Flatulence, the gas in the digestive tract, is a normal biological consequence of digestion and the small amount of air swallowed while eating or drinking. The average person passes gas between 8 and 25 times per day, a healthy range that vents excess pressure from the gut. However, social settings often necessitate suppressing this natural bodily function. When gas is intentionally held back, internal mechanisms take over to manage the trapped volume.
Where Does the Gas Go?
When the external anal sphincter is tightened to block gas from exiting, pressure builds inside the colon. This buildup pushes the gas, composed mostly of odorless gases like nitrogen, oxygen, and methane, back up the intestinal tract. The body then engages a physiological alternative to manage the trapped volume.
Gaseous molecules are forced against the intestinal wall, where they diffuse across the mucosal lining. These gases are absorbed into the portal circulation, the system of veins that carries blood from the digestive tract to the liver. The gas-laden blood then circulates to the lungs.
In the lungs, this gas participates in gas exchange (pulmonary circulation). The gas is then exhaled through the breath in a highly diluted, odorless form. This reabsorption and exhalation mechanism acts as the body’s safety valve, ensuring the trapped gas is eventually expelled without causing long-term harm.
Immediate Physical Consequences of Suppression
Before the body’s reabsorption mechanism takes effect, the temporary buildup of gas pressure causes noticeable physical effects. The primary consequence is localized abdominal pain and cramping as the intestinal wall stretches. This internal tension leads to bloating and abdominal distension, often causing the abdomen to feel tight.
The forced backward movement of gas through the digestive tract can result in borborygmi, the gurgling or rumbling sounds heard in the gut. These sounds are produced as the gas seeks the path of least resistance away from the blocked exit. The accumulation of gas may also increase the likelihood of the gas escaping upward, where it is released as a burp.
Debunking Myths: Are There Serious Health Risks?
Holding in gas occasionally is not associated with any serious or long-term health risks for a healthy individual. Anxieties about the bowel rupturing or suffering permanent damage from trapped gas are largely unsubstantiated. The body’s natural processes of reabsorption and eventual release prevent such catastrophic outcomes.
While suppressing flatulence is generally safe, it can temporarily exacerbate symptoms for people with pre-existing gastrointestinal conditions. The increased pressure may worsen discomfort associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or potentially trigger a flare-up of diverticulitis in susceptible individuals. Even in these cases, the body will eventually expel the gas, either through reabsorption or an uncontrolled release. The healthiest practice is simply to allow the gas to pass when possible, which avoids the temporary pain and bloating caused by suppression.