For those who look after the elderly, flatulence (also known as farting) can be a bothersome occupational hazard. A caregiver may struggle to decide whether to respect an elderly person who is having a lot of gas or to leave them alone so they can get some fresh air. Why are elderly people so farty? Because their metabolism slows down.
What Leads To Flatulence In The Elderly
For the majority of elderly people, it is fortunately commonplace and harmless to fart. As we get older, minor changes in digestion are fairly normal.
However, there are some symptoms to watch out for that could signify a medical problem. Make an appointment with your loved one’s doctor if their flatulence is accompanied by other symptoms like weight loss, diarrhea, or decreased appetite.
These signs may indicate intestinal malabsorption caused by a number of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, chronic mesenteric ischemia, or irritable bowel syndrome.
A complete gastrointestinal workup is necessary to treat these and other underlying digestive issues.
Why Do Older People Fart
One theory put forth by some experts is that as you age, your metabolism slows down and you fart more frequently. Because the food stays in your digestive system for a longer period of time, more fart is produced.
Additionally, your stomach produces less of the acid required for proper food digestion.
Additionally, muscles make up your digestive system. As you get older, these muscles lose strength, which causes your digestion to slow down even more and could result in more farts.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance increases as we age. This is a common problem with an easy fix. Initially, see if things get better by having your loved one cut out lactose-containing dairy products from their diet for about a week.
Yogurt may be a less troublesome alternative to cheese and milk if a senior still crave dairy products despite being lactose intolerant. There are also dairy products and milk without lactose.
Somewhat assisting in the digestion of a favorite dairy product would be Lactaid (lactase enzyme) tablets.
Fructose Intolerance
When your loved one consumes specific fruits, products containing fruit juice, or foods containing high fructose corn syrup, such as soda, symptoms of fructose sensitivity can be observed.
Foods That Virtually Anyone Can Eat Cause Fart Include
Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, if consumed in large quantities (e.g. broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts), beans (e.g. beans and lentils), potatoes, onions, wheat, and whole grains can cause gassiness due to the presence of fiber and certain indigestible starches.
Medications
Older adults frequently take medications, and flatulence and other digestive problems are frequent side effects of some commonly prescribed medications. Antibiotics, some narcotic painkillers, and blood pressure medications are the culprits.
Talk to their doctor about switching to a medication that is more gastrointestinally friendly and checks the medication inserts for your loved one to see if flatulence is listed as a side effect.
Taking In Too Much Air
An elderly person may unintentionally swallow air during routine activities because of dentures or difficulties chewing and swallowing food (dysphagia). This air is then expelled as a fart.
Make sure your loved one’s dentures fit properly and that they have access to soft, easy-to-eat foods even though this issue might not be entirely preventable.
Slower Digestion
An elder’s digestive system may slow down as they age, which can cause constipation and flatulence. Encourage your loved one to drink more water and consume fiber-rich foods if constipation is a problem as well.
How To Minimize Senior Fart
One of the best ways to help solve the problem of too much farting is to change your diet and lifestyle. You might want to think about adding oral probiotics to your daily routine if your loved one is constantly in pain and bloated due to fart.
The lack of healthy bacteria that support digestion could be another underlying problem. Probiotics are likely the best choice if this is the situation.
By speaking with a healthcare provider, you can determine whether probiotics are required.
Overall, finding the ideal strain combination for your loved one will require some independent research and some trial and error, but all are sold over the counter.
Prebiotics, which are non-digestible foods that help bacteria grow more effectively, are also taken along with probiotics.
Natural Remedies To Prevent Flatulence In The Elderly
People should think about natural methods when searching for a flatulence remedy. Gaining a better understanding of which foods make you personally produce more fart will help you prevent a lot of excessive farting and flatulence.
The best approach to take in order to figure out which food makes you produce a lot of farts is to start out on a simple diet and gradually add new foods, one at a time. Ultimately, you just need to stop eating the foods that are the cause of the issue.
It can be very beneficial to give the food the time it needs to be properly chewed and swallowed. Another way to control burping and flatulence is to stay away from carbonated beverages.
Maintaining a physical fitness routine is important for people who experience a lot of farts because regular exercise can enhance the function of the bowel as well as the digestive system.
Treatment Options For Excessive Fart And Flatulence In The Elderly
Let’s look at some of the remedies for elderly people who experience flatulence. The fact that something might work for one person but not another is crucial to keep in mind.
Before you find a treatment option for an excessive fart that works, you might need to try a variety of them.
It can be difficult to treat excessive flatulence. You will have a good chance, though, of finding a cure among the natural cures mentioned above or in the treatment options described below with a little perseverance and trial and error.
- There are now a lot of lactose-free products available for those who are lactose intolerant. The majority of medical professionals concur that it is best to simply avoid dairy products, despite the fact that you can also take a tablet called Lactase before ingesting dairy.
- Charcoal tablets are a particular class of over-the-counter medication. In the digestive system, it absorbs fart.
- Simethicone is a drug that has been known to help with gastric issues.
- Dietary supplements can aid in enhancing digestion and reducing flatulence. One such supplement is Alpha-galactosidase. The Beano brand of the merchandise contains it.
- Probiotics: Some individuals have discovered that probiotics, which promote the growth of “friendly bacteria” in our digestive system, can be beneficial in treating flatulence.
