A sudden increase in burping can be both uncomfortable and concerning, especially when it begins happening dozens of times a day.
That was the experience of one writer, who noticed they were belching between 30 and 40 times daily and turned to medical experts to find out whether such frequent burping was normal or a sign of something more serious.
From everyday habits such as drinking fizzy beverages and eating too quickly to more significant conditions including ulcers, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and, in rare instances, cancer, gastroenterologists say excessive belching can have a wide range of causes.
What Doctors Say About Normal Burping Frequency
“Burping is normal,” Dr Samantha Nazareth, a board-certified gastroenterologist and chief medical officer at metaME in New York City, reassured me. “It’s air moving up from the food pipe (esophagus) or the stomach.”
Medical specialists note that there is no universal number that defines a “normal” amount of burping. What may seem excessive for one person might be entirely routine for another.
“It is difficult to give a ‘normal’ cutoff,” shared Dr Rabia de Latour, a double board-certified gastroenterologist and therapeutic endoscopist in New York City. “Some people burp infrequently, some burp 10-20 times a day, some only burp a few times after eating or drinking and some people can voluntarily produce a burp.”
Research published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in 2020 found that people who burped more than 13 times a day were more likely to have an underlying gastrointestinal problem. By comparison, healthy individuals averaged about two episodes per day.
“In general, we consider abnormal burping when it disrupts your daily activities or quality of life or occurs with any other symptoms like trouble swallowing or nausea or bloating,” explained Dr Elena Ivanina, a triple board-certified integrative gastroenterologist and functional medicine doctor.
Common Lifestyle Habits That Trigger Excessive Belching
Burping more than 13 times a day does not automatically indicate a health problem. In many cases, it is linked to simple habits that cause people to swallow more air than usual.
Eating too quickly, talking while eating, chewing gum, smoking, sucking hard sweets and drinking through a straw are all common triggers.
“It can be purely behavioural,” de Latour said, noting that these habits can lead to more air entering the digestive tract, and eventually, more belching.
Food and drink choices can also play a significant role. Carbonated beverages release gas that must escape somehow, while certain foods are more likely to ferment in the gut.
[Try These Essential Dietary Adjustments To Prevent Constipation]
“Dietary factors often include increased carbonated beverages, chewing gum, sucking on candies, drinking through straws, high-fat or fried foods or food high in fermentable carbohydrates like lactose (dairy),” Ivanina explained.
Stress and body posture may also contribute. Anxiety can increase unconscious air swallowing, while lying down or slouching after meals may trap gas.
“Stress/anxiety can contribute to this,” Nazareth noted. “Slouching or lying down after eating can trap gas.”
Warning Signs That Excessive Burping Could Signal A Health Problem
If lifestyle changes do not reduce the problem, doctors advise paying attention to other symptoms that accompany frequent burping.
De Latour says symptoms to monitor include bloating, abdominal pain, acid reflux, unintentional weight loss, heartburn, diarrhoea, blood in stool or vomit, vomiting, loss of appetite, chest pain, iron-deficiency anaemia and early satiety, which is feeling full sooner than expected.
“It becomes problematic when it is bothering the patient, either because it is too frequent, uncontrollable, or causing feelings of embarrassment due to any of the above or odour,” de Latour said.
Even one or two new or persistent symptoms should prompt a discussion with a healthcare professional.
Expert Tips To Reduce Frequent Burping Naturally
In most cases, excessive belching can be improved with straightforward lifestyle adjustments.
Doctors recommend slowing down during meals, chewing food thoroughly and avoiding distractions while eating.
Reducing fizzy drinks, chewing gum, hard sweets and straws can help limit the amount of swallowed air.
Managing stress may also make a difference, particularly for people who unconsciously swallow air when anxious.
Finally, reviewing your diet can be useful. Foods such as onions, garlic, beans, and cruciferous vegetables are known to produce more gas in the digestive tract.
