Farting while sleeping, is it normal? Check the facts here!

There are many things you do in your sleep that you may never even notice. There are some people who like to be delirious, shake their legs, grind their teeth while sleeping, and some even like to walk while sleeping. Hey… Are you one of those people who likes to fart while sleeping?

Why can we fart while sleeping?

The body will be completely paralyzed when we are sleeping. During the deep sleep, aka REM phase, you won't be able to move a single muscle, except for the muscles that control your eyes and respiratory system.

At the same time, our heart rate and blood pressure will decrease during sleep so that the heart muscles can have time to rest to repair themselves. This more relaxed work of the body system throughout the night also relaxes and loosens the anal ring (sphincter) muscles, so that the high-pressure gas in the stomach can be released more easily.

In addition, our autonomic nervous system which is regulated by the brain will always remain active even during sleep. It helps to keep us breathing, maintains our heart rate, and continues digestion. These "automatic" functions occur outside of our conscious control, including farting. Farts are stimulated by the activity of the digestive system. You don't have to think about it for that to happen. So, we can fart all the time, right, all night? Not necessarily.

The body's nervous system continues to work as usual during sleep. Likewise, the nerves in the anal ring muscle still have control over the release of gas. Although the sphincter muscles will indeed loosen, they will only be able to open according to your subconscious commands. That is why you are not likely to fart during REM sleep, aka deep dreaming.

As explained earlier, all bodily functions are completely paralyzed during the REM phase - except the eye muscles and the respiratory system. Now, if you pass gas in the middle of the night, that means you may be semi-conscious even if only temporarily or have passed the REM sleep phase.

If you can fart while sleeping, can you poop your pants while you sleep?

Even though just imagining it is disgusting, defecating in your pants while sleeping is not impossible, you know! The mechanism is the same as when we peed or farted during sleep.

Do you still remember, right, the explanation above which said that even though the rectal muscles relax, the nervous system of the brain remains active throughout the night? You can't poop on gasoline when you're sleeping soundly.

You will only be able to release your bowels during sleep when you are a little conscious (either because you have not yet gone through REM deep sleep, or simply because you are not sleeping well). Even if it is only temporarily awake, you can again recognize the sensation of a twisting stomach and respond to your body's need to poop by triggering your nervous system to "order" your body to pass feces.