Belching
Belching is exhaling stomach air through the mouth. It relieves stomach gas from swallowing air while eating, drinking, or talking. GERD, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may cause excessive or frequent belching, or talking. GERD, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may cause excessive or frequent belching. To stop belching, treat the underlying condition.
Belching or burping can be caused by several factors, including:
Swallowing air while eating or drinking causes belching.
Eating too quickly: If you eat too quickly, you might swallow air, which can make you burp.
Certain foods and drinks make people belch, such as when they drink fizzy drinks, eat hot or fatty foods, or eat cheese.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD is a situation in which acid from the stomach runs back into the oesophagus, causing symptoms like coughing, heartburn, and others.
Gastritis: Stomach lining inflammation can cause nausea, belching, and other symptoms.
Peptic ulcer disease: Stomach or duodenal ulcers can cause abdominal pain, belching, and other symptoms.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS can cause bloating, belching, and other digestive issues.
Anxiety and stress: Swallowing air can cause belching due to anxiety and stress.
Symptoms like burping or belching are signs of a deeper problem, but depending on what the deeper problem is, it may also come with other symptoms.
Belching symptoms include:
The feeling of fullness in the stomach or abdomen
Nausea or vomiting
Heartburn or acid reflux
Abdominal pain or discomfort
Bloating or gas
Regurgitation of food or stomach acid
Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
Problems caused by belching, or burping, are usually normal bodily function that doesn't cause any problems. But excessive or frequent belching could be a sign of a medical problem that needs to be treated. If left untreated, these problems could lead to more problems.
Side effects of belching's underlying conditions include:
Esophageal damage: Chronic belching due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can lead to inflammation, scarring, and narrowing of the oesophagus, which can make swallowing difficult.
Ulcers: Peptic ulcers can cause belching along with abdominal pain and may lead to complications such as bleeding, perforation, and obstruction of the digestive tract.
Malnutrition: Chronic belching may interfere with normal eating patterns and digestion, leading to malnutrition.
Emotional distress: Chronic belching may cause emotional distress and lead to anxiety and depression.