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Burp and food comes up: 6 Reasons You Are Regurgitating and How to Stop It

6 Reasons You Are Regurgitating and How to Stop It

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Regurgitation is when food, liquid, or stomach acid comes up from the stomach into your mouth. It occurs in 80% of people with GERD, which can be treated with over-the-counter and prescription medications. Other causes include stomach ulcers, gastritis, and being pregnant or overweight.

Written by

Chandra Manuelpillai, MD.

Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine

Last updated May 23, 2023

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What is regurgitation?

GERD

Other causes

When to call the doctor

Should I go to the ER for regurgitation?

Treatment

Table of Contents

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Written by

Chandra Manuelpillai, MD.

Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine

Last updated May 23, 2023

Regurgitation quiz

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4 most common causes

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Rumination Syndrome

Stomach Ulcer

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Overweight or pregnant

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Most common questions

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What is regurgitation?

Regurgitation occurs when food, liquid, or stomach acids comes back up from the stomach and into the mouth. Unlike vomiting, there’s no nausea and no stomach pain or cramping. You may not even realize it’s happening until you feel or taste it in your mouth.

What is coming back up can include undigested food and drink along with stomach acid and yellowish-greenish liquid called bile.

It can be from eating too much or too fast, from being pregnant, or being obese. But it is often caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease. Other causes include gastritis, gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.

Recurrent (repetitive) regurgitation can also cause the same symptoms as these other diseases because the acid or bile can irritate the lining of your stomach, esophagus, and throat.

Is regurgitation serious?

“Although regurgitation is unpleasant, it is rarely dangerous.” —Dr. Chandra Manuelpillai

Causes

1. GERD

Symptoms

  • Burning in the upper abdomen
  • Throat or chest irritation
  • Retching or nausea
  • Acid reflux coming into the mouth (heartburn) or regurgitation

Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD occurs when the sphincter muscle between your food pipe (esophagus) and your stomach does not completely close. This can cause stomach acid to flow upward through your esophagus, resulting in a burning sensation sometimes known as heartburn.

Regurgitation occurs in approximately 80% of people with GERD. Acid reflux may occasionally occur due to foods you eat, such as spicy foods, and can also occur more regularly in pregnant people or may be a side effect of certain medications. While some people occasionally get acid reflux and many of the symptoms overlap with indigestion, people who experience these symptoms frequently may be diagnosed with GERD.

If you have GERD, you may need to modify your diet and may need to take medication to control the symptoms and prevent damage from frequent regurgitation of stomach acid.

2. Gastric distention

Symptoms

  • Bloating
  • Feeling uncomfortably full

Gastric distention mainly occurs when you eat or drink too much or too fast. Symptoms can get worse when you eat spicy, fried, or greasy foods or drink alcohol or carbonated beverages. It can also happen if you eat or drink before going to sleep, and if you have too much stress, take certain medications, or are overweight or pregnant.

Unfortunately, if it’s from overeating, you just have to wait until you feel better. Resting or light activity such as taking a walk may help. Or try an over-the-counter medication, including:

  • Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate) for upset stomach
  • Anti-gas medicine such as simethicone (Gas-X)
  • Antacids such as Tums (calcium carbonate) or Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) or Maalox.

3. Peptic ulcer

Symptoms

  • Burning upper abdominal pain that gets worse after eating
  • Loss of appetite and/or nausea
  • Bloating or belching

Peptic ulcers, also called stomach ulcers, can form anywhere on the lining of the stomach or your small intestines. They are sores or breaks in the stomach lining caused by inflammation.

This is usually caused by:

  • Infection with the bacteria, H pylori
  • Medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin
  • Alcohol overuse

Just as with a cut or other injury, your body needs time to heal. But it’s difficult for your stomach because every time you eat, you release acid to digest the food. This can re-injure the stomach lining.

Your doctor may prescribe medications that decrease acid production, protecting the stomach lining, and/or treat H pylori infection, if present. You should also avoid alcohol, smoking, and foods and medications that can cause irritation and inflammation.

4. Overweight or pregnant

Symptoms

  • Feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual

Being overweight or pregnant can cause regurgitation. Normally, the sphincter (a ring of muscle) prevents stomach contents from going backwards into the esophagus (the tube connecting your mouth with your stomach).

But increased pressure in the abdomen (from excess weight or the developing baby) forces food back up through the sphincter and into your mouth.

