If you have difficulty burping and experience bloating, you can try eating, drinking, and moving around to help you burp.

Some people may find it difficult to burp, which can cause pain and discomfort. Being unable to burp can often result from eating too fast or swallowing air. However, it can also be the result of certain medical conditions like Retrograde Cricopharyngeal Dysfunction (R-CPD).

Burping is one of the simplest and fastest ways to relieve bloating, especially when it’s concentrated in the stomach

Here are some tips to help you burp.

1. Build up gas pressure in your stomach by drinking

Drinking a carbonated beverage such as sparkling water or soda quickly can help trigger gas, making it easier to burp. Drinking it through a straw quickly will increase the amount of pressure even more.

If you don’t have a carbonated beverage, you can trigger the same effect by drinking water from the opposite side of the glass:

  1. bend over as if you are drinking from a water fountain and place your lips on the side of the glass opposite you
  2. tilt the glass so the water slowly goes into your mouth
  3. take small sips, swallowing often

2. Build up gas pressure in your stomach by eating

Certain foods can help build up more gas pressure in your stomach. Foods that may cause increased gas pressure in the stomach include:

3. Move air out of your body by moving your body

You can force gas out of your body by exercising. This can include walking, jogging, or doing light aerobics.

The following exercise may also help:

  1. Lie on your stomach, then curl your knees in toward your chest, stretching your arms forward as far as they will go, and then arch your back. Repeat while keeping your head level with your throat.
  2. Lie down and quickly get up, repeating as necessary.
  3. Make your abdominal muscles tight when you feel a burp coming to maximize how much air escapes.

4. Change the way you breathe

Breathing while sitting straight up can help increase the chances of a burp.

Try getting air into your throat by sucking in air through your mouth until you feel an air bubble in your throat, and then blocking the front of your mouth with your tongue so you can release the air slowly. This should trigger a burp.

5. Take antacids

Antacids containing calcium carbonate can create excess gas that can relieve heartburn. They can also trigger burping as a side effect.

Burping is a great way to relieve the discomfort of gas and bloating in the short term, but it’s important to focus on long-term ways to reduce gas and bloating. Here are some tips:

Avoid the foods that give you gas

Foods that give most people gas and bloating are high in fiber or fat. Dairy foods also tend to cause a lot of gas. Some examples of foods associated with bloating include:

  • beans
  • peas
  • lentils
  • cabbage
  • onions
  • broccoli
  • cauliflower
  • milk
  • whole-wheat bread
  • mushrooms
  • beer and carbonated drinks

Fatty foods, such as hamburgers or cheese, can cause gas by slowing down digestion.

Eat slowly

Eating quickly can lead to a buildup of gas in the digestive system. Focus on relaxing during meals. Eating while you’re stressed or on the go can interfere with your digestion.

Get light exercise after eating

Doing some light exercise after eating, like going for a walk or easy bike ride, can aid in digestion, reducing gas.

Try an over-the-counter gas remedy:

  • If you find dairy products are causing your gas, you might want to try products that help digest lactose, the sugar in dairy that many people find hard to digest.
  • Products that contain simethicone can help break up gas bubbles in some people.

A small number of people experience a rare medical condition called retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD), or “no-burp syndrome.” In R-CPD, the cricopharyngeus muscle in the upper esophagus is unable to relax and allow gas to escape.

R-CPD is treated by direct injections of botulinum toxin in the affected area, which relaxes the muscle and allows people to belch and relieve the pressure.

If you notice that your gas and bloating symptoms don’t resolve after adopting long-term gas relief habits, you should speak with a doctor. It’s especially important to speak with a doctor if your gas is accompanied by:

  • long-term or severe abdominal pain
  • blood in your stool
  • changes in the color or frequency of your stools
  • unintended weight loss
  • chest pain
  • persistent or recurrent nausea or vomiting

These can be signs of a digestive disorder. Proper treatment can help relieve your discomfort and get you healthy.

Gas and bloating are conditions that typically resolve on their own over time. Burping can provide short-term relief, while focusing on long-term remedies can help keep gas at bay.

If you have difficulty burping and experience bloating, you can try eating, drinking, and moving around to help you burp.