Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : December 15, 2014 6:31 PM IST
Burping or belching 3 to 4 times after eating is normal and is usually caused by swallowing air while eating. However, belching too often is not a sign of a health and might signify a medical condition. Here are the top common causes of belching you should be aware of.
Eating food too quickly
One of the most common causes of burping is eating food too fast, which makes you to swallow more air while eating. This air gets stuck in the digestive tract and is expelled through the mouth after you finish eating, in the form of burp. Apart from this, talking while eating (which most of us do during our meals) causes burping or belching. Read more about what could your stomach upset mean?
Drinking carbonated beverages
It goes without saying that carbonated beverages fill your stomach with air. If the beverage is cold, bubbles are formed in the body, which leads to irritation of the diaphragm and is released out of the mouth in the form of gas.
Foods
Most people are not aware of the fact that consumption of certain foods also causes burping. This is because; the functioning of the valve that keeps the food and wind in the stomach is affected leading to excess liberation of gas. Foods that cause you to burp include fatty foods, chewing gums, caffeine, peppermint, fried foods and chocolate.
Heartburn and GERD
In some cases, heartburn and GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) also cause burping. Due to the presence of excess acid in the stomach, you tend to swallow more air to clear the gas which in turn leads to excess belching. Here are 10 simple changes to prevent acidity and heart burn.
Medications
There are numerous medications that might cause belching by building up air in the stomach. Hence, if you are on drugs such as acarbose, laxatives, pain killers or calcium supplements, you might be experiencing belching more than often and not necessarily due to any underlying health condition.
Indigestion and other issues
People suffering from various stomach problems like acidity, indigestion, IBS or stomach ulcers burp more often. This is attributed to the fact that these clinical conditions result in build-up of gas in the body. For eliminating excess gas from the body, people swallow more air either voluntarily or involuntarily (condition known as aerophagia). This in turn causes elimination of gas and air from the mouth. Read about 6 symptoms of gastroenteritis or stomach flu.
Gall bladder problems
Gall stones or problems with the gall bladder also cause burping in many people. It is due to hindrance in the passage of gas caused due to eating, which leads to belching. Hence, people experiencing excessive burping should consult a doctor and get tested.
Helicobacter pylori infection
It is a bacterial infection of the stomach caused due to helicobacter pylori. Apart from leading to excessive belching due to build up of gas in the body, it also increases your risk of other stomach complications like gastritis, peptic ulcers and GERD.
Cancer of oesophagus or stomach
In rare cases, cancer of oesophagus or stomach is found to cause belching, in addition to showing other symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, nausea and decreased appetite. The normal process of belching causes the build-up of air in the upper stomach, which in turn aids air to escape from the oesophagus to out of the mouth. However, in case of cancer of the oesophagus and stomach, there might be excessive belching along with feeling satiated on eating little food. Read about cancer in India the 10 most common types you should be aware of.
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