So THAT'S Why You're Farting On Planes

Of all travel problems, this one stinks most. Many travelers complain about an increased need to fart on planes, or, less commonly, feeling bloated while flying. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone: There’s a scientific name for this scenario. HAFE stands for High Altitude Flatus Expulsion. Coined by a pair of researchers in the 1980s, the “tongue-in-cheek” term describes a phenomenon observed when mountain climbers experienced flatulence at high altitudes, said Dr. David Shlim, a physician and former president of the International Society of Travel Medicine. Turns out HAFE is likely at play when you pass more gas on a plane. Airplane cabins are pressurized to between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, which is a significant altitude change for your body if you’ve come from sea level, Shlim told HuffPost. And just as the air in your water bottle expands at higher altitudes, the gas in your intestines can expand on a plane, growing to take up about 30 percent more room than usual. Then, it needs to escape.  “The air pressure in an airplane is different than on the ground,” said Dr. Scott Kalish, a travel medicine doctor in New York City. “In certain people, it can predispose them to developing more gas.” Expanding gas can also lead to feelings of bloat, Kalish says, though he said he doesn’t hear that complaint often. If feeling gassy or bloated is ...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news