Belching with air in adults

What is a burp

Belching in adults is the process of backflow into the oral cavity of gases and liquid contents from the lower gastrointestinal tract. In general, it is believed that such a phenomenon has a physiological origin, but in some cases it can indicate diseases of the digestive system, diaphragm, cardiopathy, and neurotic conditions.

Usually gas from the stomach in small portions passes unnoticed through the mouth or through the intestines. With excessive swallowing of air or increased formation of gas in the stomach, intragastric pressure increases, the stomach muscles contract, the lower esophageal sphincter (located between the stomach and esophagus) and the sphincter between the stomach and duodenum (pyloric sphincter) are simultaneously relaxed, which causes belching.

In healthy people, belching is rare, mainly due to air entering the stomach during a hurried meal, “on the go”, drinking carbonated drinks, eating dry food, eating very fresh bread, cabbage, peas, beans. In these cases, physical activity can provoke an eructation. Belching is air, food, bitter, sour, rotten, as well as loud and quiet. Belching with air is usually odorless and tasteless and occurs when air is swallowed (aerophagia) or increased gas formation in the stomach, says doctor Olga Smirnova.

Causes of belching in adults

Causes of belching air can be physiological and pathological.

Physiological causes. In this case, the exit of air is carried out from the esophagus and stomach periodically and is caused by the physiological state of the person.

• A person swallows excess air during a meal, for example, this happens when a person is in a hurry, talks while eating, or overeats.
• Also, burping with odorless air can occur due to beans, peas, cabbage, pastries and other foods that cause intense gas formation.
• Playing sports immediately after eating can also cause an adult to belch air.
• While smoking, a person also swallows air, which then leads to an unpleasant symptom.
• Uncontrolled consumption of fruits. The fact is that their acids, mixing with other substances, can cause belching of air.
• Taking a bath after eating. Because of this, blood flow increases in the legs, and in the stomach, on the contrary, decreases. This leads to digestive problems, including abdominal pain, belching.

Now let’s talk about pathological causes.

• Strong stress. Neurotic causes can cause an unpleasant symptom that will be constantly repeated.
• Diseases of the stomach. This applies to gastritis, peptic ulcer, stenosis of the esophagus.
• Inflammatory processes in the esophagus.
• Liver problems.
• Cardiovascular diseases.

Symptoms of belching in adults

If the belching is repeated regularly, has a sour taste, bloating occurs, then this indicates serious problems with the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms of belching air, talking about the pathology.

• A rotten eructation speaks of a putrefactive process in the stomach, which develops during stagnation in it of what was eaten the day before. It happens with gastritis with low acidity, malignant tumors.
• Sour belching speaks of gastritis, high acidity, which precedes gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer.
• A bitter eructation indicates that bile is being thrown into the stomach cavity, which cannot be normal. It happens with such a functional disorder as reflux and cholecystitis.
• Odorless belching indicates non-compliance with the diet, addiction to soda and chewing gum.

Treatment of belching in adults

If belching is accompanied by pain, nausea, bad breath and occurs regularly, this means that you should immediately consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis.

The doctor, after examination and obtaining data on the state of the gastrointestinal tract, will prescribe a diet, medication.

Treatment of belching with air is carried out strictly according to the recommendations of the doctor. He may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to improve the functioning of the digestive tract, prescribe diet and physiotherapy. Operations are prescribed only for cancer, hernia and other serious cases.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of belching with air occurs in several stages. First, the doctor will talk with the patient, then prescribe tests and additional laboratory and instrumental methods of research. These include:

• general blood test, general urinalysis;
• blood test and determination of glucose levels;
• determination of the level of electrolytes in the blood;
• detection in the blood of antibodies to the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.

Another way to diagnose the acidity of the contents of the stomach is to conduct an intraesophageal pH measurement. If cholecystitis and duodenitis are suspected, ultrasound is prescribed, which makes it possible to determine the nature of the disease and the degree of functional disorder.

Modern treatments

• Diet therapy. A person with belching air in his diet should exclude those foods that stimulate or, conversely, slow down the secretion of enzymes. These include: smoked meat and fish, fried, spicy dishes, sour dressings and sauces, fast food.
• Reception of enzymatic preparations. It is prescribed if the belching is not caused by pathology and is of a short-term nature. Only a doctor prescribes drugs.
• The appointment of drugs that normalize the level of hydrochloric acid in the body. These include Almagel, Gastal, Rennie. In addition, they have an analgesic, enveloping effect.

A medicine for belching with air can be prescribed by a doctor only after all the necessary tests have been carried out and a diagnosis has been established. Self-medication can cause irreparable harm to health.

Prevention of burping with air in adults at home

• to give up smoking;
• complete rejection of alcohol;
• refusal of carbonated drinks and products that increase gas formation;
• thorough chewing of food;
• refusal from sports immediately after eating;
• compliance with water balance – 30 ml per 1 kg of weight;
• timely treatment of all diseases.

Popular questions and answers

Answers to popular questions gastroenterologist Olga Smirnova.