Bringing Forth Stomach Wind: What’s Normal

Belching after a large meal is a physiologically normal, indeed a necessary venting of air from the stomach. In some countries, nothing says thanks for the great meal like a resounding belch. And, says the IFFGD, belching even has comic associations as with Sir Toby Belch in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.


By the way, Co-worker G just informed that she was, “Sir Toby Belch” for a high school play—years later. And given her current situation---how truly apropos.

When You Should Worry About Belching

Some people are plagued by sudden attacks of belching, which is intrusive and embarrassing. IFFGD says these folks are often convinced that the gas or air that is belched comes from the stomach---indicating an underlying gas-producing condition. But folks, that’s rarely the case.

What is it then?

All available evidence points to swallowed air as the source of the stomach gas and the perceived need to “bring it up.” (Source: IFFGD)

And there’s a word for this process of “bringing it up”: Aerophagia

Sure, air swallowing is normal. Did you know that newborns have no gas in their intestines until they take their first breath? Then the air shows up progressively down in the gut. It’s normal for the esophagus to contain some swallowed air. But if you have a disorder called achalasia, where the valve at the lower end of the esophagus (gullet) can’t relax, your stomach contains no gas at all. (Source: IFFGD)

Here's what happens when you swallow air:

1. When you inhale, the pressure in the esophagus (gullet) falls, drawing in air.

2. Deliberate inhalation against a willfully closed windpipe draws even more air into the esophagus. This air can be forced out again as pressure within the esophagus increases with exhalation. (Remember grossing out (or amusing) your family and friends with those “forced” rather baritone burps?—yep, this is how you did it!)

However, this action is beneficial to those who have lost their larynx (voice box) because of cancer: this learnable skill allows these people to generate esophageal speech. I think this is quite interesting! (Source: IFFGD)



Your welcome.

Love,
Toby