, let's answer the question why are farts warm? The answer to this question will entail the answer to why they stink more. Most likely, many of you have noticed the fact that smelly and quiet farts can be quite warm. What is this connected with? We have already said that the stench appears as a result of the activity of bacteria in our intestines. As a result of the activity of bacteria in our intestines, smelly and caustic gases are formed, and heat is also generated. The gas bubbles that form in the intestines are small in size and teeming with these same bacteria. That's why they are warm and smelly. Why are they quiet? As you already know, our farts contain an inert and caustic gas. Caustic has the ability to dissolve or be absorbed, while inert does not. So, a quiet fart stinks very much for the reason that it contains a lot of caustic gas, and less inert gas, which is responsible for the volume and force of pressure.

It follows from this that loud farts stink to a lesser extent due to the fact that they have a high content of inert gases and less caustic ones. Here's your answer. And if you do not let the fart escape for a long time, then there will be quite a lot of inert gases, and caustic gases will be absorbed into the intestinal walls. After which, if you fart sharply, the fart will be loud and not smelly. But you can try to fart quietly.

This, dear reader, ends our fascinating journey into the world of smelly farts. We hope the information you read in our article will be useful to you, and you will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in the right direction. We wish you success. Relief!

Pathological causes

Increased gas formation may be a consequence of pathological processes in the gastrointestinal tract. They are usually accompanied by characteristic symptoms in the form of constant rumbling in the stomach, heartburn, belching and severe pain. Similar signs may indicate the following problems:

• cirrhosis;

• inflammation of the pancreas;
• intestinal infection;
• neoplasms, including malignant ones;
• enteritis;

• Crohn's disease;
• gastric atony;
• proctitis;
• gastritis;
• helminthiasis

In adults, flatulence, accompanied by a very unpleasant odor, in 40% of cases is caused by pathologies of various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. An excess of gases in the intestines does not depend on how old a person is. Newborn babies may face the problem due to the immaturity of the digestive system. Elderly patients also suffer from it, who often experience age-related changes such as elongated intestines.

Types of flatulence

Intestinal flatulence can be of several types depending on the causes:

• nutritional – associated with dietary disorders;
• digestive - appears when abdominal digestion is disrupted (with cholelithiasis, gastritis, inflammation of the pancreas, etc.);
• dysbiotic - formed as a result of excessive bacterial growth of the small intestine and/or imbalance of the microflora of the large intestine;
• mechanical - occurs due to a mechanical obstacle to the evacuation of feces and gases (with narrowing of the intestinal lumen, tumor, adhesive disease);
• dynamic - is the result of disturbances in intestinal motor activity (with dyskinesia, acute infection, poisoning);
• circulatory - develops when the blood supply to tissues is disrupted (for example, with ischemic colitis);
• psychogenic - appears in connection with a psycho-emotional state, neuropsychic disorder;
• high altitude - occurs when you rise to a height, gases expand, and pressure in the intestines increases.

Thus, the causes of the disorder can be either minor dietary disturbances or flights, or serious intestinal diseases. A doctor will help you figure this out.

Flatulence in women

A woman's body, unlike men, is subject to serious hormonal changes. Therefore, representatives of the fair sex often experience excessive gas formation. For example, during pregnancy. In the early stages, the body begins to immediately rebuild itself. The products consumed by the expectant mother are a source of nutrition for both herself and the fetus.

The digestion process may be disrupted, often resulting in flatulence. In addition, progesterone production increases markedly during pregnancy. This hormone relaxes the intestinal muscles. The food begins to move slowly. Therefore, the processes of rotting and fermentation, which cause increased gas formation with a characteristic odor, cannot be avoided.

During menopause, a woman's body also undergoes some changes. The production of the hormone estrogen decreases. Many ladies begin to gain weight due to a slowdown in metabolism. Therefore, flatulence is a natural continuation of the ongoing processes. Bloating may be accompanied by belching and a feeling of heaviness even after a small meal.

Flatulence and bloating

Symptoms of flatulence

Flatulence itself is a symptom of intestinal dysfunction. Therefore, it is more correct to talk not about the symptoms of flatulence (bloating), but about the sensations that may accompany it. So, with flatulence in adults, the following are most often observed:

• bubbling and rumbling;
• feeling of heaviness and fullness in the stomach;
• cramping pain1.