Eating or drinking too much or too fast can cause symptoms. Eating certain foods or beverages (such as spicy, fried, or greasy foods, or alcohol or carbonated drinks) or lying down or going to sleep immediately after eating or drinking can worsen symptoms.

Treatment includes eating smaller, more frequent meals, avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, staying upright after eating, and not wearing tight-fitting clothing.

5. Abnormal anatomy

Symptoms

  • Feeling as if food gets stuck in the esophagus
  • Feeling like food sits in the stomach
  • Feeling like food moves from the stomach back into the esophagus

Certain anatomical issues can interfere with your normal swallowing and digestion. These include esophageal stricture, hiatal hernia, or motility disorder.

  • Esophageal stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the esophagus, which may be from a genetic birth defect, cancer, or inflammation or scarring from acid reflux. It is treated with a procedure to dilate (widen) the esophagus.
  • A hiatal hernia is when part of your stomach is pushed into the chest cavity. Depending on the size of the hernia and the severity of symptoms, treatment can include weight loss, medications, or surgery.
  • Motility disorders (problems with the gastrointestinal tract) can lead to delays in gastric emptying. This can then cause food to stay in the stomach too long and eventually come back up into the esophagus. These are usually treated with diet changes and medications.

6. Rumination syndrome

Symptoms

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Feeling as if food gets stuck in the esophagus
  • Bloating

Rumination syndrome is a rare cause of regurgitation. It is more common in infants and those with developmental disabilities. It can be thought of as a chronic cause of regurgitation. Symptoms occur daily and with almost every meal. It is caused by involuntary muscle contractions moving food backward.

Treatment depends on the cause. The treatment of infants often focuses on teaching parents proper feeding positions and avoiding distractions during feeding. People with developmental disabilities may use behavior therapy such as diaphragmatic breathing and biofeedback.

Although there is no medication to treat rumination syndrome, a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole (Prilosec) can be taken to protect the lining of the esophagus from stomach acid.

Other possible causes

There are other conditions that may cause regurgitation, but they’re rare or the regurgitation is not a typical symptom of the disease. These include multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

Are regurgitation and GERD the same thing?

“Recurrent regurgitation may result in a burning sensation in the center of the chest from repeated exposure to stomach contents, including acid and bile. While symptoms can become very similar to gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), they are not the same thing.” —Dr. Manuelpillai

When to call the doctor

Dr. Rx

“If symptoms are frequent, it is very important to discuss them with your doctor. Although it’s rarely a sign of something more serious, it can be a sign of diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Particularly if the symptoms of regurgitation are associated with difficulty swallowing, spasms, tremors, rigidity, numbness, or weakness.”—Dr. Manuelpillai

  • If the symptoms are frequent or interfere with daily life.
  • If you develop other concerning symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, or a heavy sensation in your arms or legs, it could be a sign of Parkinson’s. If you experience blurry or double vision, numbness/tingling, or spasms, these may be early signs of multiple sclerosis.

Should I go to the ER for regurgitation?

Generally, you should not need to go to the emergency department for regurgitation. But if you are also having these symptoms, it could mean it’s a more serious problem:

  • If you are unable to swallow liquid, food, or your own saliva, it may be a sign of an esophageal obstruction. It needs to be treated or it can cause tissue damage.
  • If you are vomiting and unable to keep any food or fluid down.
  • If you develop chest pain, difficulty breathing, or dizziness.

Treatments

At-home care

There are some things you can do to prevent regurgitation:

  • Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
  • Avoid lying down after eating.
  • Lose weight if you’re overweight.
  • Wear loose pants and avoid belts. Tight-fitting clothes around the abdomen can put pressure on the stomach, which may cause regurgitation.
  • Avoid certain foods and drinks (spicy, greasy foods, and carbonated and alcoholic drinks).
  • Take antacids (such as TUMS) or proton-pump inhibitor such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), and pantoprazole (Protonix). These medications should not be used regularly.

Other treatment options

  • If you are having frequent symptoms or are regularly taking over-the-counter medications, discuss your symptoms with your doctor so they can rule out other underlying issues and treat them separately.
  • Prescription medications for GERD

Chandra Manuelpillai, MD.

Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine

Dr. Manuelpillai is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician. She received her undergraduate degree in Health Science Studies from Quinnipiac University (2002). She then went on to graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Sciences/The Chicago Medical School (2007) where she served on the Executive Student Council, as well as was the alternate delegate to the AMA/ISMS-MSS G…

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Causes and Treatments in Babies and Adults

Regurgitation happens when a mixture of gastric juices, and sometimes undigested food, rises back up the esophagus and into the mouth.

