What’s Making You Burp

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What to know about excessive burping

There is no single definition of excessive burping, but if a person thinks that they are burping far more than usual, they might feel as though they are burping excessively.

A burp is a normal bodily function that occurs when the body releases excess air from the digestive tract through the mouth. The air typically enters the digestive tract when a person eats or drinks.

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).

If a person feels as though they are burping excessively, their diet may be to blame. Some foods and beverages can make a person burp more than others. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) , these include:

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• chewing gum
• hard candy
• fizzy beverages

Chewing gum and sucking on hard candy make it more likely that a person will swallow air, while fizzy drinks release carbon dioxide in the form of bubbles, which a person then burps out.

The NIDDK also note that eating or drinking quickly can make a person swallow more air than they otherwise would. Smoking and wearing loose-fitting dentures can also increase the amount of air that a person swallows.

People who believe that they are burping more because of their diet or way of eating may find it helpful to keep a diary detailing what and how they are eating and drinking.

They can then check to see if there is a relationship between their excessive burping and their dietary behaviors or choice of foods.

The NIDDK suggest that a person should also try eating and drinking more slowly to avoid swallowing more air.

Aerophagia and supragastric belching are conditions in which a person moves air into their esophagus, either consciously or unconsciously.

According to an article in the journal Case Reports in Gastroenterology, aerophagia is when a person frequently swallows air. This air enters a person’s stomach, which either releases it as a burp or moves it into the intestines.

Conversely, supragastic belching occurs when the esophagus immediately releases the air before a person swallows it and it enters the stomach.

Both aerophagia and supragastric belching can result in a person burping frequently.

It is not clear what causes aerophagia and supragastric belching. The author of an article in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology suggests that they may be methods of relieving the symptoms of a bloated stomach or might relate to psychological factors.

Although there is not much research on how best to treat aerophagia and supragastric belching, the author states that speech or behavioral therapies may help a person stop the behavior that causes excess air to enter their esophagus.

GERD may cause a person to burp more frequently.

When the sphincter at the top of a person’s stomach becomes weak, this can allow stomach acid to pass into a person’s esophagus, which may cause them to burp more often.

GERD might also have links with supragastric belching. Some scientists believe that a person with GERD may force air down their esophagus either consciously or unconsciously as a way of relieving their symptoms.

Treating the symptoms of GERD may help a person burp less frequently. According to the NIDDK , a doctor may advise a person with GERD to make changes to their lifestyle, such as losing weight or stopping smoking, or they may prescribe medications, such as antacids.

Share on Pinterest A person should speak to a doctor if excessive burping affects the quality of their life.

A person who burps frequently but experiences no other symptoms and does not find that burping affects their quality of life does not need to see a doctor.

If a person’s excessive burping is bothersome, but they have no other symptoms, keeping a food diary to track what food or drink triggers the burping may be enough to reduce it.

If this does not make any difference and the excessive burping is still affecting their quality of life, a person should speak to a doctor in case aerophagia or supragastric belching is responsible for this symptom. Different forms of therapy may help reduce both of these conditions.

If a person has other symptoms, such as pain in their abdomen, nausea, or pain when swallowing, they should speak to a doctor, who can determine the underlying cause of these symptoms.

Taking simple steps at home may be enough to reduce a person’s excessive burping. However, if this does not work or a person has any other symptoms, they should speak to a doctor.

Once a doctor has worked out what the underlying cause of a person’s excessive burping is, they can determine the most effective treatment and management options.

Last medically reviewed on May 7, 2019

• Acid Reflux / GERD
• GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
• Nutrition / Diet

How we reviewed this article:

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Acid reflux (GER & GERD) in adults. (n.d.).
  https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults
• Bredenoord, A. J. (2013). Management of belching, hiccups, and aerophagia.
  https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(12)01047-6/fulltext
• Gas in the digestive tract. (n.d.).
  https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract
• Morabito, G., et al. (2014). Functional aerophagia in children: A frequent, atypical disorder.
  https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/362441

What’s Making You Burp?

It’s the fizz. Soda, beer, and all other bubbly drinks are made with a gas called carbon dioxide. This adds extra air into your stomach, which finds its way back up the same way it entered: through your mouth. You may also want to avoid hot drinks. Sipping them causes you to swallow air and could also bring on a bout of belching.

Ulcers

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Sometimes, burping can be a sign of stomach ulcers. These open sores in the lining of your stomach are quite common. An infection can cause them. So can taking too many NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen. If you have an ulcer, you may burp more and feel full or bloated after eating fatty foods. Your stomach may also hurt after you eat. With treatment, ulcers often clear up within 2 months.

How You Eat

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If you down a lot of food at once or feast too fast, you’ll swallow extra air along the way. Most of this won’t go to your stomach. It will stay in your esophagus, which links your throat to your stomach, until you burp it back up. Slow down when you eat, and chew your food well. Keep your portions smaller, too, so you burp less. Getting to a healthy weight may also make a difference. Extra pounds put more pressure on your stomach.

Lactose Intolerance

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Many people lack the protein that breaks down the lactose (a natural sugar) in milk. If you’re one of them, your gut can’t fully digest foods that contain dairy. Instead, the lactose ferments in your stomach. The extra gas this causes can make your belly feel puffy or painful. Staying away from dairy products or choosing lactose-free versions will help. You can also take an over-the-counter product that helps your body digest lactose.

Acid Reflux

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Sometimes, stomach acid backs up into your throat. This is more likely to happen if you’re pregnant, obese, or your stomach doesn’t digest food as fast as it should. Once you feel this “lump” in your throat, you’ll swallow more to try to get rid of it. This can make you burp. An over-the-counter antacid can help mild symptoms, or your doctor may prescribe a stronger drug. For severe cases, surgery might be an option.

Spicy or High-Acid Foods

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Onions, tomatoes, and citrus fruits are high in acid. For some people, eating them triggers a feeling of heartburn. Spicy food can also bring on burps that burn the back of your throat. To stop them, you may want to cut back on these foods.

Asthma

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Strangely, burping can be a sign of asthma. The reason? If your airways are inflamed, you have to work harder to get enough air into your lungs. This also puts extra pressure on your diaphragm. Both of these changes can force gas into your throat and make you burp.

Sugar-Free Candy and Gum

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Hard candy and chewing gum can make you burp since you swallow air while you enjoy them. If you choose a sugar-free version, you may belch even more. That’s because the sugar alcohols they contain can’t be quickly processed once they hit your gut. They linger before you can break them down, which creates gas.

Too Much Fructose

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This natural sugar in fruit usually isn’t a problem. But some foods and drinks are sweetened with a high-fructose corn syrup. This can form a lot of gas as your stomach breaks it down. You may notice this same effect when you drink fruit juice.

Postnasal Drip

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The glands in your nose and throat make up to 2 quarts of mucus each day. That’s a good thing — it helps clean the air you breathe and helps prevent you from getting sick. Most of the time, you probably won’t notice it. But if a lot of mucus collects in the back of your throat, you’ll swallow more often than normal to get rid of it. This can make you burp. Drinking more water may help.

Stress

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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. If you’ve been feeling down or panicky, tell your doctor or a counselor. As you learn better ways to manage your stress, you may stop burping so much.

Hiatal Hernia

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If the upper part of your stomach pushes through your diaphragm and up into your chest, you have what’s called a “hiatal hernia.” This can cause stomach acid to back up into your throat, which can give you sour-tasting burps. Some people also find it harder to swallow. Changes to your daily habits can help. For instance, you may get relief if you get to a healthy weight, stop smoking, and sleep with your head raised about 6 inches.

Too Much Gut Bacteria

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Stomach acid helps kill any germs you eat. If your stomach doesn’t make enough, you end up with too much bacteria in your small intestine. (That’s the area between your stomach and colon.) SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) makes it tougher for your body to absorb your food. Excess gas builds up, which makes you belch. Farting and bad breath are other signs of SIBO. A breath test can confirm you have it. If so, antibiotics and other medication will get your gut back to normal.

Infection

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H. pylori is a germ that infects the lining of your belly. This can lead to soreness and swelling. It also triggers your stomach to make more acid. As a result, you may burp more than normal. You may also notice a dull pain that doesn’t fully go away, even after a few weeks. If tests show that you have this bug, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics. A drug that stops your stomach from making so much acid can also help.

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KidsHealth.org: “Why Do I Burp?”

Amirian College of Gastroenterology: “Digestive Health Tips,” “Lactose Intolerance in Children.”

Canadian Society of Intestinal Research: “Intestinal Gas from Complex Carbohydrates or Lactose Intolerance.”

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: “Post-Nasal Drip.”

Mayo Clinic: “Belching, Intestinal gas and Belching: Tips for Reducing them,” “Home Remedies: Gas, belching and bloating,” “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), “Pancreatitis,” “Hiatal hernia.”

World Journal of Gastroenterology: “Belching, regurgitation, chest tightness and dyspnea: Not gastroesophageal reflux disease but asthma.”

Medical Center, University of Freiberg: “Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.”

The Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry: “Aerophasgia as the Initial Presenting Symptom of a Depressed Patient.”

Dietitians of Canada: “Got Gas? Find Out Why and How to Control It.”

NHS: “Stomach ulcer.”

Columbia University/Go Ask Alice: “Burping A Lot and I Want to Stop.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Hiatal Hernia,” “Helicobacter pylori.”

CDC: “Helicobacter pylori.”

Cedars-Sinai: “Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis.”