Causes and Risk Factors

The production of intestinal gas is a normal by-product of digestive process. The food we eat is digested and absorbed in the small intestine. As the digestive enzymes and bacteria break down the carbohydrates and proteins from food, stomach acid is neutralized by pancreatic secretions. This interaction creates gas (carbon dioxide) as a by-product. As mentioned earlier, passing gas is a normal bodily function and is hardly unusual. Here are some of the common causes of flatulence:

Swallowed air: The most common cause of flatulence is swallowing air. This is because air is sucked into the stomach each time we swallow. Eating too fast, drinking with meals, drinking carbonated beverages, chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, smoking, wearing loose dentures, or hyperventilation in anxious people can all lead to swallowing excess air. Normally, this excess air is expelled through belching or burping, but it sometimes travels further into the intestine and can only be released through the anus.