The Raw Truth About Holding In Your Farts: Could It Be Dangerous?

Farts are normally caused by trapped air that comes from varying sources. Some of it may be air that we have swallowed, while drinking or chewing. In other cases, it may be gas produced by bacteria living in our guts or chemical reactions in our intestines.

A typical fart is made up of 4% oxygen, 7% methane, 9% carbon dioxide, 21% hydrogen and 59% nitrogen. Mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide only make up 1% of fart. The percentage of different gases in a fart will determine how much it stinks. The vibrations of the rectum when the farts escapes are the reason why farts make a sound. The loudness of a fart will be determined by the tightness of the sphincter muscles as well as the amount of pressure behind the gas.

The smell of a fart is determined by several factors. One of the major factors is your diet. To reduce the smell, you should avoid foods such as bran, cabbage, broccoli and beans. The amount of gas caused by different foods will vary from one person to another. For instance, two individuals may consume the same type and amount of beans. However, they amount of gas in each individual will not be the same.

Effects of Holding a Fart

Take note that it may be impossible to hold in gas. If you sleep – at the movies or on a plane – the gas will escape on its own. Coughing or sneezing may also let the gas loose. Some people may have too much gas to hold in. In recent news, there was a government employee who was reprimanded for having excessive flatulence and lacking control of the same. It was said that his condition made the workplace ‘intolerable”.

Holding in gas may cause heartburn, indigestion, bloating and in some cases, pain. Intestinal distention caused by trapped gas has a likelihood of increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, there is mental stress resulting from trying to prevent the gas from escaping. Doctors’ advice: People should just let it go.

When gas is held in, it means it cannot be expelled from the body. Since it has nowhere to go, it is absorbed by the intestinal wall and some of it mixes with our blood. The blood will go through the lungs and may cause bad breath (halitosis). Furthermore, it may cause your internal organs to have negative effects. Abdominal pain may also be caused by holding in gas. These negative effects may be worse depending on the individual’s overall health condition.

Prevention of excessive gas

To prevent gas, avoid eating foods that cause gas like bran, cabbage, broccoli and beans. Talk with your dietician or doctor about ways to maintain a balanced diet if you plan on completely eliminating certain drinks and foods from your diet. Take steps that will prevent you from swallowing air such as chewing your food thoroughly before you swallow, eating slowly, avoid using a straw to drink, avoid eating hard candy or chewing gum and do not drink alcohol.

Why Do Some Farts Smell Like Eggs? 5 Different Types of Flatulence, Decoded For Your Reading Pleasure| Bustle

Gas, Bloating, and Burping – Prevention| Webmd

Holding in Intestinal Gas| Berkeleywellness

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