- Consequences of holding the gases
- 1. Abdominal distention
- 2. Belly pain
- 3. Breakage of the intestinal wall
- How gases are produced
- What the stink means
- When to worry about excess gases
Catching the gases can cause problems such as bloating and abdominal discomfort due to the accumulation of air in the intestine. However, the good news is that trapping the gases generally does not have serious consequences, as the most dangerous side effect, which is to rupture the intestine, is very rare even in severe patients with many accumulated gases.
On average, a person eliminates gas about 10 to 20 times a day, but this value can increase according to diet or the presence of intestinal diseases, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, stomach problems and colon cancer.
Consequences of holding the gases
1. Abdominal distention
Abdominal distention is when the belly becomes swollen due to excess gas, which accumulates along the intestine without getting a way out. Arresting the 'fart' causes the gases that would be eliminated to return to the intestine and accumulate there, causing bloating.
2. Belly pain
By holding the gases, you force the intestine to accumulate something that should be eliminated, and this excessive accumulation of air causes the walls of the intestine to increase in size, causing distension and abdominal cramps.
3. Breakage of the intestinal wall
Intestinal rupture, which is when the colon explodes like a bladder, is a serious consequence of trapping gases, but usually only occurs in people with serious health problems, such as intestinal obstruction or cancer. This disruption is very rare to happen.
How gases are produced
The fart is the result of the accumulation of intestinal gases, which come from the air swallowed during chewing or speaking, and of the decomposition of food by the intestinal flora.
The amount of gases produced depends on food, health and the composition of the intestinal flora, but some foods encourage more gas production, such as cabbage, beans, eggs and broccoli. See the list of foods that cause flatulence.
What the stink means
In general, most gases are odorless, but when the bad smell occurs it is usually the result of excess sulfur, a substance produced during the fermentation of bacteria in the intestine. In addition, some foods like eggs and broccoli also produce more foul odors.
However, frequent gases with a strong odor can also be the result of problems such as food poisoning, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, malabsorption of food and colon cancer.
When to worry about excess gases
Excessive gas can be worrying when it causes constant abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating. In these cases, the doctor may advise you to count how many times a day there is elimination of gases and to keep notes on the foods consumed.
If more than 20 flatulence occur daily, the doctor can assess whether there is any food causing discomfort or if there are problems such as poor digestion, food intolerance and changes in the intestinal flora.
See more tips in the following video on how to eliminate gases in the best way:
