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Causes of belching
Along with food and drinks, people often swallow air. After that, the body brings it out with the help of belching. This is a completely natural process that protects the stomach from excessive expansion. During belching, air leaves the stomach, exiting through the esophagus and is accompanied by a characteristic sound, which is called belching.
Involuntary swallowing of air usually occurs in the following cases:
during laughter;
with rapid breathing;
after drinking soda;
if you drink or eat too quickly.
Foods high in fiber, sugar, or starch can also cause belching. Sometimes it appears due to heartburn or digestive problems.
Special techniques allow you to get rid of belching. However, keep in mind that its frequent appearance and systematic bloating can signal problems with the digestive system that require a visit to a doctor.
How can you stop burping? 7 methods
Most often, belching occurs after eating. If you burp regularly, try the following routines to help you purge excess air from your stomach:
Do some light aerobics after your meal or go for a walk. Physical activity improves the digestion process.
Lie down after eating on your side or pulling your knees to your chest until the gases pass;
Take an antacid to neutralize stomach acid and prevent heartburn that can cause burping. If your belching smells of sulfur, you should take bismuth subsalicylate.
Drink a cup of ginger tea after your meal. Ginger relieves irritation of the stomach, does not allow stomach acid to get back into the esophagus.
After eating, chew on some fennel seeds. Fennel has the ability to remove gases from the intestinal tract and help the process of digestion, although there is no official medical confirmation of this fact yet.
Drink a cup of chamomile tea, which has the ability to prevent the acid reflex.
Eliminate those activities that cause rapid swallowing of air – do not drink too quickly and try to laugh less.
By reducing the amount of air you swallow, you can minimize the symptoms of burping.
4 tips to prevent burping
1 Change the way you eat and drink
You can reduce the amount of air you swallow by following a few tips:
try to eat and drink slowly;
eat small meals;
chewing food, do not talk;
don’t use straws.
2 Change your diet
Try not to drink carbonated drinks, avoid drinking beer. The gas contained in soda can cause belching and bloating. Also, do not use lollipops and chewing gum, which increase the amount of air swallowed. Do not eat foods that are high in fiber, sugar or starch – they stimulate the process of gas formation.
Avoid the following foods:
bananas;
whole grain bread;
cauliflower and white cabbage;
Luke;
broccoli;
lentils.
Also avoid sugar alcohols like xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol.
If you suffer from lactose intolerance, remove dairy products from your diet. Do not eat those foods that can provoke the appearance of heartburn – citrus fruits, tomatoes, alcohol and caffeinated products.
3 Make changes to your lifestyle
Quit smoking, you swallow air along with cigarette smoke. If you can’t quit this bad habit on your own, ask your doctor to develop an individual smoking cessation program for you.
Some people swallow air because of poor-quality dentures. If you wear this design, make sure it fits well.
Avoid stressful situations. Some people swallow air due to excessive exertion. Periods of anxiety can cause hyperventilation and lead to heartburn, which causes you to swallow more air.
Allergic, infectious or cold stuffy nose and sinuses can also make a person swallow extra air. If your nose is blocked, treat it with a decongestant spray such as Sudafed or saline spray.
4 Adjust your behavior
In some cases, burping becomes a habit. In this case, the following methods allow you to get rid of the problem:
cognitive behavioral therapy;
diaphragmatic breathing;
biofeedback.
Scientists conducted a small study in which people suffering from chronic belching took part. They were asked to breathe diaphragmatically and slowly with their mouths slightly open. First, they performed this exercise lying down, then sitting. Studies have shown that this simple exercise helped the participants in the experiment completely get rid of belching.
When should you see a doctor?
Burping is a part of life, but is considered a problem when symptoms become frequent and interfere with social situations. Excessive belching may be a sign of a more serious condition. However, people rarely see a doctor about burping.
Although it is usually accompanied by other symptoms, excessive belching can be a sign of the following underlying conditions:
GERD. Heartburn is the main symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but belching is also a fairly common symptom. GERD is a disease in which acid from the stomach travels up into the esophagus.
Helicobacter pylori. A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most common cause of ulcers. Bacteria invade the lining of the stomach, making stomach cells more vulnerable to acids. Eventually, an ulcer can form in the stomach, esophagus, or intestines. Excessive belching is one of the symptoms of an ulcer.
Gastritis. Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. H. pylori infection is the most common cause of gastritis, but other risk factors include excessive alcohol consumption, frequent use of NSAIDs, and tobacco smoking.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS is a chronic disease of the digestive system. It is characterized by a group of intestinal symptoms that usually occur together. These symptoms vary from person to person. For some people, excessive belching is a symptom of IBS.
A hiatal hernia occurs when a small part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest area. This type of hernia is most common in people over the age of 50.
Lactose intolerance. People with lactose intolerance lack an enzyme needed to digest the lactose found in milk and dairy products.