What causes flatulence?

Gastric Disorders

IBS

IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic disorder that affects the digestive system. It causes abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation. For many sufferers this can then lead to excessive and malodorous flatulence.

• abdominal pain and cramping,
• a change in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea and constipation,
• bloating and swelling of the abdomen,
• excessive wind or flatulence,
• experiencing an urgent need to go to the toilet,
• a feeling that you have not fully emptied your bowel

The symptoms of IBS can fluctuate and there are times when sufferers can experience particularly bad symptoms, and others when no symptoms are experienced at all. Although IBS in many respects poses no threat to health, it can have an adverse effect on a person’s quality of life. Stress caused by IBS can often exacerbate the condition. When you are feeling depressed or anxious, your body undergoes chemical changes and it is possible for these changes to affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms of IBS worse.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s Disease is a condition that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (gut). The gut consists of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach, and small and large intestine. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gut. However, it most commonly occurs at the lower end of the small intestine, known as the ileum.

The symptoms of Crohn’s disease occur when the wall of the affected part of the gut becomes inflamed. The inflammation often causes one or more of the following symptoms:

• pain - different people will experience different severities of pain. The most common site of pain is in the lower end of the small intestine, and so the pain will often be on the lower right side of the abdomen,
• ulcers - a raw area of the gut that may bleed. If it does, you may notice blood in your stools,
• diarrhoea - can vary from mild to severe,
• feeling generally unwell - fever and extreme tiredness,
• loss of appetite and weight,
• anaemia

Some of these symptoms, like those found with many digestive disorders, can also lead to excessive and malodorous flatulence. Crohn’s disease can have an adverse effect on a person’s quality of life. Stress caused by Crohn’s disease can often exacerbate the condition. When you are feeling depressed or anxious, your body undergoes chemical changes and it is possible for these changes to affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms worse.

Functional Dyspepsia

Functional Dyspepsia (or Indigestion) can be described as pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. It is caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the sensitive, protective lining (mucosa) of the digestive system. The stomach acid breaks down the mucosa, causing irritation and inflammation, which brings on the symptoms of indigestion.

Mild Dyspepsia is a common problem and many people have it from time to time without needing to seek medical advice. However, in some cases it can be a sign of an underlying condition affecting the digestive system. It is therefore important to seek medical advice if you suffer from indigestion regularly, especially if it is particularly painful.

The main symptoms of Indigestion or Functional Dyspepsia are:

• nausea,
• a feeling of being very full,
• belching,
• excessive flatulence

Functional Dyspepsia, like many digestive disorders, can have an adverse effect on a person’s quality of life. Stress caused by Functional Dyspepsia can often exacerbate the condition. When you are feeling depressed or anxious, your body undergoes chemical changes and it is possible for these changes to affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms worse.

Hypersensitive Colitis

Hypersensitive Colitis (or Ulcerative Colitis) is a long-term condition affecting the colon. The colon, also known as the large intestine, removes nutrients from undigested food and expels waste products through the rectum and anus when you pass stools. Hypersensitive Colitis causes the colon to become inflamed, and in severe cases, ulcers may form on the lining of the colon. These ulcers can bleed and produce mucus and pus.

Symptoms of Hypersensitive Colitis include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, a frequent need to go to the toilet and weight loss. Some of these symptoms can also lead to excessive and malodorous flatulence.

Other common symptoms include:

• tiredness and fatigue,
• anaemia,
• fever,
• dehydration

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. For some people the condition is a minor inconvenience, while for others it can seriously affect their quality of life. Stress caused by Hypersensitive Colitis, like many digestive disorders, can often exacerbate the condition. When you are feeling depressed or anxious, your body undergoes chemical changes and it is possible for these changes to affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms worse.

Peptic Ulcers

An ulcer is a hole or sore in the lining of an organ. Peptic ulcer is the collective name given to ulcers that affect the digestive system, specifically the stomach and duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine).

