BELCHING can be very embarrassing, but luckily, it is rarely a sign of anything serious.
While sometimes the smell can be disgusting, other days it’s barely noticeable – a mere rift in the wind.
When belching affects a person’s quality of life, it could be a sign of something serious.
The smell, frequency and taste can vary based on your diet and overall health.
And as the festive season approaches, the treats and larger meals you indulge in might also lead your body to play up.
According to the Mayo Clinic, belching, commonly known as burping is our body’s way of expelling excess air from the upper digestive tract.
It’s perfectly normal to burp up to 30 times a day, a 2020 study published in Springer says – which, at first glance, seems like a lot.
Naturally, the frequency of burps ranges from person to person, depending on their diet or what medicine they take.
But when belching affects a person’s quality of life or interferes with their daily activities, it could be a sign of something more serious.
1. Burping and feeling bloating
Sign of: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or ulcers
If you’re burping alongside other GI symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhoea, it could be irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
One small Korean study published in 2017, found that repetitive belching is a symptom of the condition, although doctors don’t know the exact reason for this.
The NHS estimates that one in eight people in the UK have some degree of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – although many won’t have been formally diagnosed.
It is more common among women, who are twice as likely to suffer from the condition.
It can be debilitating and requires a lifelong commitment to routine habits, which can take months or even years for an individual to figure out.
If you think you could have IBS, the NHS recommends you visit your GP.
They can check for IBS and do some tests to rule out other problems.
Alternatively, heartburn, bloating, nausea and burping can indicate a stomach ulcer, also known as a gastric ulcer.
The most common symptom of a stomach ulcer is a burning or gnawing pain in the centre of the tummy, the NHS says.
They happen when there’s damage to the layer that protects the stomach lining from the acids in your stomach.
Infections and anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen can trigger the condition.
If not treated, the stomach lining can sometimes slip open or block food movement through the digestive system, which can be life-threatening.
You should visit your GP if you think you may have a stomach ulcer, especially if you have a sudden, sharp pain in your tummy that gets steadily worse.
And call 999 if you start to vomit blood.
2. Burping and heartburn
Sign of: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
Not much beats the thrill of indulging in a heart Christmas roast.
But for some of us, this happy bubble quickly bursts when we have a sudden attack of painful heartburn.
Heartburn is extremely common, affecting up to one in every four British adults, according to charity Guts UK.
It’s typically a symptom of a condition known as acid reflux – which happens when stomach acid travels up to your throat.
Sometimes, it can also leave you a bit burpy at the same time.
If this keeps happening or becomes very painful, it can signify gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
With GERD, the backflow of stomach acid occurs chronically and causes damage to the body over time.
If not treated, it may lead to Barrett’s oesophagus, a type of cancer, the Mayo Clinic says.
Also known as cancer of the food pipe, oesophageal cancer is diagnosed around 9,200 times and is the cause of 7,900 deaths every year in the UK.
3. Burping a lot
Sign of: Cancer
Burping excessively can be a sign of certain types of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, such as stomach, pancreatic, or oesophageal cancer.
This happens when the tumour blocks a person’s digestive tract, meaning gas builds up in the stomach.
It is important to note that excessive burping alone is not usually a cancer symptom.
It’s more likely to indicate cancer if the sufferer is experiencing unexplained weight loss, fevers and bleeding alongside the burping, says Cancer Research UK.
Don’t delay seeing a GP if you have signs and symptoms of cancer.
4. Smelly burps
Sign of: H pylori or diet
Burps that smell like rotten eggs are usually harmless despite the discerning scent.
According to the NHS, infrequent sulfur burps may result from something you ate, especially if you’ve just eaten foods high in sulfur, like eggs.
Frequent sulfur burps, though, could be a sign of infection in the digestive system caused by h. pylori bacteria.
If you have this bug you will likely experience other symptoms such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, according to the Mayo Clinic.
H. pylori infection may be present in more than half the people in the world.
Most people don’t realize they have H. pylori infection because they never get sick.
If you develop symptoms, your doctor will suggest you get tested.
It can be treated with antibiotics.
If left untreated, the bug can sometimes lead to ulcers or stomach cancer, the NHS says.
Certain foods and drinks can also cause burps to smell a bit off.
Fizzy drinks, like Coke or beer, make you more gassy by increasing the air in your stomach.
Certain vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, and cauliflower, cause excess gas.
That’s because veg contains lots of fiber, fermented by bacteria in the colon, producing gas in the process.
However, these foods are very healthy, so you may want to talk with your doctor before eliminating them.