Hot Farts: Causes And Prevention - Medical News Today

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Medical News TodaySubscribeWhat causes hot farts and how to prevent them

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — Written by Jon Johnson on October 15, 2020

Causes
Treatment
Prevention
Seeing a doctor
Summary

Hot farts may indicate a person ate some types of food their body does not agree with, or they have other digestive issues. Lifestyle and diet changes may help minimize the occurrence.

It is normal for people to fart several times throughout the day, based on factors that include food choices and how they eat. However, a person may notice that some farts feel warmer or hotter than others.

In most cases, treating hot farts may not be necessary, as this symptom generally passes after a bowel movement. However, some over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help remedy continuous farting. In rare instances, a person may need to see a doctor.

Keep reading to learn more about the causes of hot farts and how to prevent them.

Causes

Person selecting treatment for hot farts. — Image credit: SDI Productions/Getty Images

The triggers of hot farts vary from person to person.

Learn more about why we fart here.

Diet plays a large part in causing gas. However, as one study in Gut notes, people may experience different levels of flatulence, even on the same diet. Every digestive system reacts differently to various foods and habits.

Smells may also accompany hot farts, and they vary based on what foods a person eats and how their body responds.

Below are some possible causes of hot farts.

Spicy food

Spicy foods can directly trigger hot farts in many people, as they contain compounds that may cause sensitivity issues. If a meal is spicy when a person eats it, it may feel “spicy” when they pass it later on.

This may also apply to the gas from the food. Spicy compounds in hot foods may make the rectum and anus more sensitive, which could make a person feel the fart more or make the fart seem hotter.

Clearing the spicy food via a bowel movement tends to relieve the symptom.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a sign of an upset digestive system, and there are numerous triggers.

Diarrhea itself tends to make the intestines sensitive, including the rectum and anus. This could make a person more likely to feel a fart as it passes, which may give the impression of a hot fart.

Other symptoms may accompany the fart, such as a foul smell or sour stomach.

Food intolerance

Eating food or drink that the body does not agree with may cause several symptoms, including diarrhea, upset stomach, and hot farts. Examples include consuming milk or dairy products in lactose-intolerant people.

In these cases, the gas a person releases may feel warm. It may also smell foul or sour and come with other symptoms such as temporary diarrhea.

Anyone who suspects they have a food intolerance may want to keep a food journal to track their diet and symptoms. Work closely with a doctor or dietician to find and eliminate any problematic foods.

Celiac disease

Celiac disease is an immune disorder that causes the body to react to gluten. In people with this condition, gluten causes damage and inflammation in the small intestine, which could lead to several symptoms such as hot or foul gas.

Celiac disease is a chronic condition, and the treatment involves eliminating gluten from the diet completely.

Low intestinal gas

Sometimes, a warm or hot fart may occur due to low intestinal gas. Several factors affect how gassy a person is, from how much air they swallow while chewing to the types of foods and drinks they consume.

A person with less intestinal gas may feel their farts are warmer, as there is not much gas in the rectum to expel with force. This may cause the warm gas to come out more slowly, which can make it feel warmer.

Tight clothing

Wearing thick, tight pants or underwear may also cause a fart to feel warmer, as the gas lingers around the anus after leaving the body. In these cases, there are typically no other symptoms, such as an upset stomach or foul smell. It is simply a result of the fart’s warm air not leaving immediately, causing the person to feel its warmth for longer.

Constipation

Irregularity and constipation can cause several digestive symptoms, including warmer farts. This may occur due to the digestive system slowing down, which leaves less space for gas and makes it more difficult to pass.

When the gas does come out, it may be in small amounts, leading to the warm feeling of a hot fart. Remedying constipation may help relieve these warm farts.

Treatment

Hot farts do not necessarily require treatment. The farts themselves are not dangerous and are not usually a sign of severe illness on their own. However, if there are strange accompanying smells or other symptoms, it could indicate a more serious underlying condition, such as food intolerance.

Hot fart symptoms are usually temporary and tend to pass after a bowel movement to eliminate the cause.

In cases of diarrhea, it is important to stay hydrated as the body recovers. Drinking mineral water and drinks with electrolytes may help restore hydration and salts in the body.

People may find that OTC drugs may ease other accompanying issues, such as an upset stomach or indigestion. Ingredients, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) and calcium carbonate (Tums or Rolaids), may help with these additional symptoms.

If doctors suspect an underlying issue, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), they may recommend a low FODMAP diet, which helps eliminate offending foods that trigger symptoms.

Prevention

Several diet and lifestyle changes may help minimize hot farts. Taking steps toward optimal digestive health may also prevent some cases. Some tips include:

eating plenty of dietary fiber
eating fermented foods or taking probiotic supplements to promote the gut microbiome
eating foods and herbs that reduce flatulence
reducing foods that may cause extra gas, such as sugars or other carbohydrates
taking dietary enzymes when eating foods that are difficult to digest
avoiding foods that upset the digestive system, such as spicy foods
drinking more water
avoiding gassy drinks such as carbonated water or soda
wearing loose-fitting clothing
keeping a food journal to help identify and eliminate problematic foods

When to see a doctor

Most cases of hot farts are temporary and will clear up when the underlying cause goes away or after a bowel movement.

In rare cases, continuous symptoms may be a sign of a more chronic underlying digestive issue, such as IBS. If symptoms persist or do not get better within a few days, contact a doctor for a diagnosis.

Learn more about IBS here.

Additionally, while feeling a warm or hot fart is normal, pain that accompanies farts may indicate a different issue, such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Anyone experiencing pain as they pass gas should talk to their doctor.

Summary

Experiencing hot farts may cause concerns, especially if other symptoms accompany them, such as a foul smell or sour stomach. However, the farts themselves are not dangerous.

In many cases, the cause is temporary, and symptoms resolve as soon as the body passes the offending foods.

In rare cases, people with these symptoms may have a chronic digestive issue. A person with persistent problems with hot farts should speak to a doctor or dietitian to diagnose and treat the underlying condition.

GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Nutrition / Diet

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Eating, diet, & nutrition for gas in the digestive tract. (2016). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract/eating-diet-nutrition
Kang, C., et al. (2016). Healthy subjects differentially respond to dietary capsaicin correlating with specific gut enterotypes. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/101/12/4681/2765040
Manichanh, C., et al. (2014). Anal gas evacuation and colonic microbiota in patients with flatulence: Effect of diet. https://gut.bmj.com/content/63/3/401
Symptoms & causes of gas in the digestive tract. (2016). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract/symptoms-causes

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Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — Written by Jon Johnson on October 15, 2020

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