Constant burping: 10 main causes (and what to do)

Constant burping can be caused by consuming foods that cause gas or excessive carbonated drinks, swallowing while eating, poor digestion, gastritis, gastric ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux, for example.

Depending on the cause, constant or frequent burping may be accompanied by symptoms such as stomach pain, a burning sensation, heartburn, nausea, or regurgitation of food.

Read too: Stomach pain: 10 main causes (and what to do)

Generally, it is possible to reduce the amount of burping by changing habits, such as avoiding drinking carbonated drinks, however, if it occurs frequently or is accompanied by other symptoms, you should consult a gastroenterologist to identify its cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

10 causes of constant burping

The main causes of constant burping are:

1. Gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux is the return of stomach contents to the esophagus and mouth, leading to a burning sensation, heartburn, chest pain and a bitter taste in the mouth, due to the acidity of gastric juice.

Furthermore, it can also cause constant burping, as the movement of stomach contents back into the esophagus produces a lot of air.

What to do: You should consult a gastroenterologist to begin the most appropriate treatment, which generally involves the use of medicines that reduce stomach acidity, such as omeprazole or cimetidine, for example.

In addition, changes should also be made to your diet, such as avoiding fatty foods, alcoholic beverages and processed foods, and it is also recommended to eat at least 3 hours before going to bed, as this makes it possible to avoid the contents of the stomach returning to the mouth. . See more details on reflux treatment.

2. Hernia hiatus

Hiatal hernia, or hiatus hernia, causes symptoms such as heartburn, burning, bitter taste in the mouth and frequent belching and can be caused by obesity, chronic cough or excessive physical activity that requires a lot of strength.

This condition occurs due to a dilation of the stomach entry region, allowing gastric juice to return to the esophagus, leading to the appearance of symptoms.

What to do: You should consult a gastroenterologist who may recommend treatment with antacids and gastric protectors, and in some cases, hernia correction surgery. See other symptoms of hiatus hernia and what treatment is recommended.

3. Consuming foods that cause gas

Consuming foods that cause gas can encourage the appearance of constant belching and flatulence, as during digestion they produce a lot of air in the stomach and intestine.

Some of these foods are beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lentils, onions or garlic, for example.

What to do: It is important to adopt a balanced diet and reduce the consumption of foods that increase gas production, to help reduce the formation of gas in the stomach and avoid or stop constant belching.

Read too: Burping remedies: homemade and pharmacy options

4. Gastric ulcer

A gastric ulcer, or stomach ulcer, is a type of wound that forms on the inner wall of the stomach and causes symptoms such as pain, burning, nausea and frequent belching.

Most often, gastric ulcers are caused by chronic gastritis or bacterial infection. H. pyloriwhich constantly irritate the gastric mucosa due to the acid produced in the stomach, favoring the appearance of wounds.

What to do: Treatment is carried out by a gastroenterologist using medicines to reduce stomach acidity, such as omeprazole, esomeprazole or antacids, to facilitate the healing of ulcers. Furthermore, a change in eating habits is important. See what the diet for gastric ulcers should be like.

5. Carbonated and fermented drinks

Excessive intake of carbonated and fermented drinks, such as soda, sparkling water or beer, especially through a straw, causes the stomach to fill with air, causing constant burping.

These drinks have a high sugar and carbon dioxide content in their composition and, during digestion, they cause an increase in air in the stomach and, because of the excess sugar, they can lead to the onset of diseases, such as diabetes.

What to do: The intake of soft drinks should be avoided, as this way, it is possible to reduce constant burping and reduce the risk of developing other diseases. Understand better why soda is bad for your health.

6. Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance occurs because the body cannot digest the sugar present in milk and dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt.

Generally, the symptoms of this condition appear soon after ingesting dairy products, causing abdominal cramps, constant belching, belly bloating and flatulence.

In the case of milk, another possible cause is the difficulty in digesting casein, which is a protein present in milk and dairy products.

What to do: You should consult a gastroenterologist who can perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and recommend the use of lactase-containing medicines. It is also recommended to consult a nutritionist to make changes to your diet and recommend foods that can replace products containing milk. See more about the foods you should eat if you are lactose intolerant.

7. Aerophagia

Aerophagia is the act of swallowing air, which can happen when eating too quickly, chewing gum frequently, talking a lot or talking while eating, smoking or drinking liquids through a straw or ill-fitting dentures.

This can cause air to accumulate in the stomach, resulting in excess gas in the stomach and constant burping.

Furthermore, people who have a health problem that impairs breathing, such as meat in the nose, may swallow more air than normal. See more about the causes of meat on the nose and how to treat it.

What to do: you should eat slowly, avoid chewing gum and avoid talking while eating, to avoid swallowing too much air, and reduce constant burping. It is also important to consult a gastroenterologist who may recommend the use of medication or speech therapy sessions to help improve breathing and swallowing movements, for example. See other ways to treat aerophagia.

8. Poor digestion

Poor digestion can result in excess gas in the stomach, stomach bloating and constant burping, as well as a feeling of a full stomach, abdominal discomfort or nausea.

Read too: Bloated stomach: 7 main causes (and what to do)

Poor digestion can occur after overeating and mixing foods rich in fiber with foods rich in fat, but it can also be caused by gastrointestinal problems such as gastritis, ulcers or fatty liver.

What to do: It is recommended to have a lighter diet, avoiding foods rich in fat or excess fiber. However, when poor digestion is frequent, a gastroenterologist should be consulted to assess its cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment, if necessary. See how poor digestion is treated.

9. Gastroparesia

Gastroparesis is paralysis of the stomach, resulting in decreased stomach movements to digest food, which increases the amount of gas in the stomach, resulting in constant burping.

In addition, other symptoms are cramping-like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or abdominal bloating.

Gastroparesis can be caused by diabetes or the use of medicines to treat diabetes, such as semaglutide, as well as viral infections, rheumatism, autoimmune diseases, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or spinal cord trauma.

What to do: Treatment is carried out with medicines recommended by the gastroenterologist to alleviate symptoms, in addition to adequate nutrition. See how gastroparesis is treated.

10. Gastritis

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach wall causing symptoms such as stomach pain, excessive burping, a full or burning sensation in the stomach, for example.

This inflammation in the stomach can be caused by poor diet, frequent use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

What to do: Treatment is carried out by a gastroenterologist and generally involves the use of antacid medicines or inhibitors of stomach acid production, such as omeprazole or esomeprazole, for example. Check out the main remedies for gastritis.

Also watch the following video and check out the tips to stop constant burping: