Your Cart is Empty
Belching aloud can be very embarrassing in social situations and is considered rude. That is not a universal rule, though. In some Asian countries like China and Taiwan, belching is a sign that you are satiated and enjoyed the meal. It is considered a compliment to the chef.
Did you know that most of us burp about30 times a day?
A burp is a normal bodily function like hiccups. It happens when air is released through the mouth from the digestive tract. The air enters the upper gastrointestinal tract when food and drink are swallowed. The upper GI tract consists of the mouth, salivary glands, stomach, esophagus, and small intestine.
The medical profession distinguishes between two disorders that cause excessive belching i.e. aerophagia and supragastric belching. Distinguishing between these two is essential because they involve different mechanisms and require different treatments.
Aerophagia is a medical condition where a person repeatedly swallows excessive air, which leads to bloating and abdominal distention.
In contrast, supragastric belching is a behavioral disorder where a patient sucks or swallows air from the mouth into the esophagus and immediately expels it through the pharynx.
Swallowing air (aerophagia) is the most common cause of frequent belching. A surprising number ofactions can cause a person to swallow air.
Eating or drinking too fast.
Drinking through a straw.
Drinking carbonated beverages, such as sodas, sparkling water, beer, cider, and champagne.
Talking and eating at the same time.
Hyperventilating.
Wearing loose dentures.
Chewing gum.
Sucking hard candies.
Smoking.
A chronic post-nasal drip or congestion.
Breathing through your mouth, such as when you have a blocked nose due to a cold.
Snoring or using a CPAP machine to combat sleep apnea.
Certain foods that are difficult to digest or naturally cause gas when being digested, can cause excessive belching in some people. These include:
Legumes, such as lentils, peas, broad beans, chickpeas, etc.
Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.
Onions and leeks.
Garlic.
Bananas.
Raisins.
Whole-wheat bread.
Whole grains like wheat, oats, and rye contain gluten, which can also cause gas in people sensitive to gluten.
Excessive belching can be caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Here are some examples:
GERD may cause a person to burp more frequently. A symptom ofGERD is acid regurgitation where stomach content flushes up through the esophagus into the mouth. When this happens repeatedly, the sphincter at the top of a person’s stomach can weaken, causing air to easily escape from the stomach leading to heartburn and excessive burping.
GERD can cause bothgastric and supra-gastric belching.
Bacterial infections of the stomach can cause excessive belching. H. pylori is one such bacterium and it also causes stomach ulcers. One of thesymptoms of Helicobacter pylori infection is excessive burping. If the belching is caused by H. pylori infection, the person also experiences other symptoms, such as heartburn.
Food intolerance can cause indigestion, which can cause gas and excessive belching. These foods are not properly digested because the person doesn't have the necessary enzymes or enough of them to digest the food, which leads to gas. Food intolerances like lactose, gluten, and fructose intolerance are common examples.
A hiatal hernia is a condition where the upper part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm (the hiatus). In many cases, it causes no symptoms. In other cases, it causes stomach acid retention, leading to symptoms like heartburn, trouble swallowing, chest pain, andexcessive burping.
Belching may be a symptom ofother medical conditions. So, your healthcare provider will also look for other conditions that may include:
Functional dyspepsia: A chronic digestive disorder that causes stomach aches, and a general feeling of fullness or bloating even when little food is consumed.
Gastroparesis: A condition in which the stomach muscles can't move properly, so food doesn't move out of the stomach, or moves out slowly.
Gastritis: Inflammation of your stomach lining caused by infection or irritants like NSAIDs.
Peptic ulcers: Open sores that appear on the inner lining of the stomach, or the upper part of the small intestine.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO): An imbalance of the microorganisms in your small intestine causing bloating, gas, and indigestion.
Rumination syndrome: An eating disorder where a person regurgitates recently swallowed food, chews it again, swallows it again, or expels it without feeling sick from it.
No, these are two terms for the same thing – releasing gas from the stomach through the mouth. The escape of air from the stomach through the mouth can be accompanied by a sound, but not always. Also, the word "burp" is more commonly used in conversation, while "belch" is often used in formal contexts by medical professionals or in medical texts.
Most of the time, belching is a normal bodily function and not a cause for concern. However, excessive belching can be a sign of an underlying disease, as mentioned above. It is time to consult your doctor if you belch continuously or you have any of the followingsymptoms:
Fever
Stomach ache
Weight loss without dieting
Extreme tiredness
Numbness
Weakness
Regurgitation or vomiting
Diarrhea
Excessive belching may be a serious concern if it’s accompanied by other signs like:
Reduced appetite
Losing weight without trying
Stomach pain and abdominal discomfort
Feeling full with a bite or two
Heartburn or indigestion
Nausea
Vomiting, with or without blood
Swelling or fluid buildup in the abdomen
Typically, this means adjusting your habits and choosing a better diet. Certain home remedies can also help your cause. But if you have other symptoms aside from excessive burps, then you should seek immediate medical attention.
Eat and drink slowly and don't talk while you're eating. Focus on your meal and chew your food properly before you swallow it. Don't eat while you're walking.
Avoid carbonated drinks, including sodas, ciders, beer, etc.
Avoid chewing gum and sucking on hard candy. These actions promote frequent swallowing and so, more air in the digestive tract.
Avoid smoking as inhaling smoke goes hand in hand with inhaling and swallowing air.
Ensure your dentures fit properly as loose dentures can cause you to swallow more air.
Don't remain sitting at the table – get up and go for a short walk after meals; it may help.
Treat heartburn. For occasional, mild heartburn, over-the-counter antacids or other remedies may be helpful. GERD may require prescription medicine or other treatments.
Try drinking ginger tea, as ginger relieves stomach discomfort after a meal. Ginger has been used as a home remedy in treating various gastric ailments including diarrhea, belching, bloating, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting for centuries.Research has confirmed ginger tea can help with a range of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Drinkingherbal teas made with chamomile, fennel, peppermint, or turmeric may also relieve indigestion and reduce gas.
You can also try various over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for burping such as antacids for heartburn or other drugs that help with burping.
Some foods are known to cause gas:
Peas
Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage
Lentils and other legumes
Onions
Whole-grain foods
Mushrooms
Fatty foods slow down digestion which can contribute to bloating and gas.
Milk and milk products, and foods that contain lactose, such as bread, cereal, and salad dressing. This restriction applies to people with lactose intolerance.
Foods containingsorbitol, a popular non-nutritive sweetener (including dietetic foods and sugar-free candies and gums)
The followinglow-sugar fruits may help reduce gas for some people and thereby help prevent burping.
Apricots
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Peaches
Strawberries
Watermelons
Low-carbohydrate vegetables that mayproduce less gas include green beans, carrots, okra, tomatoes, and bok choy.
Belching is a normal physiological occurrence and doesn't usually cause any health problems, but excessive belching might signify an underlying health issue. If you belch a lot and you also have other symptoms of digestive discomfort, it might be time to consult your doctor.
For the most part, belching is the most embarrassing and can easily be addressed with a few lifestyle changes.