Your stomach produces acid to break down and digest food. Although the acid is very strong, your stomach and duodenum are protected by a lining of protective mucus. However, if a part of the mucus lining in your stomach or duodenum is damaged, the sensitive tissue underneath is no longer protected. Stomach acid then comes into contact with your stomach wall or duodenum, which damages the area, causing an ulcer.

The most common symptoms of a Peptic Ulcer are:

• a pain like indigestion in your upper abdomen or lower chest,
• difficulty swallowing food,
• regurgitating food,
• feeling sick after eating and possibly retching,
• loss of appetite and weight loss

Peptic ulcers can occur due to other digestive illnesses, such as Crohn’s Disease or Functional Dyspepsia. These illnesses can often cause excessive or malodorous flatulence so it is likely that someone suffering from Peptic ulcers will also experience excessive or malodorous flatulence.

Peptic ulcers can have an adverse effect on a person’s quality of life. Stress caused by Peptic ulcers, like many digestive disorders, can often exacerbate the condition. When you are feeling depressed or anxious, your body undergoes chemical changes and it is possible for these changes to affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms worse.

Food Intolerances

Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to some sort of food or ingredient that occurs every time the food is eaten, but particularly if larger quantities are consumed. This isn't the same as a food allergy, because the immune system isn't activated. Neither is it the same as food poisoning, which is caused by toxic substances that would cause symptoms in anyone who ate the food.

Obviously people can be intolerant to a large variety of different foods which can manifest themselves as many different symptoms. The most common food allergies are lactose intolerance and coeliac disease, an intolerance of a protein called gluten.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose is a natural sugar found in milk. As well as being a good source of energy, lactose helps the body absorb a number of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. In order for lactose to work effectively, it first has to be broken down into two simpler sugars, glucose and galactose. Once lactose has been broken down, it can pass from the gut into the bloodstream.

An intolerance to lactose means that the body is unable to break down lactose. The problem is usually caused by the lack of a substance known as lactase. Lactase is an enzyme that is normally produced by your small intestine. If your body produces very little, or no, lactase it will be unable to break down lactose in your system. The unabsorbed lactose then passes through your stomach and into your large bowel where it ferments, causing it to producing fatty acids and gases. This can cause symptoms such as stomach bloating and flatulence (wind).

The main symptoms of lactose intolerance are:

• flatulence,
• diarrhoea,
• bloated stomach,
• stomach pains,
• nausea

This can be a reaction to foods containing the milk of mammals, such as:

• dairy products,
• ice cream,
• salad cream and mayonnaise,
• biscuits,
• chocolate,
• boiled sweets,
• cakes
• peanut butter

Substituting fresh dairy products for fermented ones, such as probiotic yoghurts and milk, sour cream and hard cheeses, can in many cases help to lessen the symptoms. In more severe cases it is possible to get the calcium your body needs from foods such as broccoli, watercress, red kidney beans, cabbage, peas, celery or parsnips.

Coeliac Disease

Coeliac disease, also known as celiac disease, is a common bowel condition that is caused by intolerance to a protein called gluten. Gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley, which are often used to make foods such as bread, pasta and biscuits.

In people with Coeliac disease, their immune system mistakes gluten as being harmful and attacks it, damaging the lining of the intestines so that it cannot absorb food properly.

The main symptoms of Coeliac disease are:

• stomach pain,
• excessive flatulence,
• feeling bloated,
• diarrhoea,
• tiredness or weakness,
• mouth ulcers,
• weight loss,
• anaemia

This can be a reaction to foods containing gluten, such as:

• bread,
• pasta,
• cereals,
• biscuits or crackers,
• cakes and pastries,
• pies,
• gravies and sauces,
• oats

It is possible to get gluten-free rice, corn, soy and potato products from most supermarkets and most other food groups, such as dairy, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish do not often cause problems.

Food intolerances can have an adverse effect on a person’s quality of life. Stress caused by food intolerances, like many digestive disorders, can often exacerbate the condition. When you are feeling depressed or anxious, your body undergoes chemical changes and it is possible for these changes to affect how your digestive system works, making the symptoms worse.