Everything You Need To Know About Aerophagy
Aerophagia is a physiological phenomenon produced by excessive intake of air in the digestive tract, especially during meals. The term literally means “eating the air”. It’s a minor digestive disorder, but it involves discomfort.
It is usually responsible for the upper air outlet, commonly known as belching. Not to be confused with gastroesophageal reflux, which has similar symptoms.
What are the causes of aerophagia?
Aerophagy is usually the result of an inadequate diet. It is usually related to excessive consumption of carbonated and sugary drinks or certain foods, such as sweets, breadcrumbs or chewing gum (gum).
It can even have its origin in bad eating habits, such as eating too fast. This encourages the entry of a large amount of air into the digestive tract.
It can also occur due to anxiety issues such as stress. From a pathological perspective, it is common in people who do not properly coordinate swallowing and breathing functions. That often occurs in people with mental disorders.
What symptoms does it cause?
Aerophagia manifests as a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, a feeling of bloating and digestive problems. Belching, along with flatulence, is the way to relieve digestive discomfort.
The symptoms of aerophagia include:
- Abdominal distension: caused by gas pressure. Excess air causes the abdomen to become swollen. However, it can be confused with other symptoms.
- Abdominal pain : Sometimes the pain is transferred to the lower sternum when air is pressed into both the stomach and heart. Pain can be confused with the pain caused by angina in the chest.
- Bowel noises : there are conditions that produce the symptoms of aerophagia. This is the case of gases which, in addition, give rise to noises in the intestine.
- Eructation and odorless meteorism.
What is the diagnosis?
Diagnosis is determined when belching is repetitive and irritating, at least several times a week. In addition, the amount of air ingested is checked.
The key to the diagnosis is to rule out organic diseases, such as upper digestive tract diseases, malabsorption of carbohydrates, bacterial overgrowth and changes in motility, among others.
Can it be avoided?
To avoid aerophagia, it is advisable to maintain a proper diet, chew slowly and avoid certain foods that promote inflammation, such as soft drinks, sweets or chewing gum, among others.
If the swelling is due to stress, try to manage the anxiety with proper treatment, or reduce it with regular sport and relaxation. Aerophagia symptoms usually resolve spontaneously when the responsible causes of the disorder are treated.
Do you have treatment?
The treatment includes a variety of measures to take into account:
- Chew well and slowly: many people eat excessively, badly and quickly. This causes weight gain problems and also poor digestion. So, one of the things you should do to prevent and treat aerophagia is to eat and chew your food more slowly.
- Avoid copious meals : a healthy diet helps to avoid aerophagia. It is advisable not to eat copious, spicy meals or drink sodas.
- Relax: there are people who retain their nervousness in their stomachs. In this case, you have to release stress, leading a healthier life in general. For this, it is good to exercise regularly and eat more fruits, fish and vegetables.
- Chamomile and other natural remedies are recommended: certain natural products can alleviate some of the symptoms of aerophagia. Chamomile is the perfect natural remedy to reduce gas.
- Drinking water: allows us better hydration. In addition, with the ingestion of water, the consumption of non-recommended soft drinks is avoided.
On the other hand, performing an abdominal massage can help alleviate this sometimes troublesome digestive system disorder.