Causes of flatulence

Flatulence is a fairly common phenomenon that can occur even in healthy people. For example, when consuming certain foods or having a tendency to overeat. Remember, there are situations when a long period of time passes between meals. And when you finally have the opportunity to eat, you want to eat more so that the long-awaited feeling of fullness comes sooner. It is at such moments that you may encounter a feeling of fullness in the abdomen caused by increased gas formation.

If discomfort begins to bother you regularly and it is not possible to associate it with specific situations, then a symptom such as flatulence, or bloating, may indicate a disruption in the functioning of the intestines. In this case, you should listen more carefully to your body.

Flatulence can be one of the symptoms of a problem such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This name combines a complex of symptoms with which the body tries to attract our attention: abdominal pain, stool disorders (constipation, diarrhea or their alternation), bloating and increased gas formation1.

Irritable intestines are a consequence of a busy lifestyle with frequent stress, fatigue and emotional overload, as well as dietary errors and snacks on the go. Another reason may be previous intestinal infections when the intestines have not fully recovered3.

Thus, the cause of bloating (flatulence) in IBS is a malfunction of the intestines. With IBS, flatulence, or bloating, often occurs along with constipation. This is due to the fact that food is “locked” in the intestines, which provokes fermentation processes and, as a result, the release of gases2.

So, flatulence can occur as an independent symptom after taking certain foods or meals. However, if flatulence occurs regularly and is accompanied by abdominal pain or bowel irregularities, this may indicate that the intestines are irritated.

How to treat flatulence in adults?

Treatment of flatulence is determined depending on the cause of this symptom.

If increased gas formation is the body’s response to foods, then it is important to reconsider your diet and diet.

One of the most important stages in the treatment of flatulence is diet6. In order to eliminate excess gas formation, it is worth thinking about useful habits:

• for some time, remove legumes, sweet and flour products, carbonated drinks, raw vegetables and fruits from the diet;
• give preference to fermented milk products, crumbly porridges, boiled meat, wholemeal bread;
• adhere to fractional meals (eating in small portions every 2-3 hours);
• maintain a drinking regime (drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water per day);
• don't overeat at night3.

If the appearance of bloating (flatulence) is associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, then treatment of gas formation requires an integrated approach. Just following a diet to normalize work will not be enough, since the problem has been developing for a long time. Quickly accustoming yourself to a new diet is not easy. A remedy for restoring intestinal function will be a good helper.

Antifoaming drugs, which are usually used to treat flatulence, may also not be enough. Such drugs help relieve the symptom here and now, but they will not be able to restore functional impairment. In order for the problem of flatulence to be resolved naturally, time and a suitable drug are needed to train the intestines to work correctly4.

Flatulence Remedy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The drug Duspatalin® 135 mg was created specifically for the treatment of irritable bowels. Thanks to a special mechanism of action, the drug helps not only relieve pain, but also restore its function5. This allows you to control symptoms such as pain and spasms, bloating, gas formation and stool disorders: diarrhea or constipation when taking a course of 28 days7.

You can read more about Duspatalin® 135 mg tablets here5.

Associated symptoms

Most known gastrointestinal diseases are accompanied by excessive gas formation. Most people are embarrassed by the problem and put off visiting the doctor every time, which is extremely unwise. However, it may also be accompanied by other symptoms:

• cramping pain in the epigastric area;
• bloating;
• belching, rumbling;

• nausea;
• bowel dysfunction in the form of constipation or diarrhea.

A sudden release of gases from the rectum may be accompanied by a loud sound and a specific smell. The clinical picture is sometimes supplemented by rapid heartbeat and arrhythmia. Such symptoms are caused by pinching of the so-called vagus nerve by intestinal loops. Patients may be plagued by constant insomnia due to intoxication of the body. Due to incomplete absorption of nutrients, some patients complain of weakness and a feeling of weakness. All this leaves an imprint on a person’s psycho-emotional mood.

Symptoms of flatulence

Flatulence may be accompanied by pain in various parts of the abdomen, bloating, a feeling of fullness, and a false urge to defecate. The severity of the pain varies depending on the volume of gases, the degree of stretching of the intestinal walls due to the accumulation of gases. Doctors Pakhomovskaya and Venediktova in their work point out that “the intensity of abdominal pain depends not only on the amount of accumulated gases, but also on the level of the threshold of visceral pain sensitivity” (Pakhomovskaya N.L., Venediktova M.M., 2022, p. 34). This means that the reaction can be individual. Much depends on whether a person had colic in infancy. It is known that when they are present, functional pain occurs more often in adulthood.

