NHS GP Dr Amir Khan has shared a 'simple' remedy for indigestion and burping. Dr Khan, known for his appearances on ITV morning shows, offered advice during a recent slot on Lorraine for people who cannot stop burping.
Advice for callers struggling with indigestion
Dr Khan responded to a caller who said they had been taking medication for indigestion and felt embarrassed about burping. The doctor explained that a breathing exercise could help minimise the problem. However, he first stressed the importance of seeing a GP if someone experiences new indigestion.
He explained: "So the general rule of thumb: in new indigestion, in anyone over the age of 55, that can't be explained, needs investigating things like gastric cancer or food pipe, oesophageal cancer." In many cases, the issue might be caused by something called supergastric belching.
What is supergastric belching?
The GP said: "Now, if you're getting regular burping, despite everything, and you've had all your investigations, actually, this could be a habit that your body's made of itself without you knowing about it. We call it supergastric belching, and the body naturally takes in air into the top of the food pipe, and then lets it out as gas."
Dr Khan added: "You don't know you're doing it, but it happens all the time. We can fix this with a simple breathing exercise. It's called diaphragmatic breathing. I'm gonna demonstrate it here."
How to perform the breathing exercise
Dr Khan demonstrated the technique: "Lie down on the floor or the sofa. Put one hand on your chest, one on your belly, like that. Breathe in through your nose. You want your belly to rise and your chest to lay still. And then out through pursed lips."
He explained that gentle breathing retrains the muscle under the ribs, called the diaphragm. He advised: "You do that, three or four times a day, for four or five minutes at a time, over the course of four weeks, your body will learn, actually, rather than belching, we're gonna breathe."
The doctor concluded: "And when you get the sensation to belch, try practising that as well. You've got to retrain things here. So four weeks, three or four times a day, it will solve this."
Can indigestion cause burping?
Indigestion often leads to burping. When you have indigestion (also known as dyspepsia), gas and extra air can get trapped in your upper digestive system. Burping is how your body naturally gets rid of this air to ease pressure and discomfort. In addition to burping, indigestion can also cause other symptoms such as bloating, nausea, and a sensation of being uncomfortably full after meals.
The NHS said: "Most people have indigestion (dyspepsia) at some point. Usually, it's not a sign of anything more serious and you can treat it yourself."
