Excess wind

What is excess wind?

Wind is a natural product of the action of the digestive system in the bowel, as enzymes and bacteria break down carbohydrates and proteins in the diet.

Many people think wind passes right through the gastrointestinal system. However, gas produced in the top end of the gut (in the stomach, mostly) travels upwards as burps or belches. Wind generated in the intestines or bowel (commonly known by the slang term 'fart') passes down and out through the rectum and anus, or back passage.

Causes and risk factors

Part of the reason why some people seem windier than others is simply a matter of habit and personal preference.

Some people are super-sensitive to gas in the stomach and get used to relieving the symptoms by belching or burping.

Others dislike the sensation of bloating lower in the gut and prefer to expel this as flatulence.

Studies have shown we all release gas from the back passage more than a hundred times a day. It's just that most of us do it quietly or in such small amounts that we don't even notice.

Excess wind may be a symptom of several conditions, including:

• Swallowing air - we all swallow air, especially as we eat, but some problems can increase the amount. These include anxiety and hyperventilation, chronic nasal stuffiness and mouth or dental problems.
• Stomach ulcers.
• Constipation.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's.
• Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance.

Anything that stops food being broken down and absorbed in the small bowel causes the food to travel into the lower bowel before it's properly digested, where it's more likely to make wind.

In lactose intolerance, for example, the gut lacks the enzyme needed to break down the sugar in milk called lactose, so it passes into the colon. Here it is fermented by the large number of friendly bacteria, leading to gas production and painful cramps.

Dietary factors

Some foods can increase the amount of gas produced or make it smell so it's more noticeable. These include:

• Pulses, such as peas, beans and lentils - these contain complex carbohydrates that aren't broken down or digested high in the bowel but are left to the action of bacteria lower in the gut.
• Spicy foods.
• Brussels sprouts, cabbage and artichokes - these are from the brassica family and produce particularly unpleasant smells when digested.
• Fizzy drinks.
• Sudden increases in the amount of high-fibre foods, such as bran.

Treatment and recovery

The following may help to aid digestion and reduce wind:

• Eat slowly with small mouthfuls, avoid heavy meals and try not to gulp liquids.
• Cut down on fizzy drinks.
• Add herbs and spices to meals, especially fennel seeds, thyme, sage and caraway.
• If you must have dried pulses, ensure they've been soaked overnight and cooked in fresh water to cut down the difficult-to-digest sugars.
• Eat live yoghurt every day to help provide adequate supplies of the bacteria that aid digestion.
• Drink herbal teas, such as fennel and mint. Peppermint tea also relaxes the muscles of the bowel and stops the discomfort that makes many people feel the need to pass wind.

Anxiety can play a part in wind. For some people, the more they burp, the more they feel the need to burp. Try to relax about it as much as you can, and you may find the problem fades away.