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Farts are a natural thing to happen. However, sometimes the culture that exists in society makes us uncomfortable to fart carelessly, because of the assumption that it is impolite. When the fart makes a sound or smells, we become embarrassed because of it. This is why holding fart may be one of the things you do regularly, maybe even every day. But, have you ever wondered what the effect would be on the body if we often hold back fart?
How can you fart?
Farts come from gas. When your body tries to get rid of the built-up gas, it excretes in two ways. First, the gas will come out through the saltpeter. Second, gas will come out by farting out of the anus. Burp comes from swallowing mostly air. When we are talking or chewing gum, it is unavoidable to swallow excess air. There are also some foods that can cause excess gas. The food must be fermented to give rise to acid and gas.
Excess gas occurs when it becomes trapped in the intestines, causing flatulence. The release of gas in the stomach is associated with the amount of gas in the intestines, and is dependent on the motor activity of the intestines. Here are some reasons why excess gas is trapped in the body:
- Swallow air: this process is triggered by changes in the muscles that control air intake. You may eat too fast and not chew your food properly, making it difficult to digest the food.
- Odorous gas accumulation: smelly farts caused by colon bacteria that produce gas during the fermentation of leftovers that are not absorbed.
- Bacterial changes: gas also depends on the composition of the bacteria that live in the digestive system. Everyone has a different composition of bacteria.
- Constipation: this condition occurs due to the prolongation of the food fermentation process in the digestive system, which increases the production of gas in the body.
Hold back fart, healthy or not?
It is considered impolite to pass the wind carelessly if the smell disturbs other people. Meanwhile, when the fart is odorless, only sounds and is known to people, often this will only make us embarrassed. However, holding back fart can cause heartburn, bloating, and indigestion. Intestinal pressure can cause trapped gas, as well as possibly an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Withholding gas may not be dangerous for you, but you will feel awful and uncomfortable. According to Lisa Ganjhu, a doctor of osteopathy and clinical assistant lecturer in medicine and gastroenterology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, quoted by the Women's Health website, anything that affects the flow below can affect the flow above it. In this case, the flow is the digestive system. When you hold it in, the buildup of air builds up in the digestive tract, causing the air to push upwards, causing flatulence and discomfort in the stomach.
Also, holding in a fart won't hurt you directly, but the intestines will swell up like a balloon because of the gas blockage. If the intestinal wall has weakness, it can eventually burst. When this happens, pockets form, also known as diverticula. Fatal, if the sacs become infected, it will cause life-threatening conditions and pain.
This case is rare, it is likely to occur in patients with serious illnesses. However, there is another opinion which states that diverticulitis cases are often found in the elderly and have become common cases.
What to do when you want to pass gas?
Of course, don't hold back. You can go to the toilet or a quiet place, if you feel uncomfortable or afraid to bother to take it out in a crowded place. If you want to deal with fart that may be excessive, you can take probiotics. Food sources of probiotics can help you by harmonizing the function of bacteria in your body. You can get it in yogurt, kimchi, or you can also try supplement pills that contain probiotics. Another way is to avoid foods that are difficult to digest, one of which is artificial sweeteners.
You can also add spices to your diet, these spices can be ginger, turmeric, cumin, licorice (liquorice). These ingredients can help with digestive problems. If you don't like spices, you can have tea. There is another thing that is easiest to apply, which is drinking lots of water. When you eat fiber, water acts to soften it, which helps fight hard-to-digest waste products in the digestive system.
