Excessive Gas: Causes and Symptoms

Call it passing gas, breaking wind, or farting—most healthy people do it between eight and 14 times a day, although up to 25 times a day can be normal.

If you fart more than the typical person, you may wonder what's going on in your digestive tract and whether you should be concerned about it. Excessive gas is commonly caused by swallowing extra air or eating certain foods. However, it can also indicate an underlying health condition such as a food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or something more serious.  

This article covers several reasons you may be having excessive gas. It also discusses what you can do to reduce gas and bloating, and when to talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms.

Excessive Gas Symptoms

If you think you're passing more gas than normal, your healthcare provider may ask you to count how many times you pass gas daily. They may also recommend that you start a food and drink journal to see if the gas is related to your diet.

Be sure to write down any other symptoms you might be having, such as:

• Burping
• Bloated or swollen belly
• Pain or discomfort in your stomach
  

It's normal to have these symptoms after you eat, but you should really take note if you are having them often or if they are getting in the way of your daily activities.

Does the Smell Mean Anything?

The smell is a result of the gasses made in your small intestine and colon during digestion. This mainly depends on the food you eat.

Some food items may cause your gas to smell worse than others. For example, animal proteins, like eggs and meat, can cause foul-smelling gas. Soluble fiber, like that found in fruits and vegetables, can cause gas too, but it won't smell as bad.

A foul smell doesn't mean anything by itself, but it can be quite embarrassing when it happens around other people.

Causes

Excessive gas can be triggered by habits, food, and some health conditions.

Swallowing Air

You might not realize it, but some habits might cause you to swallow extra air. Even if you burp much of that extra air back out, some can remain in your stomach. Eventually, it needs to be released from your body as gas.

Some common habits that may cause you to swallow air frequently include:

• Smoking
• Chewing gum
• Sucking on hard candy
• Drinking carbonated drinks
• Eating or drinking too fast
• Wearing loose-fitting dentures

Anxiety can also cause you to swallow more air because, when your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, you breathe more quickly. If this is the cause of your excessive gas, your first step will be to address your anxiety.

Foods and Drinks

Most people know what foods will upset their stomach and cause them to bloat or pass gas. For instance, cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower and broccoli, are known for causing gas. Eating lots of carbohydrates, such as pasta and bread, can also cause extra gas. 

Other foods and drinks that may give you excessive gas include:

• Lentils and beans
• Milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and other dairy products
• Soy products, such as tofu and soy milk
• Vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radishes, asparagus, artichokes, onions, mushrooms, sprouts, and cucumbers
• Fruits such as apples, peaches, pears, and fruit juices
• Whole grains and bran
  
• Carbonated drinks and those with high-fructose corn syrup
• Alcohol, especially beer, which is also carbonated
• Sugar-free gum and candies that contain sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol

People may react in different ways to these foods. Some foods may cause severe gas for one person, but none at all for another.

As you get older, you may have more problems with these foods than you did when you were younger.

Health Conditions

Excessive gas is usually caused by things you eat and drink or the habits that cause you to swallow extra air. But gas can also be a symptom of certain health conditions, including:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation
• Food intolerance, particularly to gluten, lactose, or fructose
• Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine
• Celiac disease
• Colorectal, ovarian, or stomach cancer
  

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

If your gas and bloating concern you, get in touch with a healthcare professional to discuss your symptoms. They will check your history and symptoms to see if they point towards a health condition that can cause excessive gas. Many of these are treatable.

Before your visit, keep a diary of what you are eating, drinking, and doing. Write down when you have excessive gas and see if you can can count how many times you fart per day.

If your gas is accompanied by any additional signs or symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, blood in your stool, fever, or weight loss, let your healthcare provider know right away. It could indicate a more serious health condition.

Your healthcare provider will explore your symptoms, general health, and medical history while making their diagnosis. They may also ask to do diagnostic tests depending on your symptoms.

Prevention and Treatment

If your healthcare provider gives you the green light that you're disease-free, they may send you home with a new prescription for an anti-gas medication, such as simethicone. This medication works by reducing gas bubbles in your stomach and intestines.

In addition, there are things you can do to help reduce your gas, such as:

• Quit smoking.
• Slowly introduce more insoluble fiber into your diet (think bran and edible vegetable peels).
• Eat less carbohydrates, including pasta, bread, and corn.
• Chew your foods carefully, as carbohydrate digestion starts in the mouth.
• Drink plenty of water daily. Hot water in the morning—a glass of hot lemon water, for example—can help get things moving and prevent constipation, which can cause gas and bloating. Tea can also help.
• Do not use straws when you drink.
• Avoid carbonated beverages.
• Avoid lying down immediately after eating.
• Exercise daily, if it’s safe for you to do so.
• Stop chewing gum.
• Slow down and enjoy each meal—don't gulp it down.
• Try applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to your abdomen when you're gassy. The heat will help relax muscles within the large intestine, causing them to release trapped gas.

Although some of these things primarily cause burping or releasing gas through your mouth, if the air makes it past your stomach, it will be released sooner or later.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Over-the-counter medications can also help:

• A laxative (consult with your healthcare provider first) can help move things along.
• Simethicone products like Gas-X can provide relief, but they do not work for everyone.
• Beano is useful if your symptoms appear after eating beans or certain vegetables.
• For those who are lactose intolerant, a lactase supplement (such as Lactaid), allows you to enjoy smaller portions of dairy products.
• Probiotics, in general, can improve your gut bacteria balance. This may improve the underlying causes of gas and bloating.

Summary

Gas is a normal part of life, especially after you eat and your food is digesting. Gas becomes excessive when you fart more than 25 times per day. This is usually caused by something you ate or drank, but it can also be caused by a medical condition.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have excessive gas or your gas makes you uncomfortable. Your healthcare provider may ask you to keep a food and drink journal to look for any triggers. If a health condition isn't to blame, using anti-gas medications and making lifestyle changes may help.

A Word From Verywell

You may have to change what you eat and drink in order to fart less. Having to make lifestyle changes like this can be challenging, but you can take comfort knowing that by doing so, you can have more control over your gas.

Keep in mind that excessive gas can be a sign that something is amiss in your body. If you keep having symptoms after making lifestyle changes, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider.