FARTS, gas or pumping – whatever you call it, it’s important to remember it’s completely natural as is normally nothing to worry about.
For some people, passing wind can be a little embarrassing, especially if you’re out and about.
GettyMost of the time trapped wind is nothing to worry about[/caption]
At times, it can come on unexpectedly, and if you’ve let one slip then you might be left red-faced.
But for some people, gas can become trapped, causing discomfort.
This can be a daily occurrence and you might be prone to suffering with it – especially if you have conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Here we look at why it occurs and how you can beat it.
What is trapped wind?
Trapped wind feels exactly like it sounds – it’s gas that you can’t get rid of.
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This can be very painful and can cause sufferers a lot of discomfort.
But some gas will still pass, likely more than usual, so it can also be embarrassing.
You may feel bloated in your stomach, with a feeling of tightness, discomfort or stabbing pain.
If you have trapped wind you might feel full quickly when you are eating, or have rumbling or gurgling noises from the stomach.
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Trapped wind can also affect the chest or shoulder.
What causes trapped wind?
Gases build up when you digest food, then the bacteria in the colon produces gas as it breaks down food particles.
But when you swallow food, water or saliva, you also swallow small amounts of air, which collects in the digestive system.
This creates pressure in the abdomen area – which the body needs to get rid of, by farting or burping.
Excessive flatulence can be caused by swallowing more air than usual – which thankfully, is easily fixable.
It may also help to cut back on food that is difficult to digest, if you’re spending most of your time in discomfort.
The most common culprits are vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, fizzy drinks and beans.
People normally fart up to 15 times a day and produce the gas equivalent to two glasses of cola.
Some people are very sensitive to wind in their system even though it’s usually a totally normal amount.
But it’s worth knowing excessive wind can be caused by certain medicines or illnesses.
IBS sufferers, for example, experience more wind than most people.
Other underlying health conditions that cause “trapped wind” include acid reflux, lactose or gluten intolerance, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
The 4 ways to relieve trapped wind
Usually it will clear up without the need for any treatment, but there are a few methods you can try to ease any symptoms.
Take probiotics
These can help reduce gas and relieve stomach discomfort caused by excess gas.
Not all probiotics work the same for every person, with experts saying it’s hard to work out exactly which you should use.
But research has indicated that the strain Bifidobacterium is useful for relieving excess gas.
Get exercise
It has been proven that exercise lessens the feeling of being bloated.
When you are moving your intestines are encouraged to more gas quickly through the digestive system.
Two methods of gas moving exercise include:
lying on your back moving your legs in a bicycle motion
having a short walk after eating
Certain yoga poses can really help get things moving and shift your insides.
Child’s pose – which involves kneeling on the floor before reaching your arms to the floor – is a good one.
And another is the seated twist – which involves sitting with crossed legs and turning to the side before repeating the process on the other side.
Peppermint oil
Some evidence has found peppermint oil can relieve the feelings of constipation, bloating and excess gas.
This is because peppermint has antispasmodic qualities – which stops your colon from having involuntary muscle contractions.
One study published in 2014 found IBS patients who had peppermint oil saw a real improvement in their stomach pain.
You can get hold of it through capsules, taking one an hour before eating – or even a peppermint tea will help after a meal.
Heat
Using a heating pad can help tackle stomach pain caused by gas.
One study found using a heating pad of 104 degrees Fahrenheit on the stomach can relieve pain for about an hour.
This is due to your body switching on heat receptors, which deactivates the pain receptors.
If none of these work, Jo Webber, Head of Herbal Education at Pukka and Ayurvedic practitioner previously told the Sun there are other things you can do to cut the bloating.
She recommended the use of herbs and spices to combat inflammation and bloating.
Jo recommended cardamon, cumin, fennel, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon.
She said that these can be added to foods or consumed in herbal teas to help banish the bloating.
In rare cases, trapped wind may come with other symptoms that signify a deadly condition.
Persistent bloating, for example, is a key sign of ovarian cancer, and watch out for a change in your toilet habits, which can be an early warning of bowel cancer.
Sometimes the symptoms of trapped wind can be mistaken for something else.
People can worry they are having a heart attack – which includes symptoms of pain in the chest, jaw, neck, back, arms or shoulders, feeling weak, faint, short of breath.
And wind trapped lower down in the abdomen is often confused with gallstones or appendicitis, too.
GP Dr Sarah Garsed previously said that while it’s common to go a while without passing wind – prolonged periods are cause for concern.
She said: “If you experience bloating and are completely unable to pass wind, seek urgent medical advice as you could have a bowel blockage.
“You will also be experiencing a painful and tender tummy, so if this is coupled with a prolonged period of passing no wind, you should visit your GP or A&E.”