What happens to your body when you hold in a fart

A fart explained

Farts and breaking wind refer to intestinal gases that enter the rectum due to the body’s usual gastrointestinal processes of digestion and metabolism and then leave via the anus.

As your body digests food in the small intestine, components that can’t be broken down move further along the gastrointestinal tract and eventually into the large intestine called the colon.

Intestinal bacteria break down some of the contents by fermentation. This process produces gases and by-products called fatty acids that are reabsorbed and used in metabolic pathways related to immunity and preventing disease development.

Gases can either be reabsorbed through the gut wall into the circulation and eventually exhaled through the lungs or excreted via the rectum, as a fart.

What happens in your body when you hold it in?

Trying to hold it in leads to a build-up of pressure and major discomfort. A build up of intestinal gas can trigger abdominal distension, with some gas reabsorbed into the circulation and exhaled in your breath. Holding on too long means the build-up of intestinal gas will eventually escape via an uncontrollable fart.

According to The Conversation website, the research is not clear on whether the rise in pressure in your rectum increases your chance of developing a condition called diverticulitis, where small pouches develop in the gut lining and become inflamed – or whether it doesn’t matter at all.

“The only real exception to the “holding in your farts won’t seriously injure you” rule is people who have severe obstructions in their colons. In that case, the colon blows up like a balloon because of the blockage,” says Lisa Ganjhu, a doctor of osteopathy and a clinical assistant professor of medicine and gastroenterology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

Although holding in your gas won’t actually harm you, it can still make you feel like a sausage in too-tight casing. “Your digestive tract is like one of those big balloons clowns use to make animals,” says Ganjhu. “Anything that affects downstream will affect upstream.” Meaning any sort of air buildup lower in your gastrointestinal tract, like in your colon, will eventually push upward and cause bloating and discomfort around your midsection.

Your best bet is to excuse yourself to the restroom where you can relieve yourself in peace. Better now, when you expect it than to have one squeak out in the middle of a meeting because you’re trying to hold it in, right?

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