Farting, also known as flatulence or wind, is normal. Everyone farts, some people more than others.
Most people fart about 5 to 15 times a day.
Farting is usually nothing to worry about
What's normal for some people is different for others.
If your farts are smelly or you fart a lot, it can be a sign of a health condition.
If you notice a change or it's affecting your life, there are things you can do.
Cutting down on frequent farting:
Do
-
eat smaller meals, more often
-
drink or chew food slowly
-
exercise to improve how your body digests food
-
drink herbal teas such as peppermint, fennel, or ginger tea
Don't
-
do not chew gum, smoke, suck pen tops or hard sweets
-
do not wear loose-fitting dentures - these can cause you to swallow more air
-
do not eat too many foods that are difficult to digest and make you fart
Food and drink
Some food and drinks which might make you fart more include:
- cabbage
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- pulses, such as beans, lentils or chickpeas
- dried fruit, such as raisins or apricots
- onions
- food or drinks containing the sweetener sorbitol
- fizzy drinks or beer
Getting help from a pharmacist
A pharmacist will tell you if you can buy something to help with excessive or smelly farts. This might include charcoal tablets or pads to absorb smell.
They will also tell you if you should see a GP.
Non-urgent advice: Speak to a GP if:
- self-help and pharmacy treatments have not worked and farting is affecting your life
- you have a stomach ache or bloating that will not go away or keeps coming back
- you keep getting constipation or diarrhoea
- you have lost weight without trying
- there's blood or mucus in your poo
Causes of frequent or smelly farts
Frequent or smelly farts can happen when you swallow air or eat foods that are hard to digest. It can sometimes be a sign of a health condition.
You may have other symptoms such as:
- difficulty pooing
- bloating
- stomach pain
- diarrhoea
- indigestion
These symptoms could be related to constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease or lactose intolerance.
Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried about farting.
Frequent or smelly farts can also be a side effect of some medicines, including:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen
- some laxatives
- antifungal medicines
- statins (cholesterol lowering tablets)
Do not stop or change your medication without speaking to your GP.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
