Wind

Definition This can mean several things from trapped wind in the tummy causing pain through to bad smelling ‘wind’, which is embarrassing to pass.

Cause It is to some extent the result of what we eat although it can be one of the symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome. It can occur as the result of eating too much roughage, which has then been fermented in the large bowel and its smell will be more unpleasant when eating eggs, onions and garlic. However it can happen for no apparent reason – it is never serious if you have no other associated symptoms and it is then likely to get better without treatment. If not then it might be helpful in the short term to eat less roughage.