Is Excessive Burping Something to Worry About
Burping as many as four times after a meal is normal. But some illnesses can make you burp a lot more than that:
Why Am I Burping?
A burp or belch can help ease an upset stomach. But if it happens often, it can be a sign of a health problem. If you burp a lot, it’s probably time to find out why.
Why Does It Happen?
When you swallow your food, it goes through a tube called your esophagus and into your stomach. There your body uses acid, bacteria, and chemicals called enzymes to break it down into nutrients it uses for energy.
If you swallow air along with your food or if you drink something like a soda or beer that has bubbles in it, those gases can come back up through your esophagus. That’s a burp.
What Causes It?
Carbonated beverages and swallowing air are the most common reasons people burp. Most of the time, that gas doesn’t make it to your stomach. Instead it stays trapped in your esophagus until it comes back up.
You’re more likely to swallow air and burp if you:
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- Chew gum
- Smoke
- Eat too quickly
- Suck on hard candies
- Have dentures that don’t fit right
Foods with a lot of fat or oil in them can cause heartburn. This also can make you burp. So can drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
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. If you have this only occasionally, you can treat it with over-the-counter medicines. But if you have it a lot, you may need to make changes in your diet or take prescription drugs.
- Indigestion, also called dyspepsia, causes pain or discomfort in your upper belly. It can come with belching, bloating, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting.
- Gastritis happens when the lining of your stomach is irritated.
- Helicobacter pylori is a kind of bacteria that can cause an infection in your stomach and lead to ulcers.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also cause belly cramps, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation.
How Can I Stop Burping?
If you’re concerned about how much you burp, talk with your doctor. They might have some suggestions to help keep it from happening. They also may run tests to look for signs of a health problem.
If no medical issue is causing you to burp, you might try some of these:
- Eat or drink more slowly. You’re less likely to swallow air.
- Don’t eat things like broccoli, cabbage, beans, or dairy products. They can lead to gas in your stomach or intestines and make you burp.
- Stay away from soda and beer.
- Don’t chew gum.
- Stop smoking. Your doctor will give you lots of reasons to do this, but it also can help cut down on how much you burp.
- Take a walk after eating. A bit of exercise can help your digestion.
- Take an antacid.
Show Sources
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The Mayo Clinic: “Belching, intestinal gas and bloating.”
The Cleveland Clinic: “Gas.”
University of Michigan Health Library: “Gas, Bloating, and Burping.”
International Foundation for Functional Intestinal Disorders: “About GERD.”
American Family Physician: “Evaluation and Management of Dyspepsia.”
Indiana University Health Center: “What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?”
American College of Gastroenterology: “Belching, Bloating, and Flatulence.”
Is Excessive Burping Something to Worry About?
Burping (belching) is as common and natural a bodily function as passing gas (farting). Excessive burping can sometimes be accompanied by discomfort or bloating.
Although these symptoms can interfere somewhat with certain daily activities, they typically don’t indicate a serious underlying condition.
Burping is your body’s way of getting rid of excess air from your upper digestive tract. Belches contain oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
Usually, burping is a result of swallowed air building up in your esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. This buildup of air is often brought on by:
- drinking or eating too quickly
- talking while you eat
- drinking and eating with poorly fitting dentures
- consuming carbonated drinks
- smoking
- sucking on hard candy
- chewing gum
Other causes of burping are often accompanied by additional symptoms such as abdominal pain or heartburn. These include:
- aerophagia, which is swallowing air as a nervous habit
- gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach lining
- gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), as people with this condition often swallow more frequently
- acid reflux, which can also promote increased swallowing
Excessive burping can be a symptom of an Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial infection.
This bacteria may be present in over half of the world’s population, but most people don’t get sick from it.
Other symptoms of H. pylori infection include:
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- bloating
- unintentional and unexplained weight loss
These symptoms are reasons to see your doctor, who will most likely treat this type of infection with antibiotics.
You should seek emergency medical help if your symptoms include:
- severe abdominal pain that won’t subside
- problems swallowing
- bloody vomit
- black vomit that resembles coffee grounds
- bloody stool
- tarry, black stool
Complications from H. pylori infection include:
Meganblase syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by intense air swallowing following heavy meals.
This can result in a large bubble of gas in the stomach that causes pain as well as excessive belching. It can also increase the feeling of fullness and cause shortness of breath, which may be mistaken for a heart attack.
Meganblase syndrome is commonly treated through behavioral changes.
Try these tips to decrease burping:
- Slow down while you eat and drink.
- Avoid eating when stressed.
- Avoid carbonated beverages, including beer.
- Avoid drinking through a straw.
- Stop smoking.
- Stop chewing gum and sucking on hard candies.
- If you wear dentures, make sure they fit properly.
- Take a short walk or get other light exercise after eating.
If heartburn is an occasional occurrence for you, over-the-counter (OTC) medications can relieve mild symptoms.
If the symptoms of heartburn are frequent or severe, you might have acid reflux or GERD. Talk to your healthcare provider about diagnosing your condition and recommending appropriate treatment, such as prescription medication.
If you’re experiencing excessive burping alongside symptoms such as problems swallowing, bloody vomit, or bloody stool, you could have an H. pylori infection or ulcers that need immediate attention.
Although burping is a natural bodily function, excessive burping could be the result of an underlying condition. This is especially true if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or heartburn.
If excessive burping occurs alongside severe symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, bloody vomit or stool, or intense and recurring abdominal pain, see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
If you need help finding a primary care doctor, the Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area.
Last medically reviewed on April 29, 2019
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
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10.1136/flgastro-2013-100355 - Gas. (2016).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7314-gas - Gas in the digestive tract. (n.d.).
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gas-in-the-digestive-tract - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Belching, intestinal gas and bloating: Tips for reducing them.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gas-and-gas-pains/in-depth/gas-and-gas-pains/art-20044739 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/h-pylori/symptoms-causes/syc-20356171
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