Burping

Burping (also called belching and eructation) is the release of gas from the upper digestive tract (esophagus and stomach) of animals through the mouth. It is always audible.

In humans, burping can be caused by normal eating processes, or as a side effect of other medical conditions. There is a range of levels of social acceptance for burping: within certain contexts and cultures, burping is acceptable and may even be perceived as humorous, while in others it is seen as impolite or even offensive and therefore unacceptable.

Humans are not the only animals that burp: it is very common among other mammals. In particular, burping by domesticated ruminants, such as cows or sheep, is a major contributor of

• Burping is usually caused by swallowing air when eating or drinking and subsequently expelling it, in which the expelled gas is mainly a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen.^[2]
• Burps can be caused by drinking beverages that contain dissolved carbon dioxide, such as beer and carbonated drinks; in these cases, the expelled gas is mainly carbon dioxide.
• Burping can be caused by swallowing air while consuming chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, talking while eating or drinking, or while smoking. It may also occur through swallowing air as a habit.^[3]
• Diabetes drugs such as metformin^[4] and exenatide^[5]
  can cause burping, especially at higher doses. This often resolves in a few weeks.
• Burping combined with other symptoms such as
  ulcer or hiatal hernia, and should be reviewed by a physician.^[6]
• Other causes of burping include
  H. pylori, acid reflux disease^[7] and gastritis.^[8]

• Chest pain associated with burping can occur, but is rare.[10]
• botox after a single injection. If the injection is unsuccessful, an alternative is partial cricopharyngeal myotomy.^[17]

In Japan, burping during a meal is considered bad manners.^[19] Burping during a meal is also considered unacceptable in Western cultures, such as North America and Europe.^[18]

Despite virtually no scientific research on the subject, small online communities exist for burping as a

Babies are likely to accumulate gas in the stomach while feeding and experience considerable discomfort (and agitation) until assisted. Burping an infant involves placing the child in a position conducive to gas expulsion (for example against the adult's shoulder, with the infant's stomach resting on the adult's chest) and then lightly patting the lower back. Because burping can cause vomiting, a "burp cloth" or "burp pad" is sometimes employed on the shoulder to protect clothing.^[23]

The

It is possible to voluntarily induce burping through swallowing air and then expelling it, and by manipulation of the vocal tract produce burped speech.

While this is often employed as a means of entertainment or competition, it can also act as an alternative means of vocalisation for people who have undergone a laryngectomy, with the burp replacing laryngeal phonation. This is known as esophageal speech.

Many other

• Flatulence
• Hiccup
• Penelope and the Humongous Burp