Where does a fart go after you hold it in? Here's the stinkiest science lesson ever

Many people may have had the embarrassing moment of farting in public. In order to avoid this embarrassment, many people will choose to fart as quietly as possible, at least without making any sound...

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There are also some people who, in order to avoid embarrassment, force themselves to hold back their farts...

In fact, farting is a normal physiological phenomenon. Under normal circumstances, people fart 10-15 times a day, expelling about 500 ml of gas.

Among them, there are about 1-2 farts with sound, and more than 10 farts without sound.

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Holding your farts in may be elegant, but does it have any effect on our health? Today, let's put aside our prejudices against farts and share some interesting science with you.

How are farts produced?

Fart, also known as flatulence, refers to the waste gas discharged from the anus of humans or animals.

There are more than 1,000 species of intestinal microorganisms, and the number of bacteria increases gradually from the proximal to the distal intestine.

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The food we eat mixes with saliva, gastric juice, pancreatic juice and bile and slowly reaches the intestines. Intestinal microorganisms continue to break down the food, producing gas in the process of decomposition , which is discharged through the anus. This is a fart.

Another source is the air swallowed when eating , so it makes sense to chew slowly and not talk while eating.

What are the components of fart?

Farts are mainly composed of 59% nitrogen, 21% hydrogen, 9% carbon dioxide, 7% methane and 4% oxygen, but these gases are odorless.

Less than 1% is made up of trace amounts of other chemicals - such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

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The composition of farts does vary from person to person, after all, everyone's intestinal biology is different.

But the stench of farts is caused by these less than 1% ammonia and hydrogen sulfide substances.

Hydrogen sulfide gives off a rotten-egg smell, while anything that stinks like rotting cabbage is likely due to a buildup of methanethiol, and those slightly sweet-smelling farts are due to dimethyl sulfide.

What effects may hydrogen sulfide have on the human body?

Recent studies have shown that farts may contain a compound that is beneficial to humans.

This is because the human body contains a special enzyme called cystathionine lyase, which catalyzes the production of hydrogen sulfide, which has many benefits to the human body.

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1. Regulate blood pressure. A research team at Lakehead University in Canada found that hydrogen sulfide in the blood can lower the blood pressure of rats.

2. Regulate inflammation. Studies have found that giving animals with enteritis drugs that release low doses of hydrogen sulfide can reduce their inflammatory response.

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3. Stop bleeding. Intravenous injection of hydrogen sulfide can temporarily reduce a person's need for oxygen due to blood loss, thereby increasing the chance of waiting for blood transfusion and treatment.

4. Prolong lifespan. Hydrogen sulfide can increase the lifespan of nematodes by 70%. This means that living in an air environment containing an appropriate amount of hydrogen sulfide may prolong lifespan.

Although hydrogen sulfide has many benefits, there is one hazard that cannot be ignored - neurotoxicity.

The main targets of hydrogen sulfide are the central nervous system and the respiratory system. When the concentration is low, it can cause eye stinging, tearing, vomiting, and sometimes pneumonia and pulmonary edema; when the concentration is high, it can damage the brain.

Hydrogen sulfide, which accounts for less than 1%, cannot be equated with fart, and holding in fart is not good for the body.

Where did all the farts go?

If we hold our farts frequently, gas will slowly accumulate in our intestines, causing abdominal bloating and pain.

But the gas cannot disappear out of thin air. The fart that cannot be expelled will flow around the body. Some of it will enter the systemic circulation with the blood and may enter the lungs and be exhaled out of the body, while some will be absorbed by the body.

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Farts contain some toxic and harmful substances. If we often hold in our farts, these toxic and harmful substances may slowly affect our intestinal health.

So just fart while you can.

How to relieve the embarrassment of farts?

Drink plenty of water and eat more high-fiber foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Get proper physical exercise regularly.

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Dairy products and sugars should be consumed in moderation, especially people with lactose intolerance should reduce their lactose intake.

Use medications that may cause abdominal bloating with caution, follow your doctor's advice, and avoid overdose.

In conclusion,

Fart is a physiological phenomenon of our body.

Just find a non-embarrassing place to put it.

Expert in this article: Yang Chao, MD, attending physician at the Rocket Force Special Medical Center

Reviewer of this article: Dr. Chen Haixu, Associate Researcher, Second Medical Center, PLA General Hospital

Source: Science Popularization China New Media

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