You may burp after having a soda, or upon eating a meal in under five minutes, or just out of the blue. But if you feel like you have belching episodes frequently, or simply more than other people you know, you may wonder, Why do I burp so much?
As it turns out, there are a plethora of possible answers to explain why you burp so much. Niket Sonpal, MD, a New York City-based internist and gastroenterologist, says swallowing excess air is a main reason for burps. “This air accumulates in the esophagus and rarely makes it to the stomach,” he says, which can lead to burping. He adds, though, that “the causes of burping can be multifold, such as talking while eating, drinking bubbly drinks, eating too fast, chewing gum, smoking, or sucking on a hard candy.”
“The causes of burping can be multifold, such as talking while eating, drinking bubbly drinks, eating too fast, chewing gum, smoking, or sucking on a hard candy.” —Niket Sonpal, MD
Additionally, excessive burping may be related to an underlying health concern, like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a form of acid reflux, or general trouble with digestion, which can leave you with shortness of breath and—you guessed it—burping a lot after eating a meal. GERD, marked by stomach acid flowing backward up into the esophagus and throat, can lead to especially painful burping as well as create a less-than-savory taste in your mouth that may linger.
