Farting (flatulence) (2024)

Farting, also known as flatulence or wind, is normal. There are things you can do if you fart a lot or it's smelly. Sometimes it can be a sign of a health condition.

Check if your farting is normal

Farting is usually nothing to worry about. Everyone farts, some people more than others.

What's normal is different for everyone. If you notice a change or it's affecting your life, there are things you can do.

Things you can do to cut down excessive or smelly farts

Do

Don’t

  • do not chew gum, smoke, or suck pen tops or hard sweets (to avoid swallowing air)

  • do not wear loose-fitting dentures

  • do not eat too many foods that are difficult to digest and make you fart

  • do not drink too much beer, wine or fruit juice

Food and drinks that can make you fart
  • cabbage
  • broccoli
  • cauliflower
  • brussels sprouts
  • pulses, like beans or lentils
  • dried fruit, like raisins or apricots
  • onions
  • food or drinks containing the sweetener sorbitol
  • fizzy drinks and beer

A pharmacist can help with excessive or smelly farts

Speak to a pharmacist about excessive or smelly farts.

They might be able to tell you:

  • if you can buy something to help – for example, charcoal tablets or special underwear and pads that absorb smells
  • if you should see a GP

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • farting is affecting your life and self help and pharmacy treatments have not worked
  • you have a stomach ache or bloating that will not go away or comes back
  • you keep getting constipation or diarrhoea
  • you have lost weight without trying
  • you've had blood in your poo for 3 weeks

What causes excessive or smelly farts

Excessive or smelly farts can be caused when you swallow air or eat foods that are difficult to digest. It can also sometimes be a sign of a health condition.

Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried about your farting.

Possible causes of farting
Symptoms Possible causes
Difficulty pooing and stomach pain Constipation
Bloating, stomach pain with diarrhoea or constipation that comes and goes Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea and stomach pain Coeliac disease
Diarrhoea, bloating, stomach pain, feeling sick Lactose intolerance

Excessive or smelly wind can also be a side effect of some medicines, including:

Do not stop or change your medicine without speaking to a GP first.

Page last reviewed: 07 June 2022
Next review due: 07 June 2025

Farting (flatulence) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best thing to stop flatulence? ›

How reduce excessive or smelly farting
  • chew food slowly with your mouth closed.
  • eat smaller meals, more often.
  • drink slowly.
  • exercise regularly to improve digestion.
  • eat foods that are easy to digest like rice, bananas, citrus fruits and potatoes.
  • drink peppermint tea.
May 29, 2023

What is the main cause of excessive flatulence? ›

Excessive flatus – this is caused by swallowing air, eating high-fibre foods, lactose intolerance or some digestive disorders. Suggestions include reducing the amount of intestinal gas by making dietary adjustments and seeking medical advice.

What is the difference between flatulence and farting? ›

Gas is air in the intestine that is passed through the rectum. Air that moves from the digestive tract through the mouth is called belching. Gas is also called flatus or flatulence. Gas is formed in the intestines by the action of bacteria as food is being digested.

When should I be concerned about flatulence? ›

See a GP if: farting is affecting your life and self help and pharmacy treatments have not worked. you have a stomach ache or bloating that will not go away or comes back. you keep getting constipation or diarrhoea.

How do I get instant relief from flatulence? ›

How to remove gas from the stomach instantly home remedies include: Drink a glass of warm water, or tea made with herbs such as peppermint, fennel, carom, cumin, or ginger. Move around. Exercise stimulates intestinal movement and if you have a bowel movement, it can free up space for the gas to move out.

What is the best treatment for excessive flatulence? ›

Self care
  • Try smaller portions. Many of the foods that can cause gas are part of a healthy diet. ...
  • Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly and don't gulp. ...
  • Avoid chewing gum, sucking on hard candies and drinking through a straw. ...
  • Check your dentures. ...
  • Don't smoke. ...
  • Exercise.

What is excessive gas a symptom of? ›

Excess gas is often a symptom of chronic intestinal conditions, such as diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth. An increase or change in the bacteria in the small intestine can cause excess gas, diarrhea and weight loss. Food intolerances.

Why do I fart every time I move? ›

Getting Your Body Moving

The movement of your body is enough to cause farts to happen. "Any exercises that involve physical bending or twisting can cause the air in our digestive tract to be literally pushed out," Peyton Berookim, MD, director of the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California, told Health.

What causes flatulence in older adults? ›

Some experts believe that as you get older, you fart more because your metabolism slows down. The food sits longer in your digestive system, creating more gas. Also, your stomach makes less of the acid needed to digest food well. What's more, your digestive system is made up of muscles.

What is an unhealthy fart? ›

On average, it's normal to fart between 14 and 23 times throughout your day, often without attracting much notice. For most people, it's not a major problem. But if you find yourself consistently farting in an excessive manner — or if it comes with any sensation of pain — you should consult a doctor.

What is a wet fart called? ›

Watery flatulence, or wet farts, refers to when liquid passes out the rectum, alongside air during a fart. Typically, this liquid is either mucus or watery stool.

What is a polite word for fart? ›

Colloquially, flatulence may be referred to as "farting", "pumping", "trumping", "blowing off", "pooting", "passing gas", "breaking wind", "backfiring", or simply (in American English) "gas" or (British English) "wind". Derived terms include vagin*l flatulence, otherwise known as a queef.

Should I see a doctor if I fart too much? ›

If you're bothered by intestinal gas, try changing your diet. However, see your health care provider if your gas is severe or doesn't go away.

What organ does flatulence affect? ›

Bacteria in the large intestine release gases that contain sulfur and produce an unpleasant odor of flatulence.

Why do I keep passing gas but not pooping? ›

Why do people have so much gas but cannot poop? Factors such as not drinking enough fluids or not eating enough fiber can cause constipation and make the stool hard to pass. A person can speak with their doctor to assess why they have constipation and gas.

How can I stop being so gassy? ›

You can reduce belching if you:
  1. Eat and drink slowly. Taking your time can help you swallow less air. ...
  2. Don't drink carbonated drinks and beer. They release carbon dioxide gas.
  3. Skip the gum and hard candy. ...
  4. Don't smoke. ...
  5. Check your dentures. ...
  6. Get moving. ...
  7. Treat heartburn.

Why am I gassy all the time? ›

In cases where there's no stomach or bowel blockage, gassiness may be caused by diet, constipation, a dietary intolerance, certain medications such as narcotics or irritable bowel syndrome. Depending on the cause of gassiness, there may be some things you can try to improve your symptoms.

What liquid is good for flatulence? ›

Gastracid Liquid aids in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system. It contains calcium carbonate, which reduces indigestion and heartburn by decreasing stomach acid. It also aids in reducing hyperacidity, flatulence and indigestion.

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