Gas

Summary

Everyone has gas. Most people pass gas 13 to 21 times a day. Passing gas through the mouth is called belching or burping. Passing gas through the anus is called flatulence. Most of the time gas does not have an odor. The odor comes from bacteria in the large intestine that release small amounts of gases that contain sulfur.

Gas in the digestive tract comes from two sources: air that you swallow and the breakdown of undigested food by bacteria in the large intestine. Certain foods may cause gas. Foods that produce gas in one person may not cause gas in another.

You can reduce the amount of gas you have by:

• Drinking lots of water and non-fizzy drinks
• Eating more slowly so you swallow less air when you eat
• Avoiding milk products if you have lactose intolerance

Medicines can help reduce gas or the pain and bloating caused by gas. If your symptoms still bother you, see your health care provider.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Patient Handouts

• Abdominal bloating Medical Encyclopedia
• Belching Medical Encyclopedia
• Bland diet Medical Encyclopedia
• Gas – flatulence Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Belching, Bloating and Flatulence American College of Gastroenterology
• Gas and Gas Pain Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Gas in the Digestive Tract National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

• Burping Your Baby Nemours Foundation
• What’s a Fart? Nemours Foundation
• Why Do I Burp? Nemours Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Flatulence National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• Find a Gastroenterologist American College of Gastroenterology
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Living With

• Foods that May Cause Gas International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Journal Articles

• Gas

Treatments and Therapies

• Treatment of Gas International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Reference Desk

• Your Digestive System and How It Works National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases