Belching is simply the release of gas from the digestive system, usually no deeper than the stomach. In most cases, the reason why this gas is in the stomach at all is that it was swallowed in the process of chewing food. Consumption of gassy drinks also typically causes belching, although this is, of course, an obvious cause, and never causes any worry. However, sometimes belching can be caused by a problem with the digestive system – for example, an ulcer. A hiatus hernia also commonly causes excessive belching.
If you suffer from excessive belching, it is therefore advisable to consult a doctor, especially if the belching is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, or indigestion. If your doctor finds no abnormality, then you can assume that you are simply swallowing a lot of air as you eat or drink. To fix this problem, you need to pay attention to the way you eat. It is quite likely that you eat too quickly, or that you tend to talk while eating. If you tend to gobble food, you are very likely to be gulping down air too. The same goes for talking with your mouth full. You should therefore chew your food slowly and thoroughly, and if you must talk, do so after you have swallowed a mouthful. Aerated and fizzy drinks should of course be avoided – although they are probably not the cause of the problem, they will certainly aggravate it. If you smoke, you have another factor that is contributing to your belching. In the process of smoking, you tend to swallow air and smoke, leading to belching a short while later. You thus have another reason to quit smoking, in addition to all the more dangerous health problems it causes.
If, on the other hand, your doctor detects a serious problem such as a hiatus hernia, an ulcer, or gastritis, you need to take the necessary measures to treat this problem. In the meanwhile, you can also try some home remedies to reduce the belching, but remember that unless the underlying problem is successfully treated, the belching will continue, and will probably worsen too. The two best home remedies for burping are ginger and yogurt. Try to eat at least a small amount of yogurt with every meal. After your meal, you can also prepare a tea with fresh ginger and drink it. Ginger can also simply be added to your food while cooking, and this method is often extremely effective.