Belching is the act of expelling air from the stomach through the mouth. You can feel the need to burp if you swallow more air than typical, whether due to certain foods, medications, a health condition, or another reason.
Belching occurs when the stomach fills with swallowed air.
It usually occurs when the stomach expands because of too much swallowed air. Belching, also known as burping or eructation, releases the air to reduce the distention.
There are a number of reasons why more air than normal may be swallowed. The most common reasons are:
- eating or drinking too quickly
- drinking carbonated beverages
- anxiety
Babies and young children may swallow large amounts of air without realizing it. Babies are burped shortly after drinking breast milk or formula to expel the excess air that was swallowed during feeding.
It is possible to belch when the stomach isn’t full of air. This is usually because belching has become a habit or a tool for reducing abdominal discomfort.
Belching will only relieve discomfort associated with swallowing air, however. It’s still not uncommon for people to try to relieve other abdominal discomfort in the same way.
Aerophagia
Aerophagia is the voluntary or involuntary swallowing of air. Swallowing excessive amounts of air can happen when eating or drinking too quickly. It can also occur when:
- talking and eating at the same time
- chewing gum
- sucking on hard candies
- drinking through a straw
- smoking
- wearing poorly-fitted dentures
- having an anxiety attack
- hyperventilating
- breathing through your nose
Foods
Some foods and drinks can also cause more frequent belching. These include carbonated drinks, alcohol, and foods high in starch, sugar, or fiber that cause gas.
Common culprits include:
- beans
- lentils
- broccoli
- peas
- onions
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- bananas
- raisins
- whole-wheat bread
Medications
A number of different medications may lead to belching or to disorders that cause belching. These may include:
- a type 2 diabetes medication called acarbose
- laxatives, such as lactulose and sorbitol
- pain medications, such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin
Excess use of pain medications may cause gastritis, a condition that can cause belching.
Conditions
Some medical conditions may also include belching as a symptom. However, as belching is a natural response to abdominal discomfort, there must be other symptoms present to make a diagnosis.
Conditions that may cause belching include:
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): a disorder that causes acid from the stomach to flow upward into the esophagus
- gastroparesis: a disorder in which the muscles in your stomach wall are weakened
- gastritis: a disorder that causes inflammation of the stomach lining
- peptic ulcers: sores on the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of your small intestine
- lactose intolerance: an inability to properly digest lactose, an ingredient found in dairy products
- fructose or sorbitol malabsorption: an inability to properly digest the carbohydrates fructose and sorbitol
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): bacteria that cause stomach infections, which can increase belching
Less common causes of belching include:
- celiac disease: an intolerance to gluten, an ingredient found in many flour-rich foods like breads and crackers
- dumping syndrome: a disorder that causes your stomach to empty before its contents have been properly digested
- pancreatic insufficiency: a condition that occurs when the pancreas isn’t able to release enzymes needed for digestion
Emergency issues
Belching as a single symptom isn’t usually cause for concern unless it’s frequent or excessive.
If your stomach has been distended for a long period and belching doesn’t relieve it, or if the abdominal pain is severe, seek medical attention immediately.
Normal burping doesn’t require any treatment. However, if belching becomes excessive, you should contact a medical professional to explore possible conditions that may be causing the problem.
Treatment will depend on the cause.
Self-treatment
If you’re belching excessively or if your stomach is distended and you can’t expel the air, lying on your side usually helps. Adopting a knees-to-chest position can also be helpful. Hold the position until the gas passes.
If you often experience belching, you should avoid:
- eating and drinking quickly
- drinking carbonated beverages
- chewing gum
These may make the problem worse.
Medical care
If your burping has become excessive, it’s important to speak with your doctor. Your doctor will gather information on your symptoms by asking questions about when the belching began and if it’s happened before.
They’ll also ask about patterns, such as whether the belching occurs due to nervousness or after consuming a particular food or drink. They may also ask you to keep a food diary for a few days.
Make sure you mention any other symptoms you have, even if you don’t think they’re relevant. This will help your doctor build a full picture of the problem, which will help them find the most likely solution.
Your doctor may examine you physically and could order further tests such as abdominal X-rays or gastric emptying studies. Other tests include:
- MRI scans
- CT scans
- ultrasound scans
- maldigestion tests
- hydrogen and methane tests
These will give your doctor a clear view of your digestive system, which will help them make a diagnosis.
Normal belching doesn’t require any treatment and has no complications.
However, if belching has become more frequent due to a digestive system problem, it’s possible that the symptoms will worsen if left untreated. You may also begin to experience other symptoms until the problem is diagnosed and treated.
Burping is natural. You can control it by avoiding items that are likely to make you belch. If you want to prevent belching, you should:
- Sit down and eat each meal slowly.
- Avoid chewing gum or sucking on hard candies.
- Avoid carbonated beverages and alcohol.
- Stop consuming any foods or drinks that make belching more frequent.
- Take probiotic supplements to aid in digestion.
- Avoid anxiety-inducing situations that may cause hyperventilation.
