Exercising can lead to phenomena such as burping. While this might be a bit unsettling to experience, understanding the biological processes behind it would help you realize that it's pretty normal and not necessarily indicative of any severe medical condition.
As you engage in physical activities like running, your body naturally adjusts blood flow from the stomach leading to an inhibition on digestion. During these moments, there's usually a surge in hormone production intended specifically for accelerating food movement through the intestinal tract faster than its regular pace - which incidentally results in the creation of gas. Moreover, your stomach gets jostled during exercises causing yet more gas production resulting ultimately to burping.
Read further if you're among those who wonder "Why do I belch when I run?"
1. Excessive Inhaling of Air
The American Lung Association explains that breathing can occur through either your nose or mouth. Mouth breathing is prevalent during physical activities such as exercise, which also result in the common instance of swallowing air - a phenomenon known in science as aerophagia.
Swallowing air while engaging in strenuous activities like running is not out of the ordinary. An even more frequent occurrence, according to the Mayo Clinic, is ingesting air while consuming liquids. For a significant number of individuals, there's almost an equal amount of water and air entering their stomachs when they drink while working out; this combination forms a conducive environment for belching.
Hasty and irregular breaths can lead to excessive inhalation of air too. It typically occurs if you exert yourself excessively leading to uneven breathing patterns.
2. Some Foods Are Hard To Digest For Your Body
Running-induced burping can often be attributed to the types of food you consume, as this stands as a significant factor. Certain components in foods such as gluten present in grains or sugar found in dairy products and fruits may not easily break down within your digestive system, according to Mayo Clinic. This undigested matter creates gas that has the possibility of being exhaled via belching particularly during intense physical exertion.
In addition to these, high-fiber foods like beans along with fructose and sucrose - sugars commonly found in candies and carbonated beverages - are other potential culprits contributing to excessive bouts of belching while engaged in physical exercise.
3. GERD or Silent Acid Reflux Could Be The Reason
There are a couple of medical circumstances that might explain your burping during exercise: GERD and silent acid reflux. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD is what happens when the muscle at the base of your esophagus fails to close properly, allowing stomach content to re-enter your esophagus as per Mayo Clinic.
Silent acid reflux also goes by laryngopharyngeal reflux - it's when stomach acids make their way back up into both your throat and larynx (UT Southwestern Medical Center explains this further). It's often known as "silent" because you aren't likely to feel symptoms in your chest area.
When you run shortly after eating, there's a possibility that acid will be forced back up through your throat. Both aforementioned conditions may lead to increased swallowing which could consequently result in excess burping according to info provided by Mayo Clinic on gas related discomforts.
Caution!
Should you find that burping remains persistent during or after exercise even after attempting to correct it with the previously mentioned methods, or notice additional problems like abdominal discomfort, bloody stools, heartburn, acid reflux or bloating while not in motion, we recommend seeking professional medical advice.
This persistent burping and added symptoms could signify a digestive issue according to experts at Cleveland Clinic. In many situations lifestyle modifications might be beneficial. However there are also instances where medications or surgical interventions may be required.
