Farting (flatulence)
Farting, also known as flatulence or wind, is normal. There are things you can do if you fart a lot or it's smelly. Sometimes it can be a sign of a health condition.
Farting is usually nothing to worry about. Everyone farts, some people more than others. The average is 5 to 15 times a day.
What's normal is different for everyone. If you notice a change or it's affecting your life, there are things you can do.
Do
- eat smaller meals, more often
- drink or chew food slowly
- exercise regularly to improve how your body digests food
- drink peppermint tea
Don't
- do not chew gum, smoke, or suck pen tops or hard sweets to avoid swallowing air
- do not wear loose-fitting dentures
- do not eat too many foods that are difficult to digest and make you fart
Speak to a pharmacist about excessive or smelly farts.
They might be able to tell you:
- if you can buy something to help – for example, charcoal tablets or special underwear and pads that absorb smells
- if you should see a GP
See 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 comes back
- you keep getting constipation or diarrhoea
- you have lost weight without trying
- there's blood in your poo
Excessive or smelly farts can be caused when you swallow air or eat foods that are difficult to digest. It can also sometimes be a sign of a health condition.
Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried about your farting.
| Symptoms | Possible causes |
|---|---|
| Difficulty pooing | Constipation |
| Bloating, stomach pain with diarrhoea or constipation that comes and goes | Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
| Indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea and stomach pain | Coeliac disease |
| Diarrhoea, bloating, stomach pain, feeling sick | Lactose intolerance |
Excessive or smelly wind can also be a side effect of some medicines, including:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), like ibuprofen
- some laxatives
- antifungal medicines
- statins
Do not stop or change your medicine without speaking to a GP first.
Page last reviewed: Sat Aug 2022 Next review due: Sat Aug 2022
