# Smeller's the feller...a question about farting

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 16, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809 "2001-11-16T20:49:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809/1 "2001-11-16T20:49:13Z")

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Are there any potential medical risks associated with holding farts in for long time periods?

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**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809/2 "2001-11-16T21:21:01Z")

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I remember reading in some old history book that a Roman emperor’s doctors advised him to fart freely because he had a problem with gas and the doctors thought holding it in was unhealthy. I don’t know what kind of cutting-edge fartology has happened in the last 2000 years, though.

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**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809/3 "2001-11-16T21:39:39Z")

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Bad breath?

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**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809/4 "2001-11-16T21:45:31Z")

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One of the medical types around here (think it was **Quagtop** stated that it _was_ bad to hold in your farts as it can cause diverticulosis and other problems.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809/5 "2001-11-16T22:57:06Z")

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**Cecil Adams** : [Does suppressing the urge to toot endanger one’s health?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_385.html)

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smellers-the-feller-a-question-about-farting/93809/6 "2001-11-16T22:58:54Z")

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Thanks, **bibliophage**. I missed that one. Feel free to lock this thread.