FARTS, trumping or being gassy – whatever you call it, it's completely natural.
For some people, passing wind can be a little embarrassing, especially if you're out and about.
At times, it can come on unexpectedly, and if you've let one slip then you might be left red-faced.
But for some people, gas can become trapped, causing discomfort.
This can be a daily occurrence and you might be prone to suffering with it – especially if you have conditions such asirritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Here we look at why it occurs and how you can beat it.
What is trapped wind?
Trapped wind feels exactly like it sounds – it's gas that you can't get rid of.
Read more health explainers
Everything you need to know about where the prostate is and what it does
Can you take paracetamol and ibuprofen together?
This can be very painful and can cause sufferers a lot of discomfort.
But some gas will still pass, likely more than usual, so it can also be embarrassing.
You may feel bloated in your stomach, with a feeling of tightness, discomfort or stabbing pain.
If you have trapped wind you might feel full quickly when you are eating, or have rumbling or gurgling noises from the stomach.
Most read in Health
'Miracle' Alzheimer's drug that slows dementia could be available on NHS next year
What is the LighterLife diet, what foods are restricted, is it safe and are there any success stories?
Most deadly skin cancers DON'T start in existing moles – here's how to spot the signs
From STIs to chafing, what your itchy testicles REALLY mean (and when you should be worried)
Trapped wind can also affect the chest or shoulder.
What causes trapped wind?
Gases build up when you digest food, then the bacteria in the colon produces gas as it breaks down food particles.
But when you swallow food, water or saliva, you also swallow small amounts of air, which collects in the digestive system.
This creates pressure in the abdomen area – which the body needs to get rid of, by farting or burping.
Excessive flatulence can be caused by swallowing more air than usual – which thankfully, is easily fixable.
It may also help to cut back on food that is difficult to digest, if you're spending most of your time in discomfort.
The most common culprits are vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, fizzy drinks and beans.
People normally fart up to 15 times a day and produce the gas equivalent to two glasses of cola.
Some people are very sensitive to wind in their system even though it's usually a totally normal amount.
But it's worth knowing excessive wind can be caused by certain medicines or illnesses.
How to get rid of trapped wind
There are many home remedies for trapped wind, and steps you can take to avoid it or minimise it happening again.
The first thing to do is look at your diet and lifestyle and avoid foods that can cause excess wind:
- Don't have too many fizzy drinks – all that gas has got to escape somewhere.
- Chew with your mouth closed and don't chat while eating to avoid gulping down air.
- Cut down on foods that produce lots of gas in the digestive system such as beans, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
- Some people find it hard to break down fructose and dairy foods – these can cause wind in people with an intolerance.
- Watch your intake of fried food and artificial sweeteners as these can cause a lot of wind in the digestive system.
Remedies for trapped wind include:
- Taking ginger or peppermint to relax the muscles in your gut helps you to pass wind. Fennel and apple cider vinegar also help.
- Drinking warm water or herbal tea such as peppermint, ginger, or chamomile.
- Drinking half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in water.
- Gentle exercise helps stimulate your body to move wind through your system.
- Trying some yoga poses while paying attention to how you breathe.
- Some people find lying on a particular side helps to release trapped wind.
- Lying on your back and cycling your legs in the air gets wind moving.
If this doesn't help, there are a number of over-the-counter remedies such as Rennie and Wind-eze which can relieve trapped wind.
If the pain of trapped gas continues and you are also experiencing other symptoms. it may be time to speak to a doctor.
IBS sufferers, for example, experience more wind than most people.
Other underlying health conditions that cause "trapped wind" include acid reflux, lactose or gluten intolerance, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
In rare cases, trapped wind may come with other symptoms that signify a deadly condition.
Persistent bloating, for example, is a key sign of ovarian cancer, and watch out for a change in your toilet habits, which can be an early warning of bowel cancer.
Sometimes the symptoms of trapped wind can be mistaken for something else.
People can worry they are having a heart attack – which includes symptoms of pain in the chest, jaw, neck, back, arms or shoulders, feeling weak, faint, short of breath.
And wind trapped lower down in the abdomen is often confused with gallstones or appendicitis, too.
GP Dr Sarah Garsed previously said that while it's common to go a while without passing wind – prolonged periods are cause for concern.
Read More on The Sun
I’m a nutritionist – here’s 13 supplements to help you get better sleep
Woman shares £7.99 bargain that will help her keep her electricity bills down
She said: "If you experience bloating and are completely unable to pass wind, seek urgent medical advice as you could have a bowel blockage.
“You will also be experiencing a painful and tender tummy, so if this is coupled with a prolonged period of passing no wind, you should visit your GP or A&E.”
Source: Read Full Article