Flying Increases Flatulence: For the Sake of Your Health, Let It Go!

COMMENTARY | Every once in a while, a scientific study is released that is as much factual as it is humorous. And a new report published by the New Zealand Medical Journal proves my point.

As reported by NBCNews.com, scientists say physics can explain why you feel gassier when you fly. As an airplane increases in altitude, pressure decreases. And according to what's known as the ideal gas law, when pressure decreases, volume increases. Cabin pressure tries to compensate for these changes, but it can only do so much and your intestines end up expanding with volume.

So the authors of this study recommend you release the volume from your intestines. Or to put it more crudely, let one rip.

No, it's not entirely polite. It also has the potential to create either a very humorous or quite embarrassing experience. And let's not forget how your cabin mates will feel when you give in to the laws of physics, especially if you ate eggs that morning. But speaking strictly from a 'good for your health' standpoint, it needs to be done.

Flatulence may be inconvenient, but it serves a purpose. If you don't pass gas when you need to, you may develop abdominal discomfort. As a nurse, I can recall several patients who were in severe abdominal pain and when they finally passed gas, they felt that much better. Most frequently, the gas was caused by a surgical/medical procedure like a colonoscopy, where air was pumped into the patient's body for better visual access to internal organs. Such things as walking or even drinking ginger ale can help pass gas in these instances.

But flying on a plane is different from having a colonoscopy. After all, you're expect to pass gas when you're in a hospital. I ask my patients about passing gas during my initial assessment. So if you're trapped on an airplane and you need to let one go, I agree with researchers who suggest being as discreet as possible and even wearing activated charcoal underwear liners to absorb the odor. I also recommend avoiding gassy foods like broccoli, cauliflower, and beans on the day of your flight.

Having gas and letting it out might be embarrassing, but it needs to be done when you're under pressure. Just avoid a "Blazing Saddles" moment and your cabin mates will appreciate your kindness.

Jennifer Budd is a registered nurse and a former broadcast journalist in the NYC/New Jersey area.

Sources:

U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus.com, Colonoscopy, last update November 9, 2011

NBCNEWS.com, Let your flatulence fly, scientists urge passengers, February 20, 2013

US Department of Health and Human Services: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), Gas in the digestive tract, last updated January 2, 2013

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/flying-increases-flatulence-sake-health-let-171100518.html

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