8 reasons you are burping too much

You'd be surprised to know that in some cultures, burping loudly after a meal is considered as a sign of appreciation for good food. But under normal circumstances, letting out a loud burp in a public setting is plain embarrassing. Well, if it is a rare occurrence in your case, you try to deflect the unwanted attention by squeezing in an 'excuse me'. However, if you are a serial burper, it's time for you to know that it's much more than social awkwardness. It could indicate an issue with your internal system...

Normally, burp is a noisy release of air from stomach or esophagus through mouth, which is caused due to excess swallowing of air.

ACID REFLUX OR STOMACH ULCERS: Excessive belching (another name for burping) can be a sign of acid reflux (GERD) or stomach ulcers. This can also lead to burning sensation in the chest. Eating large meals, obesity and eating spicy foods could be responsible for stomach ulcers or acid reflux, which can lead to excessive burping.

PRE-CANCEROUS CHANGES: This could be a serious issue. A chronic acid exposure in esophagus can be a symptom of pre-cancerous change and one must get it cured as soon as possible.

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: IBS, also referred to as irritable colon affects large intestine and in rare cases, might cause intestinal damage. A person suffering from IBS might also experience excessive belching.

HIATAL HERNIA: This is a condition which develops when the upper part of stomach bulges up through the diaphragm (a large muscle between abdomen and chest), into the chest. Though the exact reason of hiatal hernia is not known, constant burping could indicate this condition.

PHYSIOLOGICAL CAUSES: Your lifestyle and foods that you eat can cause belching. Certain types of foods such as cabbage, cauliflower, carbonated beverages, broccoli, and beans are responsible for flatulence and belching. But when it is related to persistent burping, it is mostly caused due to the diseases that are related to gastrointestinal tract.

INTOLERANCE TO CERTAIN FOODS: When you are not able to digest certain types of food, you may experience excessive burping. The food nutrients stay in the gut, which produces gas.

BACTERIAL GROWTH IN SMALL INTESTINE: Bacterial overgrowth in small intestine can also cause constant burping. This condition affects duodenum (a part of the small intestine immediately below the stomach), which in turn, causes constant burping.