Where does air come from in the stomach?
With each sip, two to five milliliters of air enter the stomach - this is inevitable. When enough of it accumulates, the stomach wall stretches, the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes momentarily, and air escapes. Some people develop the habit of swallowing air more often than usual: when talking while eating, hastily chewing, smoking, chewing gum, drinking through a straw. Separately, supragastric belching is distinguished, when the air does not reach the stomach, but is quickly drawn into the esophagus and immediately exits; it is often associated with anxiety.
- Quick food and conversation while eating
- Carbonated drinks
- Chewing gum and drinking through a straw
- Smoking
- Anxiety and habitual swallowing of air
- Poorly fitting dentures
What does the nature of belching mean?
Belching with odorless air most often indicates aerophagia and is not associated with illness. Sour belching along with heartburn is a typical sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, when the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus. Bitter indicates the ingress of bile, which happens after removal of the gallbladder and with motility disorders. Belching with the smell of rotten eggs occurs when food stagnates in the stomach - for example, when its emptying is disrupted. Belching recently eaten food is characteristic of reflux and hiatal hernia.
- Air - aerophagia
- Acid - reflux disease
- Bitter - reflux of bile
- Rotten - stagnation of stomach contents
- With food - reflux, hiatal hernia
Diseases that cause belching
Most often, these are reflux disease and hiatal hernia, in which the valve between the esophagus and the stomach is disrupted. Belching occurs with gastritis, including those associated with H. pylori, with peptic ulcers, functional dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying. Less commonly, it is caused by diseases of the gallbladder and pancreas. An important landmark: painful belching is rarely isolated; there are usually other complaints - heartburn, pain, heaviness, nausea.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Hiatal hernia
- Gastritis and H. pylori infection
- Peptic ulcer
- Functional dyspepsia
- Delayed gastric emptying
When is an examination needed?
If the belching is isolated and clearly related to habits, it is usually enough to change them. An examination is necessary if it is combined with heartburn, pain, nausea, as well as any alarming signs. The main method is gastric endoscopy, which evaluates the lining of the esophagus and stomach and allows a biopsy to be taken. Additionally, H. pylori is checked and an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity is performed. If a motility disorder is suspected, special studies of the esophagus are used, which are prescribed by a gastroenterologist.
- Endoscopy with examination of the esophagus and stomach
- Test for H. pylori
- Abdominal ultrasound
- General and biochemical blood test
- Evaluation of drugs affecting motor function
What helps
The first step is to change your eating behavior: eat slowly, chew thoroughly, do not talk with your mouth full, give up carbonated drinks, chewing gum and drinking through a straw. Portions should be small, the last meal should be three hours before bedtime. Raising the head of the bed and losing weight can help with reflux. If reflux disease or gastritis is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe treatment, such as proton pump inhibitors or anti-H. pylori therapy. For supragastric belching, breathing exercises and working with a psychotherapist are effective.
- Eat slowly and in small portions
- Avoid carbonated drinks and chewing gum
- Do not lie down for 2–3 hours after eating
- Elevate the head of the bed if you have heartburn
- Lose weight and quit smoking
- Treat reflux and gastritis as prescribed by a doctor