Aerophagia is one of the benign functional digestive disorders, which nevertheless proves to be embarrassing on a daily basis. If accompanied by heartburn or diarrhea, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
What to do against aerophagia? What are the symptoms and how to relieve them? Answers from Dr Florent Sancini, general practitioner in Aix-en-Provence.
Literally, aerophagia means “swallow air”. It is a normal physiological process. Every day while eating or talking we swallow air. Moreover, “the majority of the air in our tube comes from digestion. Our intestine produces 5 to 6L of air per day“, says Dr. Florent Sancini. The aerophagia crisis thus corresponds to excessive absorption of air in the digestive system, particularly at mealtimes.
Aerophagia is manifested by a sensation of stomach heaviness and discomfort to digestion and above all, belching untimely (burping), the most distinctive symptom, which relieves the feeling of discomfort in digestion. It can be accompanied by flatulence. It should be noted that the symptoms of aerophagia are sometimes close to the manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux.
Aerophagia, or this overproduction of gas may be increased by the consumption of soft drinks, chewing gum or certain foods. The vast majority of the air produced by our bowels or swallowed during the meal will be absorbed by the intestine. And to evacuate the air present in excess, the body has also set up an ungraceful, but effective process: burping. In addition, bad habits during meals (eating standing up, eating without chewing or talking, taking meals in a stressful environment, etc.) can also promote aerophagia and this feeling of heaviness in the stomach.
Aerophagia is a physiological process that can cause temporary digestive discomfort and burping, harmless disorders. On the other hand, when they are accompanied by heartburn, pain that rises in the chest, diarrhea or abdominal spasms, it is need to see a doctor. “These symptoms may indicate colonization of the stomach by bacteria, be the manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease or digestive cancer.“, explains Dr. Florent Sancini.
No treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing the manufacture or ingestion of air in the digestive tract. However, you can go to the natural solutions : indeed, some herbal infusions, green clay or activated charcoal can relieve digestive discomfort. Your pharmacist can advise you on this. But to alleviate the problem in the long term, it is better to look at your lifestyle and diet:
► Avoid stress: above all, aerophagia (the fact of swallowing too much air) is very often a consequence of stress. It is therefore essential to try to identify the cause of this stress and to eradicate it. Easier said than done, of course, but it will save you from inopportune crises, which are likely to increase nervousness… Herbal relaxants (hawthorn, valerian…) can possibly help you reduce your nervousness
► Eat slowly, remembering to chew. Here are two principles that should already greatly reduce this (justified) feeling of bloating. We too often tend to eat while doing something else, especially during shortened lunch breaks or in front of the computer. If you swallow food too quickly, you let in too much air and you chew badly. Very bad for the stomach: in addition to the aerophagia, you ask him a little much side digestion… And he may let you know, in particular by a burning sensation. Moreover, it is better to eat sitting down, without moving too much: in fact, getting up, making gestures, etc., can accentuate the presence of air in the stomach.
► Avoid talking while eating. Not only is it not particularly polished, but it also makes you swallow a lot more air than your stomach can handle. Moreover, eating with your mouth closed is the best solution to avoid the entry of air.
► Ban soft drinks and chewing gum. As their name suggests, they are full of small gaseous bubbles. Immediately after absorption, sensations of heaviness and dilated belly guaranteed… Prefer plain water, but ideally to be drunk outside of meals Moreover, chewing gum promotes chewing… By chewing, saliva is produced. When you swallow it down, air follows the same path.
► Tobacco, alcohol and coffee, excitingare sometimes cited as aggravating factors of aerophagia.
► If you feel the crisis coming: lie on your stomach, warm, pressing on the stomach (located on the left, under the last rib). This should stop the phenomenon.
Thanks to Dr Florent Sancini, general practitioner in Aix-en-Provence.