What are burps?
Monday 17 July 2017
When you were a baby, your parents gave a cheer every time you did one. Now that you’re grown up, you might try to politely cover your mouth, or wait for the best comic timing to let one rip. Burps are a part of everyday life, but what are they? And should you ever be worried about your burps?
What are burps?
The technical name for burping is eructation. Eructation occurs when gas moves from the stomach, up the oesophagus and out the mouth.
Often, this gas comes from the air around you, which you swallow when you eat or drink. When extra gas gets into your stomach, your body forces it back out in a burp. This can happen more if you eat or drink very quickly, or talk a lot while you are eating. Carbonated (fizzy) drinks can also increase burping, because you swallow the carbon dioxide in the bubbles.
You might have noticed that certain foods cause your gas production to spike. Often foods that are high in fibre, starch or sugars can cause gassiness, like beans, lentils, bananas, broccoli or cabbage. If you’ve noticed a particular food group is giving you a lot of digestion difficulties, like dairy, make a note of when this happens and tell your doctor or dietitian.
Other burp causing culprits can include drinking from a straw, chewing gum, smoking or wearing dentures that don’t fit well.
Should I be worried about my burps?
Burping is pretty normal, but if you’ve found that your burping habits have suddenly changed, for example they’ve become more frequent or smelly, and you’re concerned about it, consult your GP.
Excess gas in your stomach can point to different medical issues, with conditions as wide ranging as gastroesophageal reflux disease and stomach ulcers to depression and anxiety possibly causing more frequent burps. You should seek medical attention if you’ve noticed other symptoms, such as stomach pain, excess bloating, diarrhoea, blood in your vomit or poo, or sudden weight loss.
