Causes Of Excessive Burping Points
Everybody has experienced burping at some point or the other. Burping or belching is the ejection of gas from the gut, through the mouth. In most cases, burping is normal and there is nothing serious about it. However, if burping happens in excess, day in and day out, it can be quite embarrassing for the person who is experiencing it. Here are the commonly seen excessive burping causes, followed by treatments to get rid of it.
Causes of Excessive Burping
Food Allergy
Excessive belching could be due to an allergic reaction to some food items. Sensitivity to certain foods can cause excessive burping after eating. For example, those who have lactose intolerance, experience excessive burping and gas after they have consumed milk or any milk product.
Eating Habits
Another cause behind excessive burping is wrong eating habits. A person indulging in overeating or eating food at wrong timings or eating food items that are excessively oily and spicy, can suffer from excessive burping and stomach pain.
Acid Reflux Disease
Acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a stomach disorder in which the stomach acids are pushed back, upwards towards the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD include difficulty in breathing and eating, acid taste in mouth, nausea, heartburn, excessive burping and chest pain. Acid reflux and burping are often inter related and are observed in many people suffering from GERD.
Pregnancy
Excessive burping during pregnancy occurs on account of two reasons. Firstly, during pregnancy, the progesterone levels in the body increases. Progesterone is a hormone that relaxes muscle tissues of the body. During pregnancy, high progesterone levels ensure that the digestive system of the body slows down by relaxing the muscle tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, leading to bloating, excessive burping and nausea. One more excessive burping causes during pregnancy is the growth of the uterus at a later stage of pregnancy. The grown uterus fills the abdominal cavity, slows down the digestion process and causes excessive burping.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the intestines which produces symptoms such as constipation or diarrhea, gas, nausea, stomach pain, bloating and burping. Irritable bowel syndrome is caused when the large intestines are unable to perform their functions normally.
Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder is an important organ of the body which lies below the liver. Its main function is to store bile produced by the liver, which helps in digesting fats. Any problem in the gallbladder resulting in a gallbladder disease can produce symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, heartburn, bloating, chills, fever, excessive burping and chest pain.
Medication and Nutritional Supplements
Intake of certain medicines and nutritional supplements can result in the formation of gas in the stomach. This gas is passed out of the body by way of burping. Both prescribed and non-prescribed medicines can lead to this condition.
Treatment and Causes Of Excessive Burping
The treatment for excessive burping depends upon the excessive burping causes. Excessive burping caused due to a food allergy can be avoided by discontinuing such foods which trigger an allergic reaction. Doctors generally prescribe antihistamines to treat various symptoms of food allergies.
Maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding foods which are oily and spicy can treat excessive burping in anybody, including pregnant women. Foods such as milk, wheat, eggs, wheat, colas, peanuts and chocolate are known to cause gas in people so their intake should be lessened or avoided altogether, if possible. Increasing fluid intake helps in digesting the food faster so including lots of water, fruit juices in the diet helps in reducing burping. Soft drinks should be avoided at all costs as the pressurized air caused in the body due to them, always forces its way out and thus, causes excessive burping. Chewing the food properly, aids in digestion and thus, reduces burping.
Excessive burping caused due to irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflex disease, can be cured by treating these stomach disorders. There are no medicines available to treat irritable bowel syndrome, also known as spastic colon, but there are certain natural treatments for irritable bowel syndrome which help in relieving its symptoms. Natural oils such as peppermint oil and primrose oil help in reducing the cramps and stomach pain caused due to IBS. Also, consuming a high fiber diet helps in curing this condition too.
For treating acid reflex disease and the resultant burping, doctors generally prescribe medicines such as nexium and antacid. But the effectiveness of such medicines is often questioned. Acid reflex alternative medicines such as probiotics and herbs like licorice, accompanied by natural remedies such as consuming aloe vera juice, eating alkaline rich foods such as cucumber, asparagus, celery, leeks, etc. are much more effective in treating both acid reflex disease and burping.
These are a few treatment options for the various excessive burping causes. However, excessive burping, in some cases could be due to a gallbladder disease and thus, can be pretty serious. In such a case, proper gall bladder disease treatment, such as, gall bladder surgery should be opted for, after consultation with a doctor of Causes Of Excessive Burping.