Farting More On An Airplane? There's A Scientific Reason You Can't Help It

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When it comes to evolution, farting might be one of the grossest adaptations that humans have evolved. The human gut microbiome has adapted to break down complex carbohydrates, and passing gas is a natural byproduct of that. However, farting may be one of the most embarrassing bodily functions, especially when you're surrounded by strangers and in a small area, like an airplane. As it turns out, one of the fart myths based in science is that passing gas happens more during flights.

There's actually a scientific term for farting on airplanes — high-altitude flatus expulsion (HAFE) — and one of the explanations is related to Boyle's gas law, involving the gases in your gut expanding at higher altitudes. The ambient pressure in the cabin of an aircraft decreases as you takeoff and the plane ascends, and the gases in your body can expand about 30% in volume as a result.

A study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal proposed another explanation for HAFE: The quick increase in altitude draws carbon dioxide into the bowel. Although intestinal gas already primarily consists of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, it also contains smaller amounts of hydrogen, methane, oxygen, sulfur, and other gases. The researchers discovered that individuals climbing to an altitude of around 5,900 feet experienced about twice as many farts as before their ascent, which they believe resulted from more than just the expansion of the intestinal gases. Because of that, they surmised that some carbon dioxide from the bloodstream diffused into the bowels.

Although farting on a plane can be embarrassing, holding it in could have some unsavory consequences if the gas can't expand or escape freely. The most common effect is feeling uncomfortable pressure, which is generally associated with bloating. Unfortunately, it can also cause upper respiratory issues, including infections, pain, and ear or sinus bleeding. More serious problems can occur, though, if the gas escapes the intestines and makes its way into the abdominal cavity, where it may enter the eyes or lungs. Trapped, expanded gases could even interfere with life-saving medical devices, such as insulin pumps.

The good news is that there are ways to reduce the presence of gas in the gut before flights, as well as reduce gas production while you're in the air. Along with avoiding carbonated drinks, it can be helpful to avoid high FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polysaccharides) foods because gases are a byproduct of their fermentation in the large intestine. These foods contain short-chain carbohydrates that the small intestine struggles to break down. Some of the most common FODMAP foods are those containing lactose, sugar alcohols, garlic, onions, legumes, honey, high-fructose corn syrup, rye, and wheat.

Another way to reduce gas while you're on a plane is to take simethicone, otherwise known as Gas-X, before you board. Along with reducing the feeling of pressure, this over-the-counter medication can break up large gas bubbles so that you can pass them easier. You can take them during long flights, too, to keep the gas at bay. And if you start feeling the pressure build up, standing and moving around a bit can prevent the gas from becoming trapped.