Farting all the time? This is what it means

Let’s clear the air around farting, quite literally! While farting is a normal phenomena that denotes digestion, farting all the time is not normal. If you’ve been passing gas like a thunderbird, there may be something much more severe than you know. Gastric problems are one of the most common problems among people of various age groups. In recent years, it has become more prevalent among people between the age group of 18 to 40 years. If you’ve been farting too much, it may be a ‘sound alarm’ for your gastric problems.

Health Shots got in touch with Dr Hansa Shahi, Consultant – Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospitals, Gurugram, to know about the possible causes of bloating and gas.

Dr Shahi says, “Gastric problems cause irritation and inflammation, resulting in the secretion of acid and damaging the lining of the stomach. The acid contacts the stomach walls and can cause pain, bloating and discomfort symptoms due to trapped gas or improper digestion.”

There are various studies that highlight the prevalence of this condition in younger generations, particularly due to unhealthy lifestyle choices and food habits. Most people tend to ignore recurring gastritis symptoms, which can cause other gastrointestinal disorders, such as stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer. Therefore, it is important to timely manage gas symptoms to prevent worsening of the condition and minimize other health risks.

5 causes of farting too much:

It has been seen that students and working professionals are most likely to develop gastric problems and fart a little more than others. This can be blamed on the changes in their daily routine. Certain factors can increase the formation of gas and can become fatal in the later stages. These include:

1. Sedentary lifestyle

“Due to the rise in work-from-home culture or minimal physical activity, the risk of gastrointestinal diseases among younger generations has significantly increased. In particular, prolonged sitting slows the digestive process and triggers gastric issues. It can also exacerbate other health issues such as diabetes and hypertension, ” says Dr Shahi.

2. Swallowed gas

If you’re farting too much, blame it on the gas you swallow by chewing gums and gulping down water. Infrequent or long gaps between meals or simply not chewing food properly can cause bloating and associated upper intestinal gas. Smoking and loose dentures can also trigger excess gas formation inside the body.

3. Diet

According to Dr Shahi, “Certain foods can cause flatulence, such as fatty and spicy foods, starches and insoluble fibers like pasta, corn, and vegetables like beans, certain sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners can cause excess bowel gas.”

4. Emotional distress

Psychological distress due to hectic schedules or other reasons can trigger gastritis and other stress-related gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. Also, gastric problems are a symptom of mental health issues like anxiety and depression, especially rising in the younger generation of teens.

5. Other medical conditions

“Digestive disorders such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease or gluten allergy disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome can cause and increase gas risks. Chronic intestinal diseases like ulcerative colitis and other problems like bacterial infections or bile reflux can also increase the risks,” adds Dr Shahi

Preventive measures to take if you’re farting a lot

In most cases, simple lifestyle measures can solve your farting issue from developing into chronic gastric and associated health issues. Commonly, these include:

1. Healthy diet

One should consume a diet rich in whole grains like oats, barley, fruits, and vegetables and devoid of processed and fried foods and dairy products to prevent flatulence and long-term gastric issues.

“Maintaining healthy fiber and water intake, or consuming probiotics can prevent indigestion and help gas movement in the body. This ultimately leads to a halt in farting too much. Also, those with general food intolerance or specific lactose intolerance or gluten allergies should modify their diet accordingly to prevent frequent bloating and gas problems,” says Dr Shahi.

2. Change eating habits

It is recommended to eat smaller and more frequent portions, chew the food properly, and drink more water to avoid acid reflux, swallowed gas, and discomfort.

3. Physical activity

Regular exercise and movement can improve food absorption, as well as reduce the risk of constipation and colon gas.

4. Manage stress

Proper sleep and incorporating relaxing activities like yoga, and meditation can help alleviate stress and indigestion and gastric issues that are associated with it.

Farting is a very natural process, and the human body is capable of getting rid of the gas naturally. However, persisting symptoms can trigger long-term gastric issues and signal underlying health issues. Moreover, one must seek medical advice if you’ve been embarrassing yourself a bit more these days. That doesn’t mean you suppress the liberty of your winds, but remember, there is no art in a fart!