In adults, involuntary regurgitation is a common symptom of acid reflux and GERD. It may also be a symptom of a rare condition called rumination disorder. In babies, regurgitation is normal within the first year of life.

This article will explore the common causes, diagnosis, and treatment for involuntary regurgitation in both adults and babies.

The cause of regurgitation may vary based on whether it’s occurring in a baby or adult.

Adults

Acid reflux

Acid reflux is a condition that’s characterized by reflux, heartburn, and bad breath. Common triggers include:

  • eating large meals
  • eating certain foods
  • lying down soon after eating
GERD

When acid reflux happens multiple times per week, it’s known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both acid reflux and GERD commonly cause regurgitation of stomach acid or food.

Rumination syndrome

Rumination syndrome is a rare condition that causes frequent regurgitation of undigested food. This regurgitation happens frequently right after eating a meal.

Doctors don’t fully know the causes of it yet. Risk factors include having a mental health condition or undergoing a stressful experience.

Rumination syndrome is rare, so unless there’s constant regurgitation, the regurgitation is more likely due to acid reflux or GERD.

Other causes

Other causes of regurgitation in adults include:

  • blockages
  • pregnancy
  • certain medications
  • smoking
  • eating disorders

Blockages in the esophagus due to scarring or cancer can cause frequent regurgitation. Early pregnancy hormones can cause a relaxed esophageal sphincter, which can lead to regurgitation.

Some medications can also irritate the lining of the esophagus, which can cause regurgitation of bile. Smoking can exacerbate conditions like acid reflux and lead to increased reflux and regurgitation.

Bulimia may also cause regurgitation. Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by bingeing and purging food.

Bulimia is a much more serious cause of voluntary regurgitation. It requires mental health treatment.

Babies

Regurgitation is common in infants and babies. However, some babies experience frequent regurgitation.

When this regurgitation isn’t accompanied by other symptoms, it’s known as functional infant regurgitation. This condition is characterized by frequent regurgitation more than once per day during the first year of life.

GERD can also affect infants, although not as commonly as it affects adults. Due to the short length of the esophagus, infants with GERD are more likely to experience regurgitation instead of just reflux.

Symptoms of regurgitation vary based on the underlying cause. Pay attention to specific symptoms when it comes to regurgitation in babies.

Adults

Many of the symptoms that accompany regurgitation are due to the conditions that cause regurgitation, such as acid reflux and GERD.

Symptoms of acid reflux and GERD include:

  • heartburn or chest pain
  • bitter or sour taste at the back of the throat
  • trouble swallowing
  • feeling a lump in the throat
  • regurgitation of stomach acid or undigested food

When regurgitation happens frequently on its own without the other symptoms of acid reflux or GERD, it may be rumination syndrome.

Symptoms of rumination syndrome include:

  • frequent regurgitation soon after eating
  • fullness in the belly
  • bad breath
  • nausea
  • weight loss

Babies

Due to the size of the esophagus in infants and babies, regurgitation is common in the early years of life.

If your infant has functional infant regurgitation, you may notice the following symptoms:

  • frequent regurgitation, at least twice daily
  • regurgitation for at least 3 weeks
  • occurs within the first year of life

There are usually no other symptoms that accompany this condition outside of the regurgitation. However, if the regurgitation is a symptom of GERD, it may be accompanied by:

  • trouble swallowing food and liquids, which can cause gagging or choking
  • irritability, back arching, or avoidance during eating
  • frequent cough and pneumonia

If you notice your infant is having other symptoms, it may be an indicator of a more serious condition. Watch out for:

  • blood or bile in the regurgitation
  • problems feeding
  • excessive crying
  • problems breathing

Adults

Acid reflux is generally a temporary condition that doesn’t require a formal diagnosis. However, because GERD requires long-term dietary and lifestyle management, your doctor may want to perform some diagnostic tests.

These tests may include:

  • X-ray
  • upper endoscopy
  • esophageal imaging

These tests can help your doctor determine the extent of esophageal damage and complications due to GERD.

To diagnose rumination syndrome, your doctor will first eliminate the possibility of other conditions, such as GERD. Additional testing may be necessary, including an EGD test and gastric emptying test.

