Passing gas is a normal bodily function; the average person does it between 14 and 23 times a day. It can be silent, thunderous, hot, stinky or bland, but if it starts to feel painful, you might want to have it checked out. So why do some people feel pain when farting sometimes? There are some theories to explain that, but somemay not be too pleasant.
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Painful gas
Having difficulty passing gas could be brought on by cramping. Medical News Today explains that a person may feel a dull ache or a series of sharp pains in the chest or abdomen. It can also occur when there’s a feeling of fullness in the abdomen. Bloating, burping and a build-up of gas that leads to discomfort could also trigger painful gas.
Also, constipation is another notorious culprit. According to Hazel Marie Galon Veloso, gastroenterologist at Johns Hopkins, anything that slows down the digestive process, such as a low-fibre diet, use of opioid medications can impact timely bowel movement. Veloso says to be on the lookout for abdominal pain, painful gas and bloating that persists even after constipation improves.
You may have celiac disease or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which can cause these symptoms and can occur with either constipation or diarrhoea. You may also have irritable bowel syndrome or another problem.
Causal medical conditions
Cleveland Clinic also lists a number of causes that may be related to underlying health conditions or certain medications:
- Dietary choices, such as consuming too many gas-producing foods (beans, potatoes, corn, onions, apples and high-fiber products).
- Digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance and celiac disease.
- Intestinal infections, such as giardiasis, that cause an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria.
- Medications or motility disorders that slow the bowels, such as IBS, diabetes and scleroderma.
Swallowing air while chewing, drinking and talking could also cause gas build up which could eventually lead to painful farts.
Sources used:
Medical News Today: Painful gas: Causes, remedies, and prevention
Cleveland Clinic: Gas and gas pain
Johns Hopkins: How to Get Rid of Gas Pain
