Digestive Disorders Health Center

Burping and difficulty swallowing

Burping or belching (eructation) is the (often noisy) release of swallowed air from the esophagus or stomach through the mouth. Burping is a normal way to release swallowed air and gas from the stomach and usually is not serious.

Occasional problems with swallowing happen to many people. Eating too fast, trying to swallow large pieces of food, or talking while eating may cause problems with swallowing. If you feel nervous or anxious, you may have a feeling of fullness in your throat and a sense of not being able to swallow normally.

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) occurs when food does not pass normally from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach. Dysphagia may occur when problems with the mouth, tongue, or teeth interfere with the normal process of chewing and swallowing. You may drool, spill food out of your mouth, or have a very dry mouth. You may feel as though your food is catching in your throat, or you may feel like you need to swallow repeatedly just to get the food to go down. This may cause you to cough or feel as if you are choking.

Difficulty swallowing may also be caused by a narrowing or blockage of the esophagus. The muscles that are needed to move food or fluids through the esophagus may not be working correctly. Difficulty swallowing that occurs with weight loss may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as cancer of the esophagus.

Call your doctor for a checkup if you have problems with burping and difficulty swallowing that does not get better with home treatment.