Do I Have Excessive Gas (Flatulence)?

Do you burp all day, not just after a meal?

Do you “pass wind” more than 20 times a day?

Do you have smelly or loud flatus?

Do you have pain, cramps or a knotted feeling in your abdomen?

Do you have rumblings in the lower abdomen?

Do you have a feeling of fullness or pressure in your abdomen (bloating)?

Has your abdomen visibly increased in size (distention)?

Do you often eat food such as beans and lentils, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, brussels sprouts, and dairy products containing lactose?

Do you often drink carbonated beverages, such as soda or beer?

Do you have a diagnosis on any of the fallowing conditions: Irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), lactose intolerance, celiac disease, diabetes, or ulcerative colitis?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have excessive gas. The presence of gas in the stomach and intestines is completely normal. Every time you eat or drink, you swallow small amounts of air with each sip or bite. In this way, gas accumulates in the stomach, which can be released by belching. Most people burp right after a meal. Gases also form in the colon as a by-product of food fermentation caused by bacteria. The bacteria ferment food rich in fiber and starch, which have not previously been fully digested in the small intestine. Gases from the intestines are released by flatulence (“passing wind”).

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have excessive gas. Your digestive tract contains intestinal gases as a normal consequence of swallowing and digesting food. Excessive gas in the stomach can occur if you swallow more than the usual amount of air due to overeating or eating fast, smoking or chewing gum. Excessive gas in the intestines can occur if you eat large amounts of certain food (gas-producing food) or if you have some form of digestive disorder. On average, people release gases between 5 and 15 times a day. A diagnosis is based on your medical history, dietary habits and a physical examination.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have excessive gas. Flatulence or "passing wind" is a normal biological process. It is different for everyone; some people pass wind several times a day, while others do it more often. If you have flatulence more than 20 times a day, it can be said that you have excessive gas. Excessive gas is usually treated with dietary changes, lifestyle changes, or over-the-counter medications. Try to avoid eating foods high in non-absorbable carbohydrates, such as beans and lentils, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, dairy products that contain lactose, and carbonated beverages such as soda or beer.