Doctor reveals why people fart more on planes and how you can stop it

Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au.This week, Dr Zac Turner explores why it seems that people fart more on planes.QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, I just returned home from London after a 24-hour flight and I swear everyone around me was doing really stinky silent farts that were next-level rank.

Is it because Qantas food has really nose dived recently, or is there science behind people on planes farting more? And if that’s the case, is there anything that we can do that will lessen the smell of our farts when flying? I’ve heard that the worst smell in the world is when an airplane door opens after a long haul flight and honestly, I believe it.– Trevor, 27, Penrith, NSWANSWER: I love getting questions like this because let’s face it, no one wants to talk about farts and poo, yet everyone’s secretly dying to know the answers.Now, you’re not imagining things — you likely are farting more than usual on a plane, but don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone.There is a simple explanation for why you’re “ghost gassing” into your seat mid-flight and it’s not just because you’re scarfing down beans before takeoff.So fasten your seatbelt and prepare for takeoff, because we’re about to explore why you’re more likely to pass wind while airborne — and what’s really going on with your gut at 35,000 feet.The science behind your inflated gutAll right, here’s the deal.Airplanes don’t just leave you with a funny feeling in your stomach because of dodgy airline food.

The real culprit is cabin pressure.Picture your intestines as a balloon.When you’re at sea level, things are all hunky-dory.

But as you climb to 35,000 feet, the air gets thinner and your balloon expands.The lower air pressure at high altitudes means any gas trapped in your digestive system gets more room to spread out.That means you’re more likely to feel bloated and need to let one rip more often.

It’s like your stomach is trying to take up more space...