Is it normal to have stinky farts all the time

It usually comes out of the anus as flatulence or the mouth as a burp. Some intestinal gas comes from the air that people swallow when they are eating, chewing gum, drinking through a straw or smoking.

Intestinal gas is also produced within the body when bacteria in the colon break down food. This is called endogenous gas. It consists mainly of oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. It can also contain small amounts of other gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, which makes gas smell bad.

People taking the weight loss medication orlistat commonly experience gas with oily discharge. Iron supplements are also known to cause gas and bloating. Supplements containing fiber can produce gas as a byproduct, and the diabetes drug metformin can also make you gassy. Diabetes drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which slow carbohydrate absorption, can give you gas too.

But don't use Beano with drugs in this class, Bazaldua says, because it can affect how well the medicine works. To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter. Smelly gas alone is usually nothing to worry about, Dr. Gandolfo says. But if you also have other signs and symptoms, get checked out. Talk to your doctor if you have fever, weight loss, blood in your stool, or persistent diarrhea alongside your stinky farts, or if you have a history of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer.

Any change in your bowel habits or abdominal pain that doesn't go away after you pass gas or poop could signal trouble. It's important to rule out or treat other conditions that can cause smelly farts, says Dr.

Gandolfo, including a bowel obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease , colon cancer, celiac disease an immune reaction to gluten , and C. By Karen Pallarito Updated February 12, Save Pin More. Here's what got you into this stinky situation.

Start Slideshow. For more on digestive conditions, check out our Digestive Health Condition Center If you're having wicked gas, it's probably something you ate—and not necessarily a bad thing. Here are eight reasons why the gas you pass can sometimes be offensive. If you do, they will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection and get you well. A more rare cause of smelly farts is colon cancer. When polyps or tumors form in the digestive tract, it can cause a partial bowel obstruction, which results in gas buildup and bloating.

They can determine whether a colonoscopy is warranted. Treatment for colon cancer varies based on the stage of cancer. It can include surgery to remove tumors and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. In most cases, having foul or odorless flatulence is no cause for alarm.

However, if your gas is accompanied by irregular symptoms, you should visit a doctor immediately. Some adverse symptoms you may experience alongside smelly gas include:. Flatulence is natural and necessary to dispose of waste and gas in the body. There are some things you can do to get rid of smelly farts:. Gas is a normal part of the digestion process.

If you're unable to expel gas, you may start to feel pain and discomfort. Learn how to avoid gas…. Here are the types of foods that cause the most gas. Yoga aids in relaxation throughout the entire body. Relaxing your body, and especially your bowels and intestines, can help you to pass gas.

Understanding the differences between stomach bloat and belly fat can help you determine the cause and take appropriate interventions. Trapped gas can be acutely painful. It's usually not serious, but may be a sign of a food intolerance or an underlying digestive problem. Learn about…. However, while genetic celiac disease can be identified through blood testing, identifying a gluten sensitivity or intolerance typically just involves observing changes in symptoms after removing gluten from the diet which should be done under the supervision of a dietitian or doctor.

People with low bacterial diversity in their gut which can be caused by frequent, excessive antibiotic use or a diet low in fiber and high in animal products often face this issue, Dr. Ravella says. Another common culprit, though, is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, also known as SIBO , she says. SIBO occurs when excess bacteria builds up in the small intestine, which can affect nutrient absorption and cause all sorts of digestive symptoms including an uptick in flatulence.

Irritable bowel syndrome , a condition in which dysfunction in the large intestine causes digestive issues like bloating and abdominal pain, and bouts of diarrhea and constipation, is yet another common culprit behind particularly smelly farts, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Though frequent gas alone is not enough to diagnose IBS, changes in gas odor and production are common factors, says Dr. Often, managing IBS involves making healthy diet and lifestyle changes—and addressing stress.

Though gas varies from person to person, regularly stinky farts—when in combination with certain other symptoms—do warrant a trip to the doctor, as they can indicate serious conditions, like colon cancer. Ravella, the following are cause for concern:. However, even consistently smelly farts accompanied by more minor digestive upset like bloating can indicate issues like food sensitivities and bacterial imbalances, Dr.

In these cases, a registered dietitian can help you evaluate and modify your diet to ease your symptoms.