Foul-smelling gas usually has a simple cause, like high fiber foods or certain medications. However, it could be an indicator of underlying digestive issues or even colon cancer, so be sure to contact a doctor if your symptoms are concerning you.
Researchers from Exeter University in the United Kingdom have found evidence that smelling farts has been linked to warding off diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and cancer. Most importantly, it is connected to controlling inflammation, which is ultimately the culprit of many dangerous illnesses.
Common causes of foul-smelling gas can be a food intolerance, high-fiber foods, certain medications and antibiotics, and constipation. More serious causes are bacteria and infections in the digestive tract or, potentially, colon cancer.
Though gas varies from person to person, regularly stinky farts—when in combination with certain other symptoms—do warrant a trip to the doctor, as they can indicate serious conditions, like colon cancer.
What Foods Cause Gas to Smell More? Since sulfur compounds produce the odor related to gas, eating foods high in sulfur compounds will increase the pungency of your flatulence. Foods high in sulfur include meat, poultry, eggs, onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower.
If the odor is strong, leave the premises immediately and tell others to leave. Then, call your local gas company from a neighbor's home. Outside gas odors should be reported right away - do not try to locate the source yourself.
The clinical picture of gas sniffing includes visual hallucinations, changes in consciousness, euphoria, nystagmus, dizziness, weakness and tremors. There is the possibility of rapid recovery, sudden death or brain damage with chronic abuse.
Yes, Inhalants Can Hurt the Brain
All inhalants reduce oxygen flow to the brain (in fact, lowered oxygen levels are largely responsible for the light-headed euphoric sensations associated with inhalant abuse), and brain cells die without oxygen.
Sniffing Gasoline otherwise known as sniffing petrol is an inhalant abuse. When you inhale the petrol, it leads to intoxication. A lot of people relate this abuse to poverty. Australia is one of the places where this addiction is far spreading and has become a matter of concern for their citizens.
Inhaling carbon monoxide can be extremely dangerous because it enters the bloodstream, eventually attaches to red blood cells (RBCs) carrying oxygen and can cause damage to vital organs, including the brain.
It's normal to smell an odor for a few seconds before seeing the flame on the range. A gas leak smells different, like rotten eggs. A hissing sound can indicate a puncture in the gas tank and some leakage. Go outside and call 911 or the gas company's emergency line if you suspect a leak.
Rotten Egg Smell
Mercaptan is an additive in natural gas that produces an odor similar to rotten eggs or cabbage. If you smell this odor in the home, you could have a natural gas leak.
Typically, you'll need to allow your home to air out for fifteen minutes to a few hours, but the exact timeframe depends on the severity of the leak and wind conditions in your area.
Foul-smelling gas usually has a simple cause, like high fiber foods or certain medications. However, it could be an indicator of underlying digestive issues or even colon cancer, so be sure to contact a doctor if your symptoms are concerning you.
Foul-smelling flatulence is caused by hydrogen sulfide, which makes farts smell like rotten eggs or cabbage. Some gut bacteria, like Desulfovibrio and Desulfobulbus, produce hydrogen sulfide from amino acids in food, like cysteine and methionine. Digestive health problems can also cause bad wind and constant farting.
If you come home one day and smell rotten eggs, it's most likely hydrogen sulfide — the smell of sewer gas. If the issue isn't one of the ones mentioned above, then it's likely a sewer gas leak. Our noses tend to adjust to this smell quickly, so even if it disappears, there still could be a sewage problem.
Carbonated beverages, such as soda and beer, increase stomach gas. Eating habits, such as eating too quickly, drinking through a straw, chewing gum, sucking on candies or talking while chewing results in swallowing more air. Fiber supplements containing psyllium, such as Metamucil, may increase colon gas.
Excessive flatulence can be caused by swallowing more air than usual or eating food that's difficult to digest. It can also be related to an underlying health problem affecting the digestive system, such as recurring indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Read more about the causes of flatulence.
Common symptoms of gas in the digestive tract include belching, bloating and distention, and passing gas. Having some gas symptoms is normal, especially during or after meals. Gas symptoms may be a problem if they occur often, bother you, or affect your daily activities.
"When gas evaporates, it gives off compounds, including aldehydes, which are found naturally in peaches and cherries, and benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon that boosts the octane rating." Your olfactory system may be sensitive to those sweet smells. As long as you don't huff the fumes, you're fine.
However, the smell of gasoline is toxic, especially when breathed in large amounts. A small to moderate amount of gasoline can cause dizziness, headaches, euphoria, irritability, drowsiness and loss of memory, says the ATSDR.
Gasoline Activates the Mesolimbic Pathway
Benzene and other hydrocarbons, when inhaled, have a suppressing effect on the nervous system, which results in a temporary, euphoric feeling. It produces a pleasurable sensation that's not unlike alcohol or a host of other drugs.
What is benzene? Benzene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It evaporates into the air very quickly and dissolves slightly in water. It is highly flammable and is formed from both natural processes and human activities.