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An older person's long, loud belching noise during a function might startle you. Though inappropriate, sometimes, you feel the urge to burp, and whether it should be loud or soft is not in your hands!
Haven’t you also let out a satisfying belch after a hearty meal? Such outpours of sounds are normal, but when they ruin your peace of mind, you must do something about it. This blog post aims to help you by explaining the causes of excessive belching and ways to control and manage it.
Wouldn’t you heave a sigh of relief when you sit back and relax after intense work? Similarly, the stomach also undergoes several digestive processes, and belching is its way of releasing excess air through the mouth. Most commonly known as burping, several individuals experience this condition.
At times, air escapes through the mouth as a quiet puff, while you can hear a loud belch other times. Though we often see people burping or belching, the increased frequency in some can indicate underlying health conditions.
Are your burps excessive and too loud and accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn, etc.? Then, it’s time to get an expert opinion and treat it.
If burps and belches are your constant companions and you wish to control them, this blog is your guide. Learn about excessive belching causes and treatment methods, and get ready to take charge of your health!
Causes of excessive belching
Burping is not a serious condition. However, letting out a forceful belch in a public place can be awkward. Here, we’ll look at the common causes of excessive belching so you can manage it.
- Consuming certain foods and drinks: Certain gas-producing foods like beans, broccoli, onions, and carbonated beverages are the main villains. As these foods break down, they create air that needs to come out somehow, which results in a burp.
- Swallowing air: Are you a fast eater or a chatter while eating? Do you suck on your candies or love chewing gum? Then, you are swallowing more air than you should! It can lead to air sneaking into your tummy, which escapes as a burp later.
Wait, it’s not over yet! These causes are just the tip of the iceberg; there’s more underneath. The causes of excessive burping don't necessarily revolve around these lifestyle or dietary factors. Sometimes, underlying health issues also pose a threat. Let’s see what type of gastrointestinal conditions lead to excessive belching below:
- Hiatal hernia: It occurs when a portion of the stomach pushes into the chest cavity through the diaphragm. This can cause stomach acid to flow back into the oesophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest. In such cases, periods of burping also occur.
- Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine: Our gut is home to trillions of tiny creatures, some good, some not. An imbalance in these bacteria, called Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), can cause excessive gas production and belching.
- Stomach infections: Bacteria like Helicobacter pylori can cause stomach infections. These infections can irritate the stomach lining and increase stomach acid, leading to gas buildup and burps.
- Food intolerance: Not everyone can enjoy the same food in the same manner. If some cannot properly digest dairy products (lactose intolerance) or gluten, others face fructose malabsorption and sorbitol intolerance. When this happens, fermentation occurs in your gut, creating gas and burpings.
- Pancreatic insufficiencies: The pancreas is an important organ that helps digest food. Due to conditions like pancreatic cancer or stones, its inefficiency can lead to poor digestion and malabsorption, where the body struggles to break down certain nutrients. This malfunction can also cause gas and excessive burping.
Understanding what triggers your belching can be the first step towards managing it. For some, incorporating a balanced diet with the right probiotics, such as those offered by The Good Bug, can make all the difference!
Now that we’ve burrowed through the causes, let’s dig into how we can uncover and diagnose these belchy mysteries.
How to diagnose the causes of excessive burping?
Sometimes, burping can go beyond your control. So, how do you determine its cause or know whether it’s causing you trouble? If your burping is frequent and accompanies other symptoms like constipation or stomach pain, consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
The doctor will first determine the cause of excessive belching by noting your medical history, diet, and other symptoms. This initial checkup helps them narrow down the possibilities. In some cases, they’ll ask you to undergo certain tests for a more comprehensive analysis of your digestive tract. The tests include:
- Impedance/pH testing: This test uses a thin tube to measure pressure and acidity levels in your oesophagus. It helps identify if stomach acid backflow (heartburn) or other issues are causing the burps.
- Esophageal manometry: In this test, a thin tube is inserted through your nose into the oesophagus to measure the strength and coordination of the muscles in your oesophagus. It helps diagnose conditions like supragastric belching (burping air you swallow, not gas from your stomach) or rumination syndrome (bringing food back into your mouth without nausea or vomiting).
These tests help your doctor get a clearer picture. They'll discuss the results with you and recommend the best course of treatment to get those burps back under control.
Diagnosis unlocked, but what’s the game plan? Let’s dive into the treatment territory and explore how to bid farewell to those burps.
Treatment for excessive belching
So, you’ve identified the causes of excessive belching, but is there a way to treat it? Here are a few tips to tame your burps and get your digestive system back in harmony:
- Modify your lifestyle: Simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference! Eat and drink slowly and chew your food thoroughly to prevent swallowing air. Avoid chewing gum and cigarettes to reduce air intake. Also, identify the foods that trigger gas buildup and limit their intake. All these measures translate to fewer burps and belches.
- Address gastrointestinal conditions: If your burps are linked to an underlying condition like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), your doctor will recommend treatment options to manage the backflow of stomach acid, which can often be the culprit behind excessive burping.
- Correct behavioural interventions: Doctors recommend retraining techniques for supragastric belching or rumination syndrome. Speech-language pathologists or behavioural therapists can help you develop strategies to break the habit of swallowing air or regurgitating food.
- Medications: In rare cases, doctors prescribe medicines to treat excessive burping. Medications like baclofen can help relax the muscles in your oesophagus, potentially reducing burping. However, resort to medications only if lifestyle changes and behavioural interventions are unsuccessful.
The best course of treatment will depend on the specific cause of your excessive burping. Work closely with your doctor to find the solution and say goodbye to burps! Incorporating The Good Bug’s probiotics could help balance your gut flora and reduce excessive burping caused by digestive imbalances.
You’re armed with treatment; prevention is our next battlefield. How do we stop these uninvited burp concerts before they start? It’s time to make some changes!
Preventive measures for excessive burping
- Watch your diet: What you eat plays a big role in gas production. Limiting foods known to cause gas, like beans, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower), and fizzy drinks, can go a long way in reducing burps. If you have specific food intolerances, like lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity, managing those can also help keep burps in check.
- Practise slow eating: How you eat is as important as what you eat. Slow down and savour your meals! Taking smaller bites and chewing thoroughly allows for better digestion and reduces the amount of air you swallow, which can contribute to burping. Avoid distractions like phones or TVs while eating so you can focus on mindful chewing.
- Consult your doctor: Regular checkups with your doctor are crucial if you have an underlying health condition causing excessive belching, such as GERD, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or hiatal hernia. Following their treatment plan can help manage the condition and minimise burping episodes.
Burps or belches can seep into your daily life anytime. But, before shrugging it off as a mere gas issue, understanding their causes is crucial.
In this blog, we’ve delved into the world of belching, uncovering its causes and exploring some simple ways to keep things quieter in your tummy. Remember, it’s always best to chat with your doctor if your burps are a little out of the way.
If you’re healthy, you’ve got a happy gut, and you no longer have to be concerned about sudden excessive burps! The Good Bug helps you get on the path to a much happier social life with its range of prebiotic and probiotic products. Check out our website for additional resources on gut health.
References
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Causes-of-Excessive-Belching.aspx
https://www.health.com/condition/digestive-health/cause-of-burping-health
https://www.verywellhealth.com/belching-7367811
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/acid-reflux-burping
https://www.healthline.com/health/excessive-burping#h-pylori-infection
