Passing farts, especially very smelly farts, can be an embarrassing problem. Fortunately, for anyone who experiences smelly gas, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the problem.
In most cases, it is natural and healthy for a person to experience intestinal gas. An average person will pass gas multiple times per day. It is not uncommon for farts to be either smelly or produce no odour at all. Both are typically considered normal.
What can lead to smelly gas? What symptoms could occur alongside it? What are the treatment options that are available?
Causes and other symptoms
Smelly flatulence may be caused by high fibre in food, constipation, and bacteria.
Causes of smelly flatulence can range from harmless to potentially severe. It may not always be easy to identify what is behind smelly flatulence due to the number of potential causes.
Many reasons for smelly flatulence centre on food or medication. However, some causes may indicate an underlying health condition.
The following are some of the more common causes of smelly flatulence: intolerance to food, high fibre in food, medications, constipation, bacteria or infections, colon cancer and intolerance to food
Typical conditions that can cause smelly flatulence include lactose and gluten intolerances. In both of these conditions, the body’s inability to break down lactose or gluten causes smelly gas to build up and eventually be released.
Other people may have food intolerance due to a disease such as celiac disease.
Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease that causes injuries to the digestive tract. People with celiac disease have difficulty digesting gluten, which is found in wheat products.
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A person with celiac disease may also experience: weight loss, bloating, diarrhoea
and fatigue.
If a person suspects food allergies or intolerances, they should see a doctor to test for these conditions. This will help find the exact cause and allow the person to avoid foods that contain the offending ingredient.
Food high in fibre
Foods high in fibre, such as broccoli, may cause flatulence to be smelly.
High-fibre foods are difficult to digest. Although very good for people’s overall health and well-being, these slow-digesting foods break down or ferment in the digestive tract. The fermentation process produces odorous gas.
In some cases, foods higher in fibre have a distinctive odour. The natural odour of these foods can also cause flatulence to be smelly.
Some foods that may cause odours include: cabbage, broccoli, asparagus and garlic
High-fibre foods often also contain more sulphur than other types. This can cause the makeup of a person’s fart to change to include more sulphur, which has a distinct odour and will cause the person to produce smellier gas.
Medications
Certain medications can cause someone to produce smelly gas as they are digested.
One of the more common culprits is antibiotics. Antibiotics may kill off some of the healthful or “good” bacteria in the digestive tract while they work to destroy an infection.
The removal of the good bacteria causes an imbalance in the digestive tract. The imbalance can cause a person to produce bad smelling gas. This excess gas can also lead to uncomfortable bloating and constipation.
Constipation
Constipation occurs when stool builds up in the colon or large intestine and cannot exit. This may be due to taking certain medications, poor diet, or other biological causes.
The buildup of stool in the colon often causes a buildup of smelly gases to occur alongside. This extra gas may cause bloating and discomfort. When finally released, the gas is often smelly.
Bacteria and infections
The digestive tract is responsible for breaking down foods into usable nutrients, which are absorbed into the blood. It also produces waste, which is passed through the colon.
The digestive tract relies on several different components to do this, including its resident good bacteria.
At times, the levels of bacteria in the digestive tract may become imbalanced, potentially leading to an infection. The infection will often cause: smelly, excessive gas, pain in the abdomen, diarrhoea, fever, nausea, vomiting and fatigue
When a person experiences any of these symptoms, they should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Colon cancer
Though not as common, a person may experience excessive smelly gas due to the presence of cancer of the colon. Cancerous polyps or tumours can form blockages that cause gas to build up in the intestine.
One early warning sign is when changes in diet or medication do not stop foul-smelling gas from occurring.
After 50 years of age, a person at average risk for colon cancer should be tested to check for colon cancer.
Treatment
Changes in the diet may be a recommended treatment to reduce smelly gas.
In many cases, a person can try to treat flatulence at home. Often, changes in diet can be enough to reduce or get rid of smelly gas. These changes may require eating less of or avoiding several foods. The foods that need to be reduced or avoided will vary from person to person.
In other cases, an individual may find that medication has caused smelly flatulence. For over-the-counter medications, a person will likely find relief by stopping the product.
For prescription medications, it is advisable to speak to a doctor about alternatives if smelly flatulence becomes a problem.
Prevention
For people whose gas is caused by food intake, prevention typically involves changing their diet.
A person can try tracking food intake and times when they experience excessive, smelly flatulence. They can then eliminate or reduce the amount of the food or foods that cause excessive gas.
Some tips to avoid excessive gas include: eating smaller portions, avoiding trigger foods, avoiding naturally smelly foods, eating slowly, drinking more water, avoiding carbonated drinks including yoghurt and other foods with probiotics.
Some people may need to speak to a doctor about the excessive flatulence they are experiencing.
There are times when the underlying cause may be more severe than the body’s reaction to certain foods or mild constipation. In these cases, stopping the gas will often happen by treating the underlying condition.
Culled from NAN
