If too often, go to the hospital
“Knock it off~”
Burping is a normal physiological phenomenon, but embarrassing. He often receives glare from people around him. If you burp frequently, there may be something wrong with your body. If you are a woman of childbearing age, you should check if she is not pregnant. More seriously, it can be a symptom of ovarian cancer or a heart attack.
The American women’s health magazine ‘Women’s Health’ recently reported on the causes and symptoms of belching.
Why do I burp
Belching is a phenomenon in which air is expelled from the stomach, gastroenterologist Dr. Lindsey South Robison said, “It’s common to burp after a meal because you swallow a little bit of air every time you swallow food.” When you burp, it helps relieve pressure in your digestive system. If your belching gets progressively worse and affects your life, it’s a cause for concern. Excessive burping can be a sign of a disease.
The cause of belching
Excessive eating
At the bottom of the esophagus is the esophageal sphincter. This sphincter acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach and keeps food and digestive juices in the stomach. When the muscles are relaxed, they allow more air to rise and burp more. Fatty meals, mints, chocolate, coffee, and alcohol can be the culprits. When the sphincter relaxes, stomach contents can flow backwards, which can lead to acid reflux or heartburn.
△ pregnancy
Excessive burping is very common among pregnant women. “Progesterone can relax the esophageal sphincter, so women tend to burp more in the first trimester,” says Dr. Robinson. As your baby grows, the pressure in your abdomen increases, allowing you to burp more.
△ gastric ulcer
“Stomach ulcers, which are open sores that protrude in the lining of the stomach, can produce excess acid in the stomach that causes belching,” says gastroenterologist Dr. Andrew Boxer. If you experience a burning sensation in your stomach (especially after eating), heartburn, bloating, or nausea along with belching, you may have a stomach ulcer. Having a bacterial infection in the stomach or taking high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin can also cause stomach ulcers.
△ recent medical history
If you are recovering from an illness, the balance of bacteria in your intestines may be off, causing you to burp a lot.
Intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO) can produce gas and cause more belching, says Dr. Boxer. According to the Mayo Clinic, SIBO can occur for a variety of reasons, but it can also be a complication after abdominal surgery, structural problems or scar tissue around the small intestine, or certain medications taken for Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or diabetes.
The ovarian cancer.
That’s a pretty rare case. Obesity or constipation is a common symptom of ovarian cancer. If your stomach is swollen for more than three weeks, you are constipated, and you burp excessively, you should see your doctor. Loss of appetite, changes in bladder function, and persistent pain in the abdomen, pelvis, or lower back are other signs of ovarian cancer.
△ heart attack
Excessive burping is not a clear sign of a heart attack. If you experience symptoms such as pain or pressure in the middle of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, discomfort in one or both arms, shortness of breath, unusual tiredness, palpitations, nausea or vomiting, along with belching, you should go to the emergency room right away.
◆ How to treat
A low-FODMAP diet
FODMAP is an abbreviation for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. Foods in this category are difficult to digest and can negatively affect the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, causing gas, diarrhea, constipation, and cramps. A low-FODMAP diet is a short-term eating plan that helps you figure out what your problem foods are. It is usually prescribed for people with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or SIBO. High-FODMAP foods include apples, wheat, milk, cream, beans, mushrooms, and cauliflower.
Reduce carbonated drinks
Carbonated drinks can also cause belching because they release carbon dioxide and increase gas in the body.
Do not chew gum
An increased amount of air swallowed can cause belching. Chewing gum makes you swallow a lot more air.
△ Avoid late-night snacking
Lying down right after eating can cause indigestion and promote gas generation.
Intake of probiotics.
Probiotics promote healthy gut microbes and improve indigestion, a frequent cause of excessive belching. Eat foods rich in probiotics, such as kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, and yogurt.
Reduce the amount and speed of eating
Eating fewer and more frequent meals can help reduce burping. Eating too quickly or gulping food increases the amount of air swallowed.
If the frequency of belching has increased significantly, it is a sign to see a doctor. “If burping started anew three to six months ago, that’s a concern,” says Dr. Boxer. If you have symptoms such as sudden vomiting, severe pain in your ribs or neck, unintentional weight loss or abnormal bowel movements that last more than 3 days, you should definitely visit your doctor.