Aklan State University

School of Arts and Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Banga, Aklan

Name: Lourenz S. Bontia Date: January 23, 2016

Flatulence

Definition:
The definition of flatulence is gas (generated during digestion or waste gases), usually in
excess, that is present in the intestinal tract and usually removed from the body by passing out
through the anus, often accompanied by sound and odor when the gas is expelled by the body.
Common terms for flatulence include terms such as farts, breaking wind, and passing gas.
Some individuals include belching (passing gases from the stomach through the mouth) under
flatulence.i

Signs and Symptoms:

Gas: Everyone passes gas (flatulates) normally each day. A certain amount of gas is present in
the GI tract at any one time, mainly in the stomach and colon. The average person passes gas
about 10 times each day and up to 20-25 times is considered normal. More than that may be
excessive.

Belching: An occasional belch during or after meals is normal and releases gas when the
stomach is full of food. But if a person belches frequently, he or she may be swallowing too
much air and releasing it before the air enters the stomach. Some people swallow air to make
themselves belch, thinking it will relieve their discomfort. This practice may turn into an annoying
habit. Belching may signal a more serious upper GI disorder such as peptic ulcer disease,
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or gastroparesis.
Abdominal bloating: Many people believe that too much gas causes abdominal bloating.
However, people who complain of bloating from gas often have normal amounts of gas. They
actually may be unusually aware of gas in the digestive tract. A diet of fatty foods may delay
stomach emptying and cause bloating and discomfort, but not necessarily too much gas.
Certain conditions may cause bloating, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, or
colon cancer. People with scar tissue (adhesions) from abdominal operations or internal hernias
may have a sensation of bloating because of increased sensitivity to gas.

Abdominal pain and discomfort: Some people have pain when gas is present in the intestine.
When pain is on the left side of the colon, it can be confused with heart disease. When the pain
is on the right side of the colon, it may mimic gallstones or appendicitis.ii

Pathophysiology:

Sensory nerve endings present in the rectum and anal canal can detect pressure exerted by the
bulk of a stool. As this pressure mounts, a person feels the urgency to pass the stool. The flatus
that gathers in the lower intestine and colon also exerts pressure and triggers a need to pass
wind. Flatulence often makes a sound, as the flatus passes through the tight anal sphincter. The
speed the gas is passed at, the tightness of the sphincter and other factors such as water and
body fat content, determine the type and pitch of the sound. Flatulence can occur accidentally
when pressure within the abdomen is suddenly raised due to coughing, sneezing, sexual
intercourse or laughing, for example.iii

Recommended Diet:iv

Foods to avoid Foods to eat

Milk Cantaloupe

Carbonated beverages Berries

Xylitol, mannitol and sorbitol Grapes

Sweet potato Lettuce

Processed foods that contain some amount Okra

of lactose
Meal Plan:

Meal Food Choices

Breakfast Baked white potato
1 apple
Lunch 1 cup white rice
Grilled fish
Snacks Blueberries
Dinner 1 cup brown rice
Steam chicken
i Bare, S. C. (2003). Brunner and Suddarths Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing. Lippincott
Williams and Wilkins; 10th Revised edition.

ii . Ohge H, Levitt MD. Intestinal gas. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger &
Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease . 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders
Elsevier;2010:chap 16.

iii Mandal, A. (n.d.). Flatulence Physiology. Retrieved February 2, 2016, from NEWS MEDICAL:
www.news-medical.net/health/Flatulence-Physiology.aspx

iv Doughlin, A. (2014, August 29). Foods that stop Flatulence. Retrieved February 3, 2016, from
LIVESTRONG.COM: www.livestrong.com/article/339608-foods-that-stop-flatulence/