Eructation

Eructation or colloquial too Burp (Röbsen, Röpsen, Burpsen, Rölbsen, Latin Ructus, English eructation) refers to the drawing up of air from the digestive tract or the respiratory organs. Mainly the height of the esophagus and the stomach are used as the source of the belching. The air then finally escapes through the mouth and is usually accompanied by a noise with the typical sound of burping or burping.

What is belching?

Belching is the escape of air from the stomach and is caused by a disruption of the occlusion between the esophagus and stomach. Heartburn often sets in with the onset of belching.

Belching or burping is a completely natural process. When the stomach belches, air escapes from the stomach, making its way noisily upwards. Belching is considered extremely gross in our society today and is seen as an expression of poor upbringing. But that was not always so. In the Middle Ages, belching was a sign that you were full and that the food was tasty.

Belching is now considered socially acceptable only in babies. After drinking, the baby is encouraged to make its "pawn". This is nothing more than belching, the escape of the air swallowed while drinking.

causes

Usually the belching is caused by fast drinking or eating. Air is accidentally or intentionally swallowed. But burps can also be triggered by drinks containing gas. Especially with mineral water, sparkling wine or beer. Here the rising gas is carbon dioxide. In rare cases, gastroesophageal reflux can also be the cause of the belching.

Other causes for the development of gas in the stomach and subsequent belching can be too much and too hasty eating or even flatulent foods such as legumes, which produce gases in the stomach. Carbonated drinks and stress are also triggers for frequent belching.

The escape of air from the stomach, the belching, is a natural process, has health benefits and should therefore not be suppressed. It is better to let the air escape in a suitable place than to suppress the belching.

If the stomach is filled with too much air and inflated, it pushes the diaphragm upwards. As a result, he presses against the heart and heart palpitations can occur. Since the chest space is severely narrowed by the bloated stomach, this can also lead to breathing difficulties with shortness of breath and even dizziness.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for belching & heartburn

Diseases with this symptom

• Gallstones
• Achalasia

• Gastric mucosal inflammation (gastritis)
• Reflux esophagitis

• Duodenal ulcer
• Food- intolerance

Belching in babies

A lot of gas builds up during feeding, especially in babies. This gas is very uncomfortable for the toddler and frees itself from it with the so-called "pebble". It is beneficial for the child to be in a beneficial position, for example over the parents' shoulder or if the lower back is massaged in a stimulating manner.

It is not uncommon for babies to vomit smaller amounts of food when they belch, so a towel would be useful for cleaning.

Complications

Belching, especially acid regurgitation, can lead to a number of complications. Possible side effects include nausea, chest pain and severe scratching in the throat area, but sleeping and eating disorders can also be promoted by frequent belching. Furthermore, constant burping can lead to accidental ingestion of gastric juice. This also irritates the airways and makes them sensitive to symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. There is no high health risk here, but the burden for those affected is usually very high.

If heartburn occurs over a longer period of time, it can lead to inflammation of the esophagus and the pharynx and furthermore to esophageal cancer and similar diseases. The stomach acid changes the mucous membrane of the esophagus and thus also the structure of the cells, which can either lead to malignant changes such as cancer or inflammation. One of the most common complications of acid regurgitation is diaphragmatic hernia.

The achalasia is not triggered directly by the belching, but it can be massively promoted. People with previous illnesses are particularly at risk and should not delay treatment because of possible secondary illnesses. The first signs of complications with belching are bleeding, pain in the throat and inflammation of the mucous membrane, as well as ulcers, constrictions and severe swallowing disorders in the lungs and throat.

When should you go to the doctor?

The belching of air or gas is generally unproblematic as long as it does not occur in excess. A doctor should be consulted if the symptoms occur suddenly or intensely, accompanied by symptoms such as indigestion or pain in the trachea, or if there are accompanying difficulties in breathing.

The same applies if the blown air smells bad or is blown together with undigested food. A stool odor when belching indicates an intestinal obstruction and must be clarified by a doctor as soon as possible. Putrid smells are also a warning sign: there is often a malignant tumor that needs prompt treatment. If the symptoms are accompanied by stomach pain and a reduced appetite, a specialist should also be consulted, as there is a risk of gastric mucosal inflammation or a similar disease.

