Acid reflux can make you burp more than usual. However, avoiding certain foods and drinks may help reduce this. You can also try going for a walk after eating, taking antacids, and more.
Some common symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include heartburn, nausea, and a sour taste at the back of your mouth.
Burping is also associated with acid reflux and GERD. In particular, people who have GERD often report frequent burping.
Read on to learn more about the connection between acid reflux and burping, the causes, and what you can do to get relief from burping.
Burping happens when swallowed air escapes from your upper gastrointestinal tract. It’s a natural process your body uses to get rid of excess gas.
According to an older study in a 2020 review, it’s usual for a person to burp up to 30 times per day. However, acid reflux may mean you burp more often.
One of the reasons for an increase in burping is because acid reflux
In addition to acid reflux, your diet and lifestyle, as well as certain medical conditions and medications, can also affect how much you burp.
Some types of foods are known to trigger burping. These include carbonated drinks, beer, caffeine, and foods high in fiber, starch, or sugar,
- beans and lentils
- certain vegetables, including peas, onions, mushrooms, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower
- some fruits, like bananas
- whole grains
Your day-to-day habits can also trigger burping. For example, smoking (if applicable), sucking on lozenges, and chewing gum can all make you burp more.
Talking while eating, eating quickly, and using a straw to drink can all increase burping, too. Wearing dentures that don’t fit properly is another cause of excess belching.
If you burp frequently without experiencing acid reflux or heartburn, another gastrointestinal condition might be the cause. Conditions associated with frequent burping include:
- aerophagia
- celiac disease
- constipation
- gastritis
- gastroparesis
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
- indigestion (dyspepsia)
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- lactose intolerance
- peptic ulcers
- rumination disorder
These conditions are typically accompanied by other symptoms besides burping. If you have additional symptoms and think you may have one of the above conditions, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor.
Certain common medications, including laxatives and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may list gas and belching as side effects. You can check the label to see if this is the case. If it is, you can try switching to other medications that don’t have gas and burping as listed side effects.
If you find that you tend to burp a lot after eating, the following home remedies may help ease or reduce your burping:
- Walk after eating: After a meal, light physical activity may help move food through your digestive tract.
- Take an antacid: If your burping occurs alongside acid reflux or heartburn, an over-the-counter (OTC) antacid may help.
- Try gas medication: OTC drugs like Gas-X and Mylanta Gas contain simethicone, which helps gas bubbles in your stomach bind together. As a result, you may not burp as frequently.
- Drink tea: In particular, ginger tea may help.
Research has shown that ginger tea can help stomach upset and gastrointestinal symptoms like gas and burping.
The key to reducing how often you burp is to limit how much air you swallow, especially when you eat and drink. You can try to:
- slow down while you’re eating and drinking
- avoid talking while you’re chewing your food
- not to gulp drinks and avoid using straws
- eat smaller meals
- cut back on chewing gum and lozenges
Besides paying attention to your eating and drinking habits, you can also aim to:
- cut back on foods and drinks that trigger your burping
- stop smoking, if applicable
- focus on breathing more slowly using therapies like diaphragmatic breathing, alternate nostril breathing, box breathing, and meditation
On its own, burping isn’t usually cause for concern. However, if it starts to interfere with your day-to-day life, you might want to speak with your doctor.
For burping caused by acid reflux, your doctor will likely suggest a combination of medication, diet, and lifestyle changes to target excess acid. Common medications for acid reflux include antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
If your frequent burping is accompanied by other symptoms, such as heartburn, abdominal pain, or nausea, it’s definitely wise to speak with a doctor. These symptoms may signal that something more serious is going on.
Acid reflux can make you burp more often because it increases swallowing.
Treating acid reflux with an OTC antacid may help lower burping. You can also reduce the frequency of your burping with lifestyle and dietary changes.
If OTC antacids don’t help, or if your burping is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s a good idea to follow up with your doctor to find out if your burping is due to some other condition.
