Why gas produced in the body

Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Why do I fart so much? Fart prevention When is gas a problem?

Why do we fart? We fart because of the buildup of gas in our bodies, typically due to: Swallowed air: We swallow air throughout the day, including from carbonated beverages or taking in air as we chew.

An overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine: Several conditions can lead to bacteria overgrowth, including type 2 diabetes, celiac disease, liver disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. When partially digested carbs reach the colon, bacteria convert part of that food into hydrogen and carbon dioxide gasses. How can I stop farting so much? When is gas a problem? IBS Diet Guide. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, PhD.

Talk to your doctor if your gas or gas pains are so persistent or severe that they interfere with your ability to function well in daily life. Gas or gas pains accompanied by other signs or symptoms may indicate more-serious conditions. See your doctor if you experience any of these additional signs or symptoms:.

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news.

You can unsubscribe at any time. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.

If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. Gas in your stomach is primarily caused by swallowing air when you eat or drink.

Gas-bloat syndrome. Gas-bloat syndrome may occur after surgery to correct GERD. The surgery creates a one-way valve between the esophagus and stomach that allows food and gas to enter the stomach. Passing gas through the rectum is called flatulence. Passing gas 14 to 23 times a day is considered normal. Abdominal bloating. Bloating is usually the result of an intestinal motility disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome IBS.

Motility disorders are characterized by abnormal movements and contractions of intestinal muscles. These disorders may give a false sensation of bloating because of an increased sensitivity to gas. Splenic-flexure syndrome is a chronic disorder that may be caused by gas trapped at bends flexures in the colon.

Crohn's disease , colon cancer , or any disease that causes intestinal obstruction, may also cause abdominal bloating. Fatty foods can delay stomach emptying and cause bloating and discomfort, but not necessarily too much gas. Abdominal pain and discomfort. Gas in the intestine causes pain for some people.

When it collects on the left side of the colon, the pain can be confused with heart disease. When it collects on the right side of the colon, the pain may feel like the pain associated with gallstones or appendicitis. The symptoms of gas may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis. Symptoms of gas may be caused by a serious disorder, which should be determined.

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, your doctor may suggest the following activities to assist in the diagnosis:. Having some gas symptoms is normal, especially during or after meals.

Belching, or burping, is a release of gas from your stomach through your mouth. People typically belch up to 30 times a day. Some people may feel they belch more often than normal. In some cases, people belch a lot because they swallow too much air and release the air before it enters the stomach.

Bloating is a feeling of fullness or swelling in your abdomen , or belly. If your abdomen becomes larger than usual, doctors call this distention. Only about half of people with bloating also have distention.

Studies suggest that people pass gas through the anus an average of 8 to 14 times a day. Experts consider passing gas up to 25 times a day to be normal.