These tests look for any blockages or slowed transit time that may be causing the frequent regurgitation.

One case study demonstrated that 24-hour impedance pH monitoring is also an effective way to diagnose rumination syndrome.

Babies

Infant regurgitation is a frequent and normal side effect of feeding in the early years of life.

It’s difficult for doctors to test for functional infant regurgitation. However, if there are no additional symptoms, a diagnosis can be made if the regurgitation occurs at least twice daily for 3 weeks during the first year of life.

The same functional tests doctors use to diagnose GERD in adults can also be used for infants. These include:

  • upper GI endoscopy and biopsy
  • upper GI series
  • esophageal pH measurements

As you can imagine, these tests can be invasive for an infant. They’re often used only in moderate to severe cases of infant GERD.

Adults

Medication is a popular first-line treatment option for people with acid reflux and GERD. There are a handful of medications that can treat these conditions, including:

  • antacids, such as Rolaids, which can relieve mild GERD symptoms
  • h3 blockers, such as Pepcid, which can reduce stomach acid production
  • PPIs, such as Prilosec, which can reduce stomach acid production long term

Occasionally, your doctor may prescribe prokinetics and antibiotics to increase stomach emptying and reduce the risk of regurgitation.

There are currently no medications used to treat rumination syndrome. Instead, treatment relies on lifestyle changes.

Babies

There are currently no medications or surgeries used to treat functional infant regurgitation.

However, if your infant has regurgitation due to GERD, your pediatrician might recommend the same GERD medications used in adults.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends making the following lifestyle changes to reduce GERD symptoms:

  • Aim for a healthy weight.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption.
  • During mealtime, eat smaller meals, chew your food thoroughly, and don’t lie down after eating for at least 2 to 3 hours.
  • When lying down at night, prop up your head and neck with extra pillows.

Treatment options for rumination syndrome focus on changing the behaviors that are causing the regurgitation, including:

  • retraining the diaphragm to relax after eating
  • staying upright during and after meals
  • reducing stress during mealtime

In some cases, psychotherapy may be necessary.

For infants with frequent regurgitation, doctors suggest that certain changes during feeding can help reduce regurgitation:

  • Feed your baby in a quiet, undisturbed location to reduce stress and fussing during feedings.
  • Thicken the formula or milk with 1 tablespoon cereal per ounce of liquid to help with digestion.
  • Don’t overfeed your infant. Overfeeding can cause increased regurgitation.

Similar lifestyle recommendations for GERD in adults can be applied to infants, such as trying smaller, more frequent feeding sessions and elevating the head after meals.

If you or your infant is experiencing regurgitation that makes it difficult to keep food down or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor.

Your doctor can help narrow down the cause of the frequent regurgitation using your medical history and diagnostic testing.

Once a cause is established, you and your doctor can work together to find medication and lifestyle changes to help reduce the regurgitation.

If your regurgitation is a symptom of an eating disorder such as bulimia, there are resources that can help.

The National Eating Disorders Association has a map on their website that can help you find an eating disorder specialist near you.

Regurgitation happens when digestive fluids and undigested food rise from the esophagus into the mouth.

In adults, involuntary regurgitation is a symptom of conditions such as acid reflux, GERD, and rumination syndrome. In infants, frequent regurgitation is a common symptom of functional infant regurgitation and GERD.

There are a variety of tests your doctor will use to diagnose the cause of your frequent regurgitation. Medications and lifestyle changes are the first line of defense in decreasing your regurgitation and improving your quality of life.

Belching food

Belching food – a symptom of the disease or a natural process?

The principle by which burping occurs, including burping with food, is, in essence, very simple.

If a person cannot restrain his belching at the table, and especially in the company of other people who share a meal with him, this, of course, does not characterize him in front of them from the best side. However, the very essence of such cases lies not only in violation of the rules of etiquette. Or rather, not only, but rather, not so much in what can be considered a sign of bad taste and tactlessness, but in the fact that belching can signal the presence of various disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

With the contraction of the stomach and the open cardiac valve acting as a sphincter between the stomach and esophagus, a certain part of the contents moves to the oral cavity. That is, such an eructation is a phenomenon of minor vomiting that occurs without effort and often against the background of the process of expelling excess air from the stomach that can appear there after eating.

Based on the characteristics of the eructation that takes place, it becomes possible to determine for what reason it is provoked, and what disorders in the processes occurring in the body cause it. So belching, which has a sour taste, accompanies the fact that an environment with a high content of gastric juice is formed in the stomach. A strongly pronounced sour eructation may indicate that there is increased acidity or that there is an insufficient amount of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice. Bitter belching appears as a result of the fact that bile enters the stomach from the duodenum. Rotten putrid belching is caused by the decomposition of food when it is kept for a long time in conditions of low acidity, which can take place in the stomach, where as a result of this a stagnant process occurs. This type of belching can also act as a sign of developing ulcers and stomach cancer.

Belching food, when it becomes systematic, requires a mandatory medical consultation and examination to establish the objective causes of such a phenomenon.

Causes of belching with food

As such, belching is a fairly common occurrence associated with the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and in a healthy state of the body.

The occurrence of belching is caused by physiological movements inherent in peristalsis, which is accompanied by an increase in pressure in the stomach and a simultaneous weakening of the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus. The result of this is that some of the air that has entered the stomach during meals rushes towards the oral cavity. In some cases, a certain amount of previously eaten food may also be involved in this process, which acts as a reason for belching food.

Belching food or having its smell can occur as a result of a slowdown in the transport of stomach contents into the duodenum. We can talk about this on the basis of the fact that the appearance of such an eructation is also noted after 8 or more hours after eating.

Prerequisites for the appearance of belching food is also the following. When a person is actively talking during a meal, absorbs food in a hurry, not chewed enough, or is in a strong emotional state, he is inclined to swallow air along with food. Subsequently, the stomach gets rid of the resulting excess pressure in it by belching. And if it is extremely full as a result of overeating and intemperance of a person in food, this does not exclude the possibility that, along with air, a certain amount of gastric contents can also be in the oral cavity.

However, not only those factors that are related to the way food is eaten, how a person eats, but also what foods are included in the diet are important. In particular, excessive consumption of highly carbonated drinks, ice cream, milk, onions, cabbage, legumes leads to an increase in gas-forming processes in the stomach.

The reasons for belching food can be very different, and although such a phenomenon in itself may not inspire any concern, nevertheless, if such cases become more frequent, this can become a harbinger of such serious problems as the development of pancreatitis, gastritis, gastroduodenitis, gallbladder lesions, hernia of the esophagus and ulcers.

Symptoms of belching with food

When belching in healthy people, along with air from the stomach, along with part of the air accumulated there after eating, a small part of the recently eaten food can enter the esophagus and further into the oral cavity. Actually belching is a completely natural physiological process inherent in the human body. Another thing is that the contents of the stomach into the mouth during belching in some cases may be in quantities that bring such belching closer to being classified as vomiting.

Symptoms of belching food often occur after a person has eaten too much and eaten too much. Especially if the process of food absorption was accompanied by washing it down with highly carbonated drinks, leading to an increased content of gases in the stomach. A characteristic symptom accompanying this is the appearance of bloating. In addition, pain may occur in the abdomen, constipation may appear, or vice versa, diarrhea with flatulence. Nausea along with vomiting becomes frequent companions, or each of these manifestations can occur separately. In addition, a person may suffer from heartburn.

Thus, the totality of the above manifestations characterizes the symptoms of belching with food, but on the other hand, it, in turn, can act as one of the characteristic phenomena in gastric, hepatic diseases, gallbladder diseases, and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Constant belching of food

Since belching is, by and large, an integral aspect of the functioning of the human body, first of all, it should be understood when it can be considered not going beyond the state that is seen as the norm, and in what cases it is said that it occurs with an abnormally high frequency. In a healthy state of the body after eating, belching usually happens about 4 times. When this number reaches a value exceeding this value, this may indicate some kind of pathology.

Constant belching of food, which is reflex in nature, in many cases accompanies the course of many diseases of internal organs, including stomach diseases, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and gallbladder. The high systematic nature of spontaneous processes of expulsion of air from the stomach, along with a certain amount of food, may be due to existing disorders in the function of closing the sphincter that separates the stomach from the esophagus. This can take place as a consequence of the surgical intervention on the gastrointestinal tract, and in addition, in the presence of a hernia in the diaphragm.

Constant belching is often provoked by neuropathy in its autonomous form, in which there is damage to the nerves that provide innervation of the digestive tract. As a result, the movement of food in the esophagus, and further in the stomach and intestines, is uneven, since the rhythm of muscle contractions is disturbed. The consequence of this is that the evacuation of the contents is delayed, and prerequisites are created for the development of reflux.

The constant belching of food is mainly a reflection of the negative processes occurring in the body in the internal organs associated with the functions of digestion. Therefore, in order to cure such an eructation, it is necessary first of all to take measures against the underlying disease that causes it.

Diagnosis of belching with food

Diagnosis of belching with food is carried out on the basis of a thorough study of the anamnesis of a person who applied for medical help about this. During a consultation with a medical specialist, he clarifies information in terms of how long ago the patient noted its initial appearance, how often such an eructation occurs, in what time interval after eating it manifests itself, how long it usually lasts.

In the process of establishing a diagnosis, it is required either to state or to exclude the presence of gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis, cholecystitis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.

Mandatory laboratory tests are prescribed. A person is sent for a clinical blood test, as well as for biochemistry. A feces is taken for the possible detection of latent blood in it. It is also necessary to conduct a coprogram.

Expedient diagnostic measures through the methods of instrumental research. They are carried out using ultrasound diagnostics, colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, respiratory diagnostics in order to identify or refute the presence of Helicobacter pylori. In addition, the amount of gastric acid production is tested.

Diagnosis of belching food allows, based on the results of the prescribed necessary studies and analyzes, to develop a rational treatment plan for the underlying disease, which is the main cause of involuntary regurgitation of food. By itself, belching itself does not need any special treatment.

Treatment of belching with food

Treatment of belching with food is chosen taking into account those specific factors of the state of the patient’s body that they cause the occurrence of such a phenomenon. It is possible that as a result of all the required diagnostic measures taken, it becomes possible with all justification to exclude from the number of probable causes the presence of any disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment in this case is increasingly reduced to recommendations for the patient to be puzzled by the question of the correct approach to organizing his diet. It is necessary to strictly follow the received medical corrective instructions regarding the necessary diet. Eating is required in small portions and food must be thoroughly chewed. Care should be taken to ensure that the diet is balanced in terms of the content of all vitamins and trace elements necessary for the normal functioning of the human body.

As for those cases in which it can be stated with complete certainty that belching of food is caused by one or another gastrointestinal disease, then the vector of targeted medical action should be directed primarily against this disease. By stopping the negative progress of its development, it will be possible to get rid of belching food.

Treatment of belching with food, as is obvious from everything we have considered, involves an integrated approach that includes the treatment of its main provoking disease, as well as the organization of a proper diet that helps reduce the risk of its occurrence in the future.

How to get rid of belching with food?

Be sure to seek medical help when it lasts with a large number of repetitions for an hour for at least five days. This may indicate the presence of a certain pathology in the body and requires a person to be examined to establish a diagnosis and start treatment of the underlying disease as its main cause.

And belching food that happens episodically, and does not have a place to be regularly on an ongoing basis, does not necessitate any special treatment. Mostly its occurrence occurs due to an irrational approach to the issue of proper nutrition.

There are a number of practical recommendations that can be useful in how to get rid of belching food.

Fundamental here is the principle of excluding those foods, the digestion of which in the stomach takes a long time. It is also recommended to limit the consumption of highly carbonated drinks, beer, oxygen cocktails. The diet should be based on the principles of fractional nutrition, adhering to which you need to eat a small portion of food up to five times throughout the day.

In addition, an indispensable condition in the fight against belching is the correct process of eating, during which one should not rush, but chew everything thoroughly.

In food, you should always observe moderation, avoiding overeating. And when experiencing the consequences of any stressful situations, in a state of nervous tension, it is better to postpone the meal until you can restore calm and peace of mind. And while eating, try to refrain from talking at the table.

How to get rid of burping with food can also be understood if, by excluding certain dishes and foodstuffs, we come to an understanding in which of them lies the main reason for such an individual reaction of the body manifested as belching.

Prevention of belching with food

Prevention of belching with food comes down to a number of relevant rules and principles, following which helps to reduce the likelihood of encountering this rather unpleasant phenomenon. Thus, the guide to action in this matter assumes literally the following.

The first step is to give up products that lead to increased formation of gases in the stomach.

The urgency of the problem of belching can be reduced as the disease recedes in the process of timely treatment of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that provoke them. After all, such burps often appear against the background of inflammatory processes in the stomach – gastritis, in the gallbladder (cholecystitis), with gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers. Successful treatment of these lesions of the digestive system in the human body prevents the very possibility of eructations in connection with them. Therapeutic measures aimed at curing hernias in the diaphragmatic region are also a positive preventive factor from belching food, since the hernia disrupts the activity of the sphincter that separates the esophagus and stomach, due to which food from the stomach can move to the oral cavity.

