All of us, whether we admit it or not, have a story about the one that got away: Maybe you were on a first date and ate something that didn’t agree with you. Or you were in a quiet movie theater, or thought you were alone, but it turned out you weren’t. Embarrassing? Oh, yes. But take heart: Gas -- farting, belching, whichever end it comes out of and whatever you call it -- happens to us all.

In fact, most people pass gas around 13 to 21 times a day. That’s normal.

But if you can’t control it, it’s embarrassing. Even worse, it can start to affect your life.

Gas and bloating can make your body hurt. They can also make it hard for you to feel at ease, which can deal a serious blow to everyday life. When you’re out with friends, at work, or sharing an intimate moment, nothing kills a good time like worrying about whether you’ll let one slip on accident. Between your physical pain and the anxiety in your mind, having excess gas can be a drag.

But there’s good news: Truly excessive gas is pretty rare. Even if you think you’ve got a bad case, chances are you probably fall somewhere in the normal range.