Excessive burping is often due to the foods and drinks that a person consumes. It can also result from behavioral conditions, such as aerophagia and supragastric belching, or issues relating to the digestive tract, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
When Is It a Problem? Burping as many as four times after a meal is normal. But some illnesses can make you burp a lot more than that: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sometimes called acid reflux, happens when acid in your stomach flows back into your esophagus and causes heartburn.
Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can sometimes cause excessive belching by promoting increased swallowing. Chronic belching may also be related to inflammation of the stomach lining or to an infection with Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for some stomach ulcers.
Although the rate and intensity of this gas may vary based on the type of anxiety a person suffers from, many experience gassiness and belching nonetheless. Most belching related to anxiety is caused by a form of hyperventilation, that, for many, occurs during times of intense stress and/or panic.
Gut issues are more common in people who are anxious or depressed. If you're nervous, you may gulp large amounts of air. Some people do this on purpose, but you may not be aware that you're doing it. Either way, it leads to belching.
Swallowing air may cause bloating, burping, gas, and abdominal pain. Swallowed air that is not released by burping passes through the digestive tract and is released as gas (flatus). Babies often swallow air during feeding.
Physiological causes
Lifestyle and dietary factors may contribute to some cases of excessive belching. This may include swallowing air when eating or drinking or consuming certain food and drink, such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beans, and carbonated beverages.
Foods that can cause gas due to high fiber include whole wheat, bran, prunes, peaches, apples, pears, asparagus, artichokes, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, onions, and beans. You may try avoiding high-fiber foods for a week or two and gradually start to eat them again.
Another bothersome issue is excessive burping. Burping is part of the digestive process. However, burping a lot more than usual may be due to eating habits, food choices, or gastrointestinal conditions such as IBS.
Is GERD (chronic acid reflux) dangerous or life-threatening? GERD isn't life-threatening or dangerous in itself. But long-term GERD can lead to more serious health problems: Esophagitis: Esophagitis is the irritation and inflammation the stomach acid causes in the lining of the esophagus.
What to know about excessive burping. If a person is burping more than usual, it may be due to the food and drink they are consuming. It could also stem from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a behavioral condition known as aerophagia.
Can Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease be cured? Yes, GERD can be cured. The most common treatment for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is medication, which can help to decrease the amount of acid in your stomach. If lifestyle changes don't help, your doctor may also recommend surgery.
Some people's symptoms may disappear within a few weeks with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. However, for others, GERD can be a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment.
In other words, if heartburn is frequent enough that it causes problems that make your quality of life diminished, you may have acid reflux disease. This might mean that you're unable to sleep at night because of pain, or you might go so far as to find that acid is eating away at the lining of the throat or esophagus.
If you are an adult with GERD, it will not go away on its own, but there are treatments that can help you manage it, including: Over-the-counter medications, such as antacids. Prescription medications, such as proton pump inhibitors. Surgery, including a laparoscopic procedure called the LINX procedure.
Stage 1 (mild): A person has infrequent heartburn and regurgitation happening once or less each week. Stage 2 (moderate): A person has regurgitation or heartburn occurring a few times a week. Stage 3 (severe): A person has regular heartburn, a chronic cough, regurgitation, a hoarse voice, and regurgitation of food.
Surgery for GERD
The goal of surgery for reflux disease is to strengthen the anti-reflux barrier. During a procedure known as a Nissen fundoplication, your surgeon wraps the upper part of your stomach around the lower esophagus. This enhances the anti-reflux barrier and can provide permanent relief from reflux.
If you experience excessive burping that does not stop after a week, talk to a doctor. It could be an underlying medical condition that needs immediate care. This is especially true when it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or heartburn.
Burping can occur with stomach pain after eating certain foods or eating too quickly. It can also indicate an underlying condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Gas results either from swallowing air or as a byproduct of the breakdown of food in the large intestine.
Common Anxiety Aerophagia Symptoms
You have frequent belching. You have a bloated or swollen belly. You get pain or shooting pains radiating from the stomach, chest, or abdomen. You feel like you have air bubbling up in your throat.
Besides food and drink, you may have a medical condition that creates gas pains. Heartburn or indigestion can cause stomach acid to leak up into the esophagus and cause sharp chest pains from burping. Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause air to become trapped in your esophagus.