If heartburn is suspected, the symptoms can often be treated with the help of over-the-counter medicines, but a professional diagnosis should also be carried out to be on the safe side. If the medication does not have the desired effect or if the symptoms even increase, a visit to the gastroenterologist is necessary. Especially when it comes to swallowing difficulties, repeated vomiting and swelling in the abdomen. Severe and unintentional weight loss, black-colored stools and bloody vomiting are also warning signs that those affected should refrain from self-treatment and instead seek medical advice.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

With a few precautionary measures, you can reduce the gas formation in the stomach and thus the belching or burping. Rapid and hasty swallowing, for example, leads to excessive swallowing of air, while slow and deliberate eating and thorough chewing are optimal. If you talk a lot while eating, excessive air will also enter the stomach, which will later be expelled by belching. A change in diet and the avoidance of flatulent foods and carbonated drinks can also bring about an improvement.

Frequent belching can also be an indication of a serious illness or dysfunction of the stomach such as inflammation of the gastric mucosa or an infection of the stomach with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Sometimes food intolerances are also to blame for the excessive production of gas in the stomach and the subsequent belching. For example, many people are sensitive to milk and fructose, gluten or certain proteins.

Home remedies ↵ for belching Another possibility for frequent belching is a leaky upper gastric obstruction, which can be caused by certain diseases or medications. Frequent belching associated with heartburn can also be an indication of reflux disease, in which stomach acid and food particles rise up the esophagus. Frequent belching should be clarified by a doctor if possible. Treatment depends on the diagnosis (gastritis, diseases and bulges in the esophagus, malfunction of the upper gastric obstruction).

Outlook & forecast

A doctor does not necessarily have to be consulted in the event of belching. In many cases it occurs after eating or after drinking carbonated beverages and does not necessarily require treatment.

In many cases, the belching is accompanied by a burning sensation. This is the well-known heartburn. This disease can develop if the belching is not treated. The esophagus is permanently damaged by the stomach acid. This damage is irreversible. The belching can also occur as a result of certain medications, which is why the muscle in the stomach is not closed tightly. A change of medication is recommended here.

Without treatment, gastric mucosal inflammation can also occur and is a common cause of severe belching. If the belching is very strong and undigested food pulp gets into the mouth, a doctor must be consulted. A doctor must also be consulted urgently in the case of bad smells caused by belching. The treatment takes place with medication, in a few cases an operation is necessary. A gastroscopy is performed prior to treatment.

In most cases, the cause of the belching can be cured, so that the disease progresses positively.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for belching & heartburn

prevention

In the case of occasional belching, a cup of stomach-calming chamomile tea or healing clay, which is intended for internal use, helps. Caraway, anise, and fennel teas have the same beneficial effects. Exercise and frequent drinking also promote digestion and reduce gas formation in the stomach and intestines. Small meals distributed throughout the day make digestion easier for the stomach, prevent an unpleasant feeling of fullness and annoying belching.

Easily digestible foods are preferable to fatty and difficult to digest foods. If you have an irritable stomach, you should avoid caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods because they would unnecessarily irritate the gastric mucosa and hinder digestion. If the stomach reacts to stress with indigestion and belching, relaxation exercises such as yoga are helpful.

You can do that yourself

Belching is usually harmless and can often be alleviated by changing your eating habits. It is advisable to eat slowly and consciously and to chew each bite thoroughly. The digestive tract is also relieved by several, more regular meals that are taken in a calm, stress-free atmosphere. Food that is difficult to digest, such as raw vegetables, should be reduced until the symptoms have subsided.

After eating, an extended digestive walk helps to avoid the unpleasant burping. In the case of acid regurgitation, digestive sleep with an elevated upper body often brings the desired relief. In principle, irritants such as excessively fatty or sweet food, alcohol or nicotine, but also carbonated drinks should be avoided. Instead, puffing teas with fennel, chamomile, or caraway seeds help reduce burping.

To avoid belching at night, the last meal should be a maximum of three to four hours before going to bed. Avoiding stress can also reduce belching in many cases. If the belching persists or if there is acidic belching or even vomiting, the family doctor should be consulted for treatment.