Flatulence

Intestinal gas is composed of exogenous gases (ingested through the nose and mouth) and endogenous sources (gas produced within the digestive tract). The exogenous gases are swallowed when eating or drinking (often when cosuming ‘stodgy' foods such as junk foods), or during times of excessive salivation (e.g. when nausiated or suffering from gastroesophageal reflux).

Flatulence is the release of a mixture of gases (flatus) produced from these actions, or from those produced by an increase in certain types of bacteria and yeasts living in the gastrointestinal tract.

Nitrogen is the primary gas expelled, also including to lesser degrees carbon dioxide, hyrdrogen, oxygen and methane. Odours result from trace amounts of other sulphur-containing components.

Causes

Flatulence occurs mostly when there are a number of bacteria and/or feces trapped in the bowels. Constipation from a digestive complaint or poor diet, or general illness and bacterial infection all increase these instances. Allergic responses to food can be dramatic and need urgent medical attention. Food sensitivities can manifest as chronic gastrointestinal disturbances, including excess gas, such as from consumption of wheat, gluten and dairy products in sensitive people (who also tend to show a weakened immune state). There are both ‘good' and ‘bad' bacteria living in the gut. Food intolerances are a major cause of upset to the ‘good':‘bad' bacterial ratio. Intolerances lower digestive immunity and cause potentially severe digestive upset and an increase in ‘bad' bacterial action, resulting in flatulence. Flatulence-producing foods are typically high in polysaccharides and certain carbohydrates that are resistent to digestion. When these reach the lower intestine bacteria feed on them and produce flatus. This is the case, for example, in those with lactose intolerance

Symptoms of gas and flatulence below the stomach cneed not be difficult to cure. The causes of gas in the intestine are fermenting sugars, and this can result from any kind of mal digestion of sugar, including mal digestion of sugars that are not digestible ie. beans! Mal digestion of milk sugar is called lactose intolerance. In patients with lactose intolerance colicky pain, gassy symptoms and diarrhoea can sometimes result after drinking milk. Patients who have a high fibre diet may not tolerate it particularly well and sometimes complain of distension and gas. In rare cases, bacterial colonisation of the intestine can result in fermenting of sugars in food before the food is absorbed. This also leads to gas symptoms.