Surely many are familiar with this physiological phenomenon. But what is burping? This is the name for the release of gases from the gastrointestinal tract, which in most cases is accompanied by a specific smell and sound. It is worth distinguishing burping from spitting up. With the latter, part of the contents of the stomach enters the oral cavity.
What is burping? The reaction of the body, which can accompany a healthy person. For example, as a result of swallowing air or overeating. In the latter case, the pressure in the stomach increases, and there is also a feeling of heaviness and even bursting.
In detail, what is belching, what does it come from, we will analyze in the article. Several of its varieties are distinguished: quiet, loud, odorless, soundless, with a touch of acid, bitterness and even rot. Also burping in children and adults - men and women. In addition, a phenomenon caused by physiological causes (poor chewing of food, swallowing air, snacks on the go) and pathological (upset stomach motility, cardia insufficiency, narrowing of the esophagus) is highlighted.
In men
Now we will specifically analyze what belching is, describing it separately for children and adults. As for the latter, gas is always present in their stomach. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with the fact that it is excreted in small portions through the esophagus and oral cavity. Excess gas in the stomach increases pressure on its walls, which causes belching.
What is burping? It is traditionally believed that in relation to men this is a fairly harmless manifestation. Appears against the background of the consumption of large portions of food, carbonated drinks. But this is true only in relation to single manifestations. If the burping is chronic, constant - this is a rather alarming symptom. It is necessary to contact a therapist, and then to a gastroenterologist.
In itself, chronic burping in men will not be an independent disease. This is a symptom of a certain digestive tract disease or a sign that you are not eating well.
Why does belching mostly haunt men? First of all, this is due to the fact that it is among the male representatives that the largest number of individuals are leading an unhealthy lifestyle. In particular, men are more likely to overeat, tend to drink carbonated alcohol, and are prone to bad habits.
In addition, it is men who are most often involved in physical labor. After a heavy meal, they do not have enough time to relax. And subsequent physical activity provokes a violation of the motility of the digestive tract, which leads to belching.
Among women
What does belching in adults come from? As for women, most often it is caused by contraction of the gastric muscles. The following main reasons are also highlighted:
- Swallowing air against the background of fast food intake.
- Addiction to carbonated drinks.
- Love for chewing gums.
This phenomenon is harmless enough until it is accompanied by additional alarming symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever. In this case, you need to postpone all things and consult a doctor!
In pregnant women
The reasons for constant burping stand out a lot. One of them is pregnancy. During this period, a woman suffers not only from belching, but also from other unpleasant symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal tract. But in a pregnant woman, belching can be caused by the same overeating, diseases of various organs of the digestive tract.
If belching is accompanied by a sour smell, it makes sense to talk about increasing the acidity of gastric juice. The reasons for constant belching in pregnant women can be such:
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Violation of the rules of eating.
- Hormonal disbalance.
- Indigestion.
Over long periods of pregnancy, belching can also be a consequence of the great pressure that the fetus exerts on the organs of the abdominal cavity of the mother.
In children
Now we will understand why there is belching with air in children. As for babies up to a year, this phenomenon is normal for them. During feeding, the baby often swallows air. This leads to bloating, which is accompanied by anxiety and crying. Excess gas escapes from the stomach in the form of belching.
This unpleasant phenomenon is connected with the fact that the digestive tract of the baby is still imperfect. Therefore, it is so important for mothers not to put the baby to sleep immediately after feeding. But even with all the instructions of the pediatrician, belching can accompany the child constantly. There is no cause for concern here - with growing up, the problem goes away on its own.
But if this phenomenon haunts a child older than one year, you need to contact a pediatrician. Indeed, in this case, it can be a symptom of the following:
- Improperly organized diet of the child.
- Pathologically active work of the salivary glands.
- Runny nose, adenoids and other inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, oropharynx, esophagus.
- Strong emotional outbursts.
Causes of "Healthy" Belching
Analyzing the causes and treatment of belching after eating, it is necessary to highlight what causes a non-pathological, non-hazardous belching:
- Frequent use of carbonated drinks.
- Smoking.
- Chewing gum addiction.
- Eating too fast.
- Continuous conversation while eating.
- Frequent swallowing of saliva.
- Too frequent and deep breathing.
Burping food
The more common name is regurgitation. Why is this happening? The causes of the phenomenon can be pathological:
- Achalasia of the cardia.
- The appearance of a diverticulum in the esophagus.
- Hernia in the esophagus of the diaphragm.
Sour burp
What can acidic belching testify after eating? The most common causes of it are:
- Peptic ulcer of the stomach.
- Inflammatory processes affecting the gastric mucosa. In particular, gastritis.
- Gastroesophageal reflux.
- Other diseases, including cancer.
If you ignore acid belching for a long time, such carelessness can lead to the development of Barrett's syndrome - the mucous lining of the esophagus changes. It becomes more like intestinal.
