Research from The New Zealand Medical Journal has just shared why it’s important for passengers to just let it go on an airplane. The science behind flatulence and flying shows that the cabin pressure can lead to an increased volume of intestinal gas (what’s causing someone to fart).
Although modern aircrafts have pressurized-cabins, the ideal laws of gas would note that any existing (intestinal) gas would expand proportionally when pressure decreases. Pressure decreases on airplanes because ground pressure is about 760 mmHg, while pressurized cabins in an aircraft maintain a minimum pressure of 565 mmHg.
You might think, I’ll just save the embarrassment and hold it in. Well, the medical experts share that this could lead to discomfort, bloating, pain, dyspepsia (indigestion) and pyrosis (heartburn). On top of that, continued stress may result from concentration in trying to hold it in. This poses a threat for pilots as well who must maintain concentration during the entire flight.
Plus, physiological symptoms of pressure in the intestines can increase blood pressure and lower oxygenation of the blood. All of the above pose threats for those facing cardiovascular problems.
Need anymore reason to let it rip on the airplane? Holding in farts (flatus retention to be more professional) is believed to be a driving factor in sigmoid diverticular disease, an illness that results in small pouches forming in the wall of the sigmoid colon.
But of course the issue is two sides of a coin; on one hand releasing the gas will ease any significant discomfort and aforementioned symptoms, however, you also have to understand the social complications of farting in public. Sound, odor and embarrassment make a complicated cocktail of considerations. Not to mention, nearly 50% of the air recirculates in an airplane cabin. So, that fart you decided to release and its odor will most likely reach your co-passengers.
Beyond being unpleasant for other passengers, the journal explains how odors could impair the service level of the flight crew, thus fliers overall experience. So ultimately, the decision must be weighed.
The journal hopes to aid the conflicting issue by presenting the concept of charcoal lined cushions on planes. This would permit passengers to effectively release flatulence while limiting odor, as charcoals been shown to restrict the escape of sulphur containing gases.
Until then, the decision whether to pass gas on the plane is yours to choose, though it’s either your stomach or neighbor that may hate you…