Overview

What is flatulence (farting)?

Flatulence (farting) is when you pass gas (flatus) in your digestive system. You may feel embarrassed if it happens when you’re around other people. But it’s one of the ways your body releases gas. Farting is when you release gas down through your bottom. Belching is releasing gas up and out of your mouth.

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Farting is common. Experts estimate we pass gas as many as 25 times a day. Most of the time, having flatulence simply means you’re getting rid of gas in your gut. Every living being produces gas, and passing gas is a normal bodily function.

Possible Causes

What are the most common possible causes of excessive flatulence?

Swallowing air (aerophagia) is one common cause. We all swallow air when we talk, drink or eat. But swallowing a lot of air can lead to a buildup of gas in your digestive system. You may gulp down air because you:

Chew gum or suck on hard candies
Drink carbonated beverages
Have anxiety or stress
Have loose dentures
Use a straw to drink
Smoke
Talk when your mouth is full of food

How your body digests food is the other common cause. Leftover waste from the digestive process eventually passes through your large intestine. Your large intestine stores the leftover food waste. Gas accumulates as waste sits in your large intestine. The longer it sits, the more gas accumulates. Farting is how gas gets out.

There are some gas-inducing foods that are more likely to cause flatulence, like:

Beans
Bread, cereal or salad dressing prepared with lactose
Dietetic foods and sugar-free candies and gum
Fruits like apples, peaches, raisins, bananas, apricots, prune juice and pears
Packaged foods like bread, cereal or salad dressing that use lactose as a preservative
Several vegetables, including artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, radishes, celery and carrots
Whole grains and bran

Likewise, there are gastrointestinal diseases that may contribute to having excessive flatulence, like:

Care and Treatment

How is excessive flatulence treated?

Your treatment will depend on identifying the root cause. A healthcare provider may do a physical examination and ask about your medical history. They may ask about:

Your symptoms
What you typically eat and drink
If you take any over-the-counter or prescription medications

A provider may do some tests if they suspect that a digestive disease is causing your flatulence. Tests may include:

They may ask you to track what you eat and drink to see if a specific food or drink causes flatulence.

Potential treatments

A healthcare provider may recommend you change what and how you eat. For example, they may suggest you:

Avoid foods that you know cause excessive flatulence (they might suggest you avoid food and drinks that contain lots of sugar)
Eat more slowly
Exercise regularly

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When To Call the Doctor

When should flatulence be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

You should talk to a healthcare provider or doctor if you have more flatulence than usual. Contact a provider if you have farting along with symptoms like:

Additional Common Questions

Why do some farts smell so bad?

Remember that gas in your large intestine is why you fart. There are several reasons why that gas may be more pungent than usual:

Some foods with fiber release hydrogen sulfide during digestion. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs.
There are sulfites in the food you eat. There’s a long list of likely suspects like cruciferous veggies, eggs, garlic and meat.
You have lactose intolerance. Eating dairy can trigger smelly farts.
Your gut microbiome may contain bacteria that make strong-smelling flatulence.
Antibiotics that upset your stomach can make some farts smell worse than others.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Air stuck in your gut has two escape routes: a belch or a fart. Flatulence is a fact of life. It’s a completely natural consequence of the digestive process. That said, it can be embarrassing to fart when you’re around other people. Double that if you have the kind of flatulence that can clear a room.

But having flatulence doesn’t mean you’re destined to a life of smelly solitude. Changing what you eat may reduce how much you fart. So can chewing with your mouth closed and eating more slowly. Flatulence is rarely a sign of medical issues. But talk to a healthcare provider if you have flatulence and belly pain or diarrhea.

Care at Cleveland Clinic

If you have issues with your digestive system, you need a team of experts you can trust. Our gastroenterology specialists at Cleveland Clinic can help.