And of course, one cannot ignore and emphasize once again that the best prevention against many diseases is a healthy lifestyle, moderation in food, smoking cessation and the use of alcoholic beverages only in reasonable quantities. Prevention of belching with food is no exception here either.

Prediction of food burping

The prognosis of belching with food is determined by the degree of effectiveness of the applied therapeutic measures for a certain disease of the digestive system, the course of which it accompanies. Belching, in its essence, being nothing more than a characteristic symptom, is not able to lead to an improvement or worsening of the condition, causing a tendency to positive or negative shifts in the course of the underlying disease.

However, this should in no way inspire confidence that it is possible to neglect the therapeutic and preventive measures taken to prevent the development of diseases in which belching of food may occur.

what can be behind it according to experts

Such a phenomenon as frequent belching is probably familiar to every person. That’s just when a harmless burp speaks of a dangerous disease?

Periodic burping is completely normal. Often this is air that is swallowed during meals or entered the stomach through carbonated drinks and exits through the esophagus. However, if cases accumulate, it is not only annoying, but can also be a health hazard.

Also Read: No Bloating, Heartburn or Cancer: 6 Rules for a Healthy Gut

Frequent burping can be a warning sign. If symptoms such as heartburn or severe stomach pain are added, an underlying medical condition may be the cause.

The expert explained what symptoms to watch out for and what measures can bring relief. This is reported by the news agency t‑online.

What is belching?

When you burp or burp, the air you have swallowed usually rises back up. Doctors call air swallowing aerophagy.

Gas produced by certain foods in the stomach can also cause belching. For example, legumes, onions, garlic, peppers or whole grains.

It is not uncommon to belch several times a day. If too much air has accumulated in the stomach, the body tries to “release pressure” with the help of a natural reflex. Belching is a common consequence of:

  • Stress eating
  • Talking while eating
  • Eating large meals
  • Drinking carbonated drinks
  • Chewing gum
  • Sucking sweets
  • Drinking cold drinks or food

Also, pregnant women spit up more often. In addition, frequent belching can be caused by diseases. For example, such as reflux disease, gastritis or food intolerance. Therefore, frequent belching can be an alarm.

When is a burp a warning sign?

Belching is initially harmless. Even if the food slurry pops up or the belching is sometimes sour, it is usually harmless.

You should pay attention if food from the stomach often pushes up the esophagus. Or if heartburn is regularly accompanied by belching.

Heartburn is characterized by a sour, burning eructation, in which acid from the stomach can enter the esophagus up to the throat. Sufferers describe a burning sensation behind the breastbone. Reflux disease can cause occasional heartburn.

“The so-called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is by far the most common cause of frequent heartburn with severe pain symptoms, belching and rising pulp,” explained Prof. Heiner Wedemeyer.

He is Director of the Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology at the Hannover Medical School (MHH). And in addition, the press secretary of the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS).

Get treated for heartburn

Almost everyone experiences heartburn at least once in their life. Usually, the burning sensation behind the sternum does not last long and is often the result of eating rich, fatty and sweet foods. Recurrent heartburn should be treated.

“The lining of the esophagus can be damaged by frequent exposure to stomach acid,” Wedemeyer explained. “The result is not only inflammation and damage to the mucous membrane. Due to the constant exposure to acid, the cells of the mucous membrane in the long term can change in such a way that cancer of the esophagus or stomach ulcers may result.

What other diseases can cause belching?

Frequent belching may be indicative of more than just reflux disease. Other medical conditions can also cause burping, including:

  • Gastritis (inflammation of the lining of the stomach)
  • Food intolerance
  • Weakening of the muscle (sphincter) at the junction of the esophagus and stomach.
  • Diverticula in the esophagus
  • Narrowed esophagus
  • Gastric ulcer

“In order to detect possible serious diseases at an early stage, people who often burp sour and whose belching is accompanied by nausea, pressure in the stomach and a burning sensation behind the breastbone , must pass examination by a doctor,” the gastroenterologist recommended.

Small changes in diet make burping easier

You can find out if certain eating habits are causing frequent burping by making a few small changes and seeing if burping will decrease:

  • Eat slowly and chew your food well.