Digestive problems become more and more noticeable when you experience frequent stomach pain, bloating, and nausea. In addition, people often complain of excessive belching or burping, which is characterised by the release of air or gas from the stomach through the mouth. While occasional burping, especially after having a heavy meal, is common and harmless, too much belching can be a sign of serious health problems like cancer. Here’s what you need to know about the same.
Can Excessive Belching Be A Sign Of Cancer?
In general, belching is a reflex that helps release air from the stomach through the mouth, says Dr Amit Miglani, Director and HOD - Gastroenterology, Asian Hospital, Faridabad.
He tells the OnlyMyHealth team that factors such as chewing gum, smoking, drinking a lot of carbonated beverages, eating too quickly, and drinking too quickly can all contribute to belching.
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But in certain cases, excessive belching can indicate malignancy or cancer, especially if it coexists with other symptoms, the doctor warns. These include:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Appetite reduction
- Swallowing difficulties
- Feeling full fast, heartburn
- Feeling more exhausted than normal
As per the doctor, belching excessively and experiencing these symptoms may indicate various types of gastrointestinal cancer, such as:
- Oesophageal cancer
- Stomach (gastric) cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
Dr Miglani says, “These cancers can cause disruptions in the digestive process, which in turn can lead to increased gas production and belching. If excessive belching is persistent and unexplained, it’s important to seek medical evaluation.”
Other Factors That May Cause Frequent Belching
Belching, or burping, is mostly benign. The cause may vary from what you eat to an underlying medical condition. These could include:
- An infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
- Meganblase syndrome
- Acid reflux
- Gastritis
- Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Elaborating on the H. pylori bacteria, Dr Miglani says it occasionally targets the stomach lining, resulting in painful symptoms such as ulcers in the stomach or frequent belching.
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Another uncommon reason for excessive belching is aerophagia, which causes a person to swallow a lot of air after eating. Bloating, pain in the abdomen, and excessive belching to expel the air can all result from ingesting too much air, the doctor highlights.
When it comes to gastritis, many factors, including H. pylori infection or too much alcohol consumption, can contribute to it. When stomach acid refluxes up the oesophagus, it can cause excruciating discomfort, also called acid reflux, which can cause symptoms like heartburn.
Conclusion
If you experience excessive belching along with other concerning symptoms, it is advisable to speak with your healthcare practitioner. With proper tests and screenings, you can not only determine the cause of your condition but also rule out serious diseases like cancer. To avoid harmless and occasional belching, you can follow simple dietary habits like eating and drinking slowly, avoiding carbonated drinks, skipping chewing gum, not smoking, and indulging in regular physical activity. Most importantly, it is crucial to not jump to conclusions and consult your doctor for further information.