Constant Burping

Burping is defined as the act of expelling gas from the stomach, through the mouth. Every human has to experience burping at some point in life. If you have been suffering from excessive burping for a while now or feel a persistent urge to burp, you need to find out the reason behind it. Determine the causative factor and get rid of it, as soon as possible.

More often than not, poor dietary habits are the reason behind excessive burping. However, burping could even be a sign of a medical condition. Here are some of the common causes of constant belching or burping.

◉ Swallowing of Air
Swallowing of air, which is medically referred to as aerophagia, is one of the most common contributory factors. You tend to swallow air when you eat quickly or have aerated drinks. Drinking fluids through a straw may also contribute to aerophagia.

◉ Malfunctioning of Digestive System
There can be numerous factors that can alter the functioning of your digestive system. These include acid reflux disease, hiatal hernia, stomach ulcer, gastritis and ingestion of fatty food. Whenever there is an excessive formation of gas, expulsion of the gas through mouth provides temporary relief. However, burping results in the entry of more air into your body, and thus aggravates the condition of constant belching.

◉ Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
IBS is associated with the disorders of large intestine. This disorder may trigger constipation, bloating, burping, cramping, diarrhea, etc. There is no proper treatment to cure this disorder but by following few precautions and by eliminating few food items from your diet, you can take control over the condition.

◉ Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis occurs due to weakening of the stomach muscles that are no longer strong enough to push food to the next digestive structure for further digestion. This results in the food staying in the stomach for a comparatively longer period of time. The symptoms of gastroparesis are constant or excessive burping, nausea and vomiting.

◉ Gastric Cancer
Any type of cancer of stomach may give rise to a lot of gastric problems like excessive belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. A proper treatment is the only way to get rid of burping in such a case.

◉ Other Reasons
There are yet, many other reasons behind constant burping. They include excessive consumption of chocolates and acidic foods. Some examples of vegetables that are often seen to cause burping are beans, lentils, cabbage, apricots, sprouts, onions, etc.

The best remedy for burping is to refrain from consumption of foods that cause burping. Here are some precautionary measures that can be followed.

• Do not eat your food fast. Eat slowly and chew your food properly. Do not eat with your mouth open.

• Do not take aerated drinks too often, or stop it completely for a while, to recover quickly. Do not drink fluids with a straw.
• Stop smoking and avoid chewing gum.
• To get some relief from constant belching and chest pain, take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Have a cup of yogurt daily as it greatly relieves burping.

• Have ginger as a part of your daily diet. It boosts digestion.
• Cut short on the intake of alcohol, milk and sugar, particularly if you have excessive belching.
• Soak a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in a glass of water overnight. Filter the water out and have it on empty stomach, preferably early in the morning.

• Decrease the intake of whole grains and their products for sometime, or till you recover completely from burping and belching.
• Avoid excess intake of tea and coffee as they contribute to acid buildup.

In addition to the above suggested home remedies for burping, you should visit a medical practitioner for necessary medical intervention. Timely determination of the cause and effective treatment of the same will rule out the possibility of aggravation of burping.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.