Excessive Burping Causes

“Burp”! You instantly cover your mouth and look around. It is too late and your colleagues sitting at the next table have heard it already. A sound caused due to expulsion of gas from your gut, a burp might not be high on decibels. However, it can sure be a cause of sheer embarrassment when you are in public. Excessive burping, besides dumping you in an unpleasant situation, can be a cause of much serious concern. While bingeing our meals, besides swallowing food and liquid, we unknowingly swallow gas along as well. So, at some point of time, these gases need to come out of the body. The extra gas that is forced out of the stomach travels through the esophagus and expels out of the mouth in the form of burp. This is the reason as to why we burp more while drinking coke or other carbonated drinks. More gas intake would mean more burping. However, burps are a little cause of concern, until they turn excessive. There are a myriad of reason as to what causes excessive burping. Read on to find out few of them.

What Causes Excessive Burping

Intake of certain categories of food contributes to excessive burping. Most of the food that we ingest is digested and absorbed within the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Food which is not processed in the stomach gets digested within the small intestine, thanks to the presence of the bacteria. Gas produced by these bacteria is often passed as a burp. Fructose, sorbitol and lactose can contribute to this condition either due to mal-absorption or inability of the body to digest these compounds. High protein foods like beans and pulses, vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower, fatty or spicy foods produces gas and result in excessive burping.
Slow gut motility and delayed emptying of the stomach contents affects the normal movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. This results in the food spending more time within the stomach walls leading to burping. Even in the case of Gastro paresis, which is caused due to a dysfunction of the normal coordinated gastric movements, excessive burping conditions occur.
People who have the tendency to eat very fast do not chew the food properly and end up ingesting large amount of air. The swallowed air then gets trapped inside the esophagus or stomach and is released through burping. Eating under mental stress, drinking through straw and chewing gum are the other factors that results in swallowing of air. Excessive burping in children often occur if they talk a lot or keep their mouth open while eating.
During pregnancy, there is a rise in certain hormonal levels. High level of progesterone hormone released during this time has a relaxing effect on the tissues of the digestive tract. As a result, the undigested food passes through it slowly and the bacteria present in the intestine get enough time to break them down. This produces gas which is released through burping. Hormonal changes can cause excessive burping in the premenstrual phase as well.
Chronic H.Pylori infection can affect the lining of stomach and small intestine causing peptic ulcers. The lining may swell up leading to partial blockage of the cavity. Due to the obstruction, food passes at a slower rate, causing excessive burps.
Gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD is a digestive disorder which may cause excessive burping. Increased quantity of gastric contents or pressure on the abdomen can result in the movement of gastric acid up the esophagus. Such a condition of discomfort may further lead to excessive burps.
Hiatus hernia is basically the protrusion of a portion of the stomach into the thoracic cavity due to weakening or rupture of the diaphragm. Once the protrusion expands, it can cause a range of symptoms including excessive burping, heartburn, discomfort or pain.
Irritable bowel syndrome is another cause of excessive burping. It is a disorder which occurs when the large intestines are unable to perform their functions normally. Apart from excessive burping, symptoms also include constipation or diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain and bloating.

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