Bitter burp
Belching after fatty foods may not always be harmless. If you suffer for a long time from belching with a taste of bitterness, this indicates the presence of certain pathological processes in the body:
- Chronic duodenitis. Inflammation and swelling increase pressure on the duodenum, which provokes the casting of duodenal contents.
- Pathological changes in the diaphragm, including a hernia.
- The consequences of injuries. In particular, mechanical sharp compression of organs in the abdominal region.
- The result of surgery. For example, if during the operation the muscles of the food sphincter were damaged or partially excised.
- Belching after pills. Mostly after antispasmodics and muscle relaxants. The reason that these drugs also reduce the tone of the muscles of the esophageal sphincter.
Belch with a smell of rot
With such an eructation, a characteristic smell of rotten eggs is felt in the mouth. Why is this happening? There are several reasons for this:
- Zenker diverticulum. This is the protrusion of the walls of the hollow digestive organs.
- Atrophy of the stomach.
- Crohn's disease.
- Pyloric stenosis.
Neurotic burping
Sometimes burping of air on an empty stomach can be observed. What is this happening for? The fact is that even a neurotic state of the body can provoke this phenomenon. With him, a person breathes more often or deeply. This causes an involuntary contraction of the gastric muscles, from which a person burps air.
There is reason to talk about the so-called neurotic burping. Additionally, it may be accompanied by the following: discomfort while drinking fluids, "lump in the throat", nausea, vomiting, discomfort in the stomach, chronically reduced appetite.
Sign of disease
Belching can also be a symptom of a number of serious illnesses. We distinguish among them the most typical:
- Insufficiency of the bauginium damper (name of the septum between the small and large intestines).
- Duodenogastric reflux. It is a very serious illness when the contents of the duodenum are thrown back into the stomach.
- Diseases affecting the biliary tract - cholecystitis, clusters of stones in the gall bladder.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestinal tract. The disease can be a consequence of both problems with immunity, and antibiotic treatment.
- Chronic pancreatitis. Belching here will be one of the symptoms along with increased gas formation and violations of bowel movements.
- The pathology of the diaphragm. The most common cause is diaphragm hernia. It develops against the background of congenital abnormalities of the esophagus, weakening of muscles due to overweight, constant overeating and systematic heavy physical exertion.
- Stomach cancer. In addition to belching, patients complain of a constant lack of appetite, anemia, heaviness in the stomach area, the rapid onset of a satiety state against the background of sudden weight loss.
- Stomach ulcer. Acid burping with this disease is the most common symptom. There is pain in the stomach, self-stopping after eating, decreased appetite, chronic constipation, causeless vomiting and nausea.
- Gastritis. With this gastric disease, a person, as a rule, is tormented by a strong belching. Especially at the stage of exacerbation of the disease. In addition to her, a person complains of pain in the stomach, heartburn, a chronic feeling of heaviness and fullness of the stomach.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease. This pathology is also often accompanied by severe belching.
- Scleroderma. Autoimmune disease is a pathologically active development of connective tissue. It can affect the esophagus - both as a result of its constant mechanical damage, and due to a hereditary factor.
- Achalasia of the cardia. About a third of patients complaining of chronic eructation suffer precisely from diseases of the esophagus. Achalasia of the cardia is a chronic disease, a consequence of a violation of the function of relaxation of the esophageal sphincter.
- Zenker diverticulum. The disease is named after the German pathologist who first discovered it. Mostly it is found in men aged 45-50 years.
Diagnostics
Belching is not an independent disease, but a symptom of any pathology or disease. If it manifests itself systematically, painfully, accompanied by other manifestations, you need to contact your therapist. The doctor will refer you to a gastroenterologist. Or another specialist if belching in your case does not speak about gastrointestinal diseases.
The doctor takes into account the age of the patient, the fact of the presence of chronic diseases. Especially the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system.
The following diagnostic procedures may be prescribed:
- Clinical and biochemical analysis of blood.
- Coprogram.
- Analysis of feces.
- Ultrasound examinations.
- Colonoscopy
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
Treatment
We continue the discussion about the causes and treatment of belching after eating. Since belching is only a symptom, the treatment regimen is prescribed depending on the disease that caused it. The diagnosis here can only be determined by a specialist based on a complex of diagnostic studies. Both medical, conservative, and surgical, surgical treatment can be prescribed.
If no pathological causes have been identified, the doctor will advise you to draw up the correct diet. Excluded dishes with a high content of sauces, spices, seasonings. The patient should limit himself in the use of eggs, seafood, cheeses. It is necessary to focus on a low-carb and easily digestible diet, turn to fractional nutrition. Steam food by stewing and boiling.
So that belching does not torment you, the first thing you need to do is to abandon bad habits, exclude products that cause increased gas formation from your diet, observe healthy lifestyle. Do not forget about the preventive diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases.