Belching is the body's natural method to expel excess air from the stomach. Excess gas can also cause uncomfortable abdominal pain. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, the average person creates between 1 and 4 pints of gas per day. Gas that is not removed through belching commonly travels to the intestine and is released through flatulence. The condition is corrected through lifestyle and diet changes, as well as medication