We all know that if you eat too much food, eat too quickly, or drink too many carbonated drinks, you'll end up burping to clear out the excess air in your stomach.
Some people, particularly women, like to pretend they never burp. Let's face it: we all belch from time to time.
Sure, it's kind of gross, but it's totally natural.
And just like other bodily functions (including farting, peeing, and pooping), it's nothing to be embarrassed about.
That being said, there are certain times we should pay extra attention to our burps. Yes, that's right — instead of just ignoring your burps and trying to pretend they didn't happen, you should actually listen to them more closely!
As it turns out, they might be trying to tell you something seriously important about your health.
Keep reading to find out more about some of the alarming red flags from your burps!
Thumbnail Photo: Pexels
Why Do We Burp?
According to the Mayo Clinic, "Belching, or burping, is your body's way of expelling excess air from your upper digestive tract."
Most of us swallow that excess air when we drink or eat too fast, chew gum, drink carbonated beverages, smoke, or talk while eating.
Most Common Cause Of Burping
Burping isn't usually something to worry about, since it just resolves itself naturally.
The Mayo Clinic explains,"This air most often never even reaches the stomach but accumulates in the esophagus."
Still, there are warning signs that everyone should look out for with belching.
Burping Red Flags Red Flag #1: Chronic Belching
If you experience chronic belching, it may be linked to something more serious than just extra air.
It could actually be related to gastritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach lining.
Gastritis sufferers will also experience symptoms like abdominal pain and heartburn.
Red Flag #2: Burping Accompanied By Heartburn
If you have a significant amount of burping as well as persistent heartburn, it could mean you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD is more serious than regular heartburn, and you may end up with stomach acid in your esophagus, throat, and mouth.
Red Flag #3: Burping Accompanied By Difficulty Swallowing
When burping is accompanied by difficulty swallowing, it mostly likely means that there may be a blockage in your esophagus that you or a doctor need to extract.
Red Flag #4: Burping Accompanied By Vomiting
People tend to get concerned with any vomiting at all, but if it's combined with a lot of burping, it could be a sign of a hiatal (stomach) hernia, acid reflux, gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying), or a stomach ulcer.
Red Flag #5: Burping Accompanied By Unexplained Weight Loss/Loss Of Appetite
When your burping is combined with unexplained or unintended weight loss, it's actually pretty alarming.
While it could just be a sign of inflammation, it could also mean you're suffering from an infection, ulcers, cancer, or severe depression.
Red Flag #6: Burping Accompanied By Constipation Or Diarrhea
Everyone gets constipated from time to time, just like we all get the runs once in a while.
However, if you're experiencing diarrhea or constipation along with burping, it might be a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.
Red Flag #7: Burping Accompanied By Severe Bloating
If your bloating is so severe that it makes your stomach swell, it might be something a little more serious.
Abdominal distention and belching could be signs of allergies or intolerances, partial bowel blockages, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, or other conditions.
What To Do If You Experience Excessive Burping
If you think your burping has gotten out of hand or you experience the red flags above, talk to your doctor about getting tested and treated.
Please SHARE this article with your friends to raise awareness about the more serious conditions associated with burping!