Flatulence in adults may be accompanied by other manifestations:

• nausea;
• belching;
• bowel disorders;
• decreased appetite;
• irritability, etc.

Doctors conventionally divide flatulence into two variants of manifestation. In the first case, the main symptom is an increase in abdominal volume, that is, bloating. In this case, normal passage of gases does not occur due to spasm of the colon.

In the second option, the passage of gas is violent and frequent, and the pain is not expressed. Patients complain of a characteristic rumbling in the stomach, a feeling of “rolling” in the intestines.

Pain can occur in one area or throughout the entire abdomen. The local nature of the discomfort is associated with the accumulation of gases in a certain part of the intestine, usually in the area of ​​the cecum. They are not necessarily associated with episodes of eating or exercise. Extraintestinal symptoms also rarely occur: burning in the chest, tachycardia, weakness, sleep disturbances.

Diagnostic methods

A gastroenterologist studies excess gas formation in the intestines, causes and treats the problem. First of all, the specialist must exclude health-threatening pathologies. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed a comprehensive examination of the body.

Usually they start with an x-ray of the peritoneum.

During the procedure, the height of the diaphragm and the volume of gases are assessed. The technology of rapid introduction of argon into the intestines is used. The following diagnostic measures are also used:

• stool culture to identify dysbacteriosis;

• FGDS with simultaneous biopsy;
• colonoscopy;
• coprogram.

To exclude oncological processes in the intestines, an endoscopic examination is prescribed. If lactase deficiency is suspected, special lactose tolerance tests are used. Additionally, the doctor studies the patient’s diet.

Principles of treatment

Treatment for excessive gas formation with an unpleasant odor is complex. Usually it includes a combination of etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy. At the same time, the patient must understand that if a disease is the cause of the pathology, treatment should begin with the root cause. Symptomatic therapy involves eliminating the disorders associated with increased gas formation. For this, painkillers and antispasmodics (No-shpa, Drotaverine) are prescribed.

When the cause of flatulence is aerophagia, measures are taken to stop swallowing large quantities of air during meals.

An important component of complex treatment is a strict diet.

To relieve discomfort, you must avoid fatty foods. This will allow nutrients to be absorbed much faster and gases to leave the intestines. As a supplement, recipes from traditional healers can be used.

What determines the intensity of the stench of a fart?

Before answering this question, let's understand a little about the basics and processes of the digestive system and some of the chemical reactions. The gases that appear in our body are produced directly within it and come from outside. When you talk or chew, air enters the esophagus. Also, as a result of digestion of food, they enter into a chemical reaction with gastric juice and gases are released. Then the digested foods leave the stomach into the intestines, where the process does not end with just getting rid of the digested food. There, liquids are absorbed by the intestinal walls. The intestines also contain a fairly large number of bacteria, which during their life processes produce a significant amount of gases. We described the entire process of gas formation and release in more detail in the article why people fart.

The main part of the answer to the question - why do farts stink?

So, we found out where gases come from in our body. But initially the gases are odorless. Then where does it come from? Now about the main thing - why farts stink. The great science of chemistry will help us answer this question. The smell in our farts appears due to the content of gases such as mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide. Both of these gases contain a sulfur compound, which gives off an odor in the reaction. Hydrogen sulfide is known to smell like rotten eggs. It is precisely because of its contents that a fart smells like a rotten egg. Also, the unpleasant smell of our farts is caused by substances such as indole and skatole. Skatole is also called fecal gas. Both of these compounds are present in human feces and the intestinal tract. These gases begin to form to a greater extent during the digestion of protein foods. As you can see, the stench of farts is caused by the content of caustic gases, the formation of which depends on the foods consumed.

It happens that before your fart did not stink of anything, but recently it stinks quite strongly. Some people begin to associate this with any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Although this may not be entirely true. Almost everywhere, when diagnosing faults, they check the most banal things, which primarily lead to the described diagnosis. For example, a computer technician, when asked why the computer does not turn on, may ask - did you plug it into the socket? And believe me, in some cases this is the reason or it lies somewhere in this area. We will follow the same path. First of all, remember if your diet has changed. You may have started consuming foods that contain large quantities of sulfur, which in turn, when reacting with other inert gases, causes an unpleasant odor.

Drug therapy

Drug therapy consists of pathogenetic and etiotropic treatment. In the first case, tablets are used that directly combat excessive gas formation. The details of the drugs used are presented in the table below.

The goal of etiotropic therapy is to eliminate the immediate causes of excessive gas formation. In case of dynamic flatulence, Cerucal is used. This drug enhances intestinal motility. To normalize its functioning and reduce dysbiosis, probiotics (Enterol, Linex) are used. They contain live bacteria.

If flatulence is caused by mechanical causes (for example, neoplasms of various origins in the intestines or constipation), its treatment will be determined by the specific disease. Prolonged constipation is eliminated with fast-acting laxatives. For tumors, surgery is recommended.

Help from traditional medicine

Traditional recipes are often used for excessive gas formation in the intestines. Your doctor should tell you how to get rid of this problem. Most often, various decoctions and infusions based on medicinal herbs are used. The most popular and at the same time cheapest remedy is Fennel. The plant is characterized by a mild carminative effect.

Therefore, decoctions based on it can be given to children and women during pregnancy. An infusion of caraway seeds and anise has a similar effect. To prepare it, you will need to pour a teaspoon of the ingredients into a glass of boiling water and leave for no more than 15 minutes. Take the medicine one third of a glass before meals.

Peppermint tea is beneficial for excess flatulence.

To prepare it, you can take different varieties of plants: pepper, spike or cat. Pour a glass of boiling water over a teaspoon of pre-crushed leaves and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. The finished product is consumed as regular tea.

To combat constipation, you can make a mixture of senna herb and dried fruits. 400 g of dried apricots and prunes should be poured with warm water and left overnight. In the morning, pass the mixture through a meat grinder, add 200 g of honey and a tablespoon of senna herb. Take 2 teaspoons of the mixture before bed.

Diet

First of all, you need to exclude foods that increase gas formation from your usual diet. For some patients, these include flour products, and for others, meat and fatty foods. Particular attention should be paid to foods high in fiber (cabbage, various fruits, brown bread, tomatoes, berries, legumes). It is better not to eat vegetables raw, but try to bake or stew them. There is no need to completely exclude them from the diet.

Doctors advise stopping eating ice cream and whole milk for 2 weeks. If, after this time, intestinal motility returns to normal, then the cause of the dysfunction is lactose intolerance. If there are no changes, it is useful to eat kefir and cottage cheese every day.

For a while, it is necessary to exclude carbonated drinks and beer, because they cause fermentation. Chewing gum is also prohibited. During the chewing process, a person swallows excess air.

To get rid of constipation, you need to include indigestible fiber in your diet. It is found in large quantities in wheat bran. Exotic dishes can also pose a danger. Therefore, you need to give up Asian or Chinese cuisine for a while.

Doctors' opinion

Excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines is not considered a dangerous problem. If it is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such as constant heartburn, abdominal pain or constipation, you should visit a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination to exclude serious pathologies. Intestinal dysfunction in the absence of diseases is easily treated by changing the usual diet and symptomatic medications. Otherwise, serious therapy will be required, for which medications are selected individually.

Drug treatment

Treatment of flatulence in adults may include a number of medications:

• enzyme preparations;
• choleretic drugs;
• probiotics and prebiotics;
• antispasmodics and prokinetics, etc.

Enzyme replacement therapy can help reduce symptoms if they are caused by enzyme deficiency or pancreatic disease. Choleretic agents increase the volume of bile in the intestine, which promotes normal motility in diseases of the hepatobiliary system.

Restoring the normal balance of microflora is an important factor in the treatment and prevention of flatulence. The doctor may prescribe prebiotics, probiotics or synbiotics containing lactobacilli. They have been proven to suppress excess gas formation.

Intestinal motor disorders can be eliminated with the help of prokinetics or antispasmodics. Such prescriptions require careful examination; drugs have certain restrictions and are prescribed according to indications.

Treatment of flatulence that develops as a result of poor nutrition may involve only symptomatic therapy. Adsorbents are able to bind gases in the intestines and reduce their volume, relieving unpleasant symptoms. It is important to understand that some sorbents can cause stool retention, so you should be careful when choosing a drug.

"Fitomucil Sorbent Forte" is a drug that can be recommended for flatulence. This is a natural sorbent, the action of which is complemented by a complex of probiotics in the composition. The product works due to dietary fiber - the shell of plantain seeds: it absorbs toxins, excess liquid and gases, and helps reduce gas formation in the intestines. Inulin in Fitomucil Sorbent has a probiotic effect and stimulates the growth of beneficial microflora. A complex of living probiotic bacteria has a beneficial effect on digestion. One of the indications for the use of the drug is post-infectious digestive disorders in the form of diarrhea, flatulence, and unstable stool.