By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

HUSBAND’S BURPING IS PROBABLY DUE TO SWALLOWING TOO MUCH AIR

Question: My husband burps all the time. He has acid reflux and takes medicine for that, but he still burps all the time. He has had X-rays, a barium swallow, an endoscope, an ultrasound exam, and they say he is swallowing air. It is driving us both nuts. Do you have any suggestions on how to stop this? He doesn’t drink sodas. He drinks a lot of water but nothing seems to help. Do you have any tricks up your sleeve?

Answer: While it is reassuring to know that there is nothing medically wrong with your husband, I understand that constant burping can be annoying for the “burper” and the listener. Air swallowing is the primary cause of burping, and it can be a difficult habit to change. People normally swallow about two and half quarts of air daily. This is why everyone burps some. People that are chronic air swallowers, swallow much more air. Avoiding sodas is good, but there are several other things that can contribute to excessive air swallowing.

Gum chewing, sucking on hard candy, smoking cigarettes or cigars, drinking through a straw and drinking from bottles can all lead to air swallowing. You are also more prone to swallow air if you have poorly fitting dentures. This is because your mouth produces excessive amounts of saliva in response to the poorly fitting dentures, which in turn, causes you to swallow more, even when you are not eating or drinking anything.

Eating too fast is another way some people ingest too much air into their stomachs. This is because fast eating usually involves swallowing more and chewing less. Since it’s normal to swallow some air with every swallow, the increased number of swallows means the total amount of air you take in is increased.

In some people, excessive air swallowing is not due to what they eat, how fast they eat, how their dentures fit, or any other similar factor. Instead, these people just have a nervous habit of excessive air swallowing, which we doctors have given the fancy name of “aerophagia.”

Burping can also be caused by gas production in the digestive tract. This is because some foods cause excessive gas production in certain people, but this usually leads to intestinal gas -- not stomach gas. However, if you know a certain food -- like cabbage or broccoli -- causes increased burping, you should avoid it. Usually protein and fats cause little gas. It is mostly fruits and vegetables, carbohydrate foods, that cause gas.

So, my recommendations for your husband are to first work on swallowing less air. Then, he might consider using an over-the-counter medication that contains simethicone, which helps to break up gas bubbles in the stomach. This medication is used after meals and as needed for gas. While it can be effective, let me repeat that the primary treatment for most people is to stop swallowing air.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.