It’s a problem we all face at some point or other, but don’t want to talk about: flatulence. Now, one medic specialising in gut health has provided a surprisingly simple solution.
Gastroenterologist Dr Trisha Pasricha, from Harvard Medical School, provided tips for anyone who wanted ‘to avoid offending people with an ill-timed fart’.
The remedy, she said, is the over-the-counter pink liquid, Pepto Bismol. Or, more specifically, the active ingredient in the heartburn medication – bismuth subsalicylate.
In a clip seen tens of thousands of times on Instagram, Dr Pasricha said that the treatment had been shown to ‘reduce 95 per cent of sulphide-containing gases and reduce symptoms of flatulence’.
However, the medication – which is available from online pharmacies – isn’t entirely risk free. Dr Pasricha warned that it must be taken in moderation, as studies have found it to have toxic effects in high doses.
‘But if you’re just trying to ease your social discomfort for a day or two by all means take a dose by mouth up to four times a day beforehand,’ she said.
Dr Pasricha said those going on a flight may also want to consider it, to counter the effect of cabin pressure on our internal gases.
As altitude increases, your intestinal gas expands due to the fall in air pressure, she explained, adding: ‘At that point there’s really only one place for it to go.’
A mixture called bismuth subsalicylate, better known by the over-the-counter brand Pepto-Bismol (pictured), a medicine designed to treat heartburn and acid reflux is gastroenterologist Dr Trisha Pasricha’s recommended solution for reducing farts
The NHS also advises that people eat smaller meals, drink and chew food slowly, exercise regularly and drink peppermint tea to cut down on excessive or smelly farts.
Dr Pasricha noted that only one per cent of the intestinal gases released during a fart are responsible for the unpleasant smell.
‘Ninety-nine per cent of our intestinal gas is made of odourless gases like nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide,’ she said.
‘But one per cent contains sulphur and it’s that sulphur containing gas that makes farts smell so bad.’
While farting, known medically as flatulence, is a normal biological function, excessive or particularly foul-smelling gaseous eruptions can, rarely, be a sign of something more serious such as inflammatory bowel disease or even colon cancer.
What’s normal when it comes to flatulence varies per person,with Dr Pasricha suggesting farting between ten and 20 times per day is average.
But the NHS advises people to seek medical advice from their GP if they notice a persistent change in their flatulence that concerns them.