What Is Flatulence? What Causes Flatulence (Farting)? Flatulence, also known as farting or passing wind, is the passing of gas from the digestive system out of the back passage. Flatus is the medical word for gas generated in the intestinal tract. Medical literature describes flatulence as flatus expelled through the anus. Flatulence is commonly a source of laughter or embarrassment. Excessive flatulence can cause enormous discomfort and distress, mainly when there are other people around. A bout of flatulence can strike at the most undesirable moments - during a meeting, or even worse in a crowded elevator. In the majority of cases, it is not a serious condition. Doctors say that in the majority of cases, excessive gas can be controlled with a change of diet and lifestyle. Passing wind is a normal biological process, like sweating, burping or breathing. Everybody farts, even those who seem not to. The average human, according to the National Health Service, UK, passes wind approximately 15 times a day. Why do humans fart? When we eat, drink or swallow saliva, we also swallow tiny amounts of air. This swallowed air accumulates in the gut. The gas within our digestive system consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. When we digest food, gas, mainly in the form of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide is released.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 00:28:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015