Everything about Flatulence totally explained
Flatulence is the presence of a mixture of gases in the
digestive tract of
mammals. Such a mixture of gases is known as
flatus, and is expelled from the
rectum in a process also known as flatulence, or as 'breaking wind' or '
farting'.
Explanation
Flatus is expelled under pressure through the
anus, whereby, as a result of the voluntary or involuntary relaxation of the
anal sphincter, the rapid evacuation of
gases from the lower
intestine occurs. Essentially this happens when the flatus pressure inside the rectum exceeds the anal sphincter's ability to restrain it. Depending upon the relative state of the
sphincter (relaxed/tense) and the positions of the buttocks, this often results in a crackling or trumpeting
sound, but gas can also be passed quietly. The olfactory components of flatulence include
skatole,
indole, and
sulfurous compounds. The non-odorous gases are mainly
nitrogen (ingested),
carbon dioxide (produced by
aerobic microbes or ingested), and
hydrogen (produced by some microbes), as well as lesser amounts of
oxygen (ingested) and
methane (produced by
anaerobic microbes).
Composition of flatus gases
Nitrogen is the primary
gas released.
Carbon dioxide is often present, especially in persons who drink
carbonated beverages in quantity.
Methane and
hydrogen, lesser components, are
flammable, and so flatus can be
ignited. Not all humans produce flatus that contains methane. For example, in one study of the
feces of nine adults, only five of the samples contained
archaea capable of producing methane. Similar results are found in samples of gas obtained from within the
rectum.
The gas released during a flatus event frequently has a foul odor which mainly results from low
molecular weight fatty acids such as
butyric acid (
rancid butter smell) and
reduced sulfur compounds such as
hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) and
carbonyl sulfide that are the result of
protein breakdown. The incidence of odoriferous compounds in flatus increases from
herbivores, such as
cattle, through
omnivores to
carnivorous species, such as
cats or
dogs. Flatulence odor can also be caused by the presence of large numbers of microflora
bacteria and/or the presence of feces in the
rectum.
The major components of the flatus (which are odorless) by percentage are:
Mechanism of action
The
noises commonly associated with flatulence are caused by the
vibration of the
anal sphincter, and occasionally by the closed
buttocks. The sound varies depending on the tightness of the sphincter
muscle and
velocity of the
gas being propelled, as well as other factors such as water and body fat. The auditory pitch (sound) of the flatulence outburst can also be affected by the anal
embouchure. Among humans, flatulence occasionally happens accidentally, such as incidentally to
coughing or
sneezing; on other occasions, flatulence can be voluntarily elicited by tensing the
rectum or "bearing down" and subsequently releasing the anal sphincter, resulting in the expulsion of a flatus.
Flatus is brought to the
rectum by the same process which causes
feces to descend from the large intestine, and may cause a similar feeling of urgency and discomfort. Nerve endings in the rectum usually enable individuals to distinguish between flatus and feces,
although loose stool can confuse the individual, occasionally resulting in accidental defecation.
Causes
Intestinal gas is composed of varying quantities of exogenous sources (air that's ingested through the nose and mouth) and endogenous sources (gas produced within the digestive tract). The exogenous gases are swallowed (
aerophagia) when eating or drinking or increased swallowing during times of excessive salivation (as might occur when nauseated or as the result of
gastroesophageal reflux disease). The
endogenous gases are produced either as a by-product of digesting certain types of
food, or of incomplete
digestion. Anything that causes food to be incompletely digested by the
stomach and/or
small intestine may cause flatulence when the material arrives in the large intestine due to
fermentation by
yeast or
procaryotes normally or abnormally present in the
gastrointestinal tract.
Flatulence-producing foods are typically high in certain
polysaccharides (especially
oligosaccharides such as
inulin) and include
beans,
lentils,
dairy products,
onions,
garlic,
scallions,
leeks,
radishes,
sweet potatoes,
cashews,
Jerusalem artichokes,
oats,
wheat,
yeast in
breads, and other
vegetables.
Cauliflower,
Broccoli,
cabbage and other
cruciferous vegetables that belong to the
Brassica family are commonly reputed to not only increase flatulence, but to increase the pungency of the flatus. In beans, endogenous gases seem to arise from complex
oligosaccharide (
carbohydrates) that are particularly resistant to digestion by mammals, but which are readily digestible by
microorganisms that inhabit the
digestive tract. These
oligosaccharides pass through the upper
intestine largely unchanged, and when these reach the lower
intestine,
bacteria feed on them, producing copious amounts of flatus. In the case of those with
lactose intolerance, intestinal
bacteria feeding on
lactose can give rise to excessive gas production when
milk or lactose-containing substances have been consumed.
Interest in the causes of flatulence was spurred by high-altitude
flight and the
space program; the low
atmospheric pressure, confined conditions, and stresses peculiar to those endeavours were cause for concern. The amount of water-soluble
oligosaccharide in beans that may contribute to production of intestinal gas is reputed to be reduced by a long period of soaking followed by boiling, but at a cost of also leaching out other water-soluble nutrients. Also, intestinal gas can be reduced by fermenting the beans, and making them less gas-inducing, and/or by cooking them in the liquor from a previous batch.
Lactobacillus casei and
Lactobacillus plantarum have recently been hypothesized as being responsible for this effect. Some
legumes also stand up to prolonged cooking, which can help break down the oligosaccharides into simple sugars.
Fermentation also breaks down oligosaccharides, which is why fermented bean products such as
miso and
tofu are less likely to produce as much intestinal gas).
Probiotics (
yogurt,
kefir, etc.) are reputed to reduce flatulence when used to restore balance to the normal intestinal flora. Yogurt contains
Lactobacillus acidophilus which may be useful in reducing flatulence).
L. acidophilus may make the intestines more acidic, thus maintaining the natural balance of fermentation processes.
L. acidophilus is available in supplements (non-dairy is reputedly best).
Prebiotics, which generally are non-digestible oligosaccharides, such as
fructooligosaccharide, generally increase flatulence in a similar way as described for lactose intolerance.
Medicinal
activated charcoal tablets have also been reported as effective in reducing both odor and quantity of flatus when taken immediately before food that's likely to cause flatulence later.
Pharmacological
Digestive enzyme supplements may significantly reduce the amount of flatulence caused by some components of foods not being digested by the body and thereby promoting the action of microbes in the small and large
intestines. It has been suggested that
alpha-galactosidase enzymes, which can digest certain complex sugars, are effective in reducing the volume and frequency of flatus. The
enzymes alpha-galactosidase ),
lactase,
amylase,
lipase,
protease,
cellulase,
glucoamylase,
invertase, malt
diastase,
pectinase, and
bromelain are available, either individually or in combination blends, in commercial products.
The
antibiotic rifaximin, often used to treat
diarrhea caused by the
microorganism E. coli, may reduce both the production of intestinal gas and the frequency of flatus events.
While not affecting the production of the gases themselves,
surfactants (agents which lower
surface tension) can reduce the disagreeable sensations associated with flatulence, by aiding the dissolution of the gases into liquid and solid fecal matter.
Preparations containing
simethicone reportedly operate by promoting the coalescence of smaller bubbles into larger ones more easily passed from the body, either by
burping or flatulence. Such preparations don't decrease the total amount of gas generated in or passed from the colon, but make the bubbles larger and thereby allowing them to be passed more easily.
Post-Release
In 1998,
Chester "Buck" Weimer of
Pueblo, Colorado,
USA received a patent for the first
undergarment that contained a replaceable
charcoal filter. The undergarments are
air-tight and provide a pocketed
escape hole in which a charcoal filter can be inserted.
A similar product was released in 2002, but rather than an entire undergarment, consumers are able to purchase an insert similar to a
pantiliner that contains activated charcoal. The inventors,
Myra and
Brian Conant of
Mililani, Hawaii, USA still claim on their website to have discovered the undergarment product in 2002 (8 years after Chester Weimer filed for a patent for his product), but states that their tests "concluded" that they should release an insert instead.
Health effects
As a normal body function, the action of flatulence is an important signal of normal
bowel activity and hence is often documented by nursing staff following surgical or other treatment of patients. However, symptoms of excessive flatulence
can indicate the presence of
irritable bowel syndrome or some other organic
disease. In particular, the sudden occurrence of excessive flatulence together with the onset of new symptoms provide reason for seeking further medical examination.
Flatulence isn't
poisonous; it's a natural component of various intestinal contents. However, discomfort may develop from the build-up of gas pressure. In theory, pathological distension of the bowel, leading to
constipation, could result if a person holds in flatulence.
Not all flatus is released from the body via the anus. When the
partial pressure of any gas component of the intestinal
lumen is higher than its partial pressure in the
blood, that component enters into the bloodstream of the intestinal wall by the process of
diffusion. As the blood passes through the
lungs this gas can diffuse back out of the blood and be exhaled. If a person holds in flatus during daytime, it'll often be released during sleep when the body is relaxed. Some flatus can become trapped within the feces during its compaction and will exit the body, still contained within the fecal matter, during the process of
defecation.
Environmental impact
Flatulence is often blamed as a significant source of
greenhouse gases owing to the erroneous belief that the methane released by
livestock is in the flatus. While livestock account for around 20% of global
methane emissions, 90-95% of that's released by
exhaling or
burping. This means only 1–2% of global methane emissions come from livestock flatus.
Since
New Zealand produces large amounts of agricultural produce it's in a unique position of having high methane emissions livestock compared to other greenhouse gas sources. The New Zealand government is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and therefore attempts are being made to reduce greenhouse emissions. To achieve this an
Agricultural emissions research levy was proposed and it promptly became known as a "fart tax" or sometimes a "flatulence tax". It encountered opposition from farmers, farming lobby groups and opposition politicians.
Social context
In many
cultures, human flatulence in public is regarded as embarrassing and repulsive, even to the point of being a
taboo subject. People will often strain to hold in the passing of gas when in polite company, or position themselves to conceal the noise and smell. In other cultures it may be no more embarrassing than
coughing. It is even a sign of happiness
in some cultures.
While the act of passing flatus is generally considered to be an unfortunate occurrence in public settings, flatulence may, in casual circumstances, be used as either a humorous supplement to a joke, or as a comic activity in and of itself.
Performance art
In St. Augustine's The City of God, Augustine, not otherwise noted for his levity, makes mention of men who "have such command of their bowels, that they can break wind continuously at will, so as to produce the effect of singing." That mankind in general has lost this ability he attributes to the first sin of Adam and Eve and its consequences with respect to body control. (The City of God Against the Pagans, ed and trans Philip Levine (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1966), XIV.24.
Le Pétomane "the Fartiste" a famous French performer in the nineteenth century as well as many professional farters before him did flatulence impressions and held shows. The performer Mr. Methane carries on Le Pétomane's tradition today.Further Information
Get more info on 'Flatulence'.
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