Burp is the sound of gas coming out of the upper gastrointestinal tract in the direction of the mouth. It refers to a phenomenon in which excess air enters the body through respiration or food and is expelled through esophageal reflux. It occurs on average about 20 times a day, and it is said that burping may increase in older people with weakened normal functions of the gastroesophageal junction compared to younger people. This burping is a very natural physiological phenomenon to ease the stomach inflated by swallowed air. However, when burping occurs too frequently, it can cause various discomforts and reduce the quality of life. Also, frequent burping is one of the precursor symptoms that can suspect the onset of stomach-related diseases. If belching persists without a trigger, it may be necessary to consult a gastroenterologist. Now, let’s take a look at why burping occurs frequently. Reasons for frequent burping
1. Bad eating habits
The first reason for frequent burping is the effect of bad eating habits. Excess air enters the body when you eat quickly or when you eat a large amount of food. When a large amount of air enters the body through such eating habits, the belching, which is a phenomenon in which the upper esophageal sphincter relaxes and air escapes, worsens, and the number of belching increases. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the habit of eating quickly so that it becomes a habit of eating slowly and leisurely.
2. Excessive intake of certain foods
Excessive consumption of certain foods can also cause belching. The representative foods are carbonated drinks such as cola and cider, which create a lot of gas in the stomach, which greatly increases the number of belches. Fatty foods, foods high in caffeine, and fruit juices are known to increase belching by creating large amounts of gas in the stomach. In addition, vegetables such as carrots and onions and citrus fruits can also cause frequent belching if eaten in excess.
3. Gluten Intolerance
Gluten is an insoluble protein contained in grains. It plays a role in providing the chewy texture and elasticity of foods made with grains as raw materials, but has the characteristic that it is not soluble in water. Also, due to these characteristics, depending on the constitution, gluten cannot be digested smoothly, so it is possible to cause various digestive-related abnormal symptoms such as frequent belching, bloating, and bloating. Since gluten intolerance is caused by consuming grains such as wheat, barley, and oats that contain gluten, it is a good way to consume gluten-free grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and buckwheat that do not contain gluten.
4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease in which gastric acid reflux into the esophagus, causing abnormal symptoms or causing tissue damage to the esophagus, resulting in morphological changes. After eating, the food in the stomach refluxes with stomach acid and stimulates the esophagus, leading to an increase in the number of belching and various symptoms such as heartburn and epigastric pain. If gastroesophageal reflux disease is left untreated, complications such as narrowing of the esophagus, esophageal stricture, bleeding, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma can occur. Therefore, if you feel thirsty, dry cough, and sore throat when you burp, you may have reflux disease.
Other causes
In addition to the many causes mentioned above, frequent burping can occur when you are in a stressful, tense situation, and even if you wear tight clothing for extended periods of time, unconsciously swallowing a lot of air. In addition, when belching with a bitter taste occurs, diseases such as cholecystitis and cholelithiasis can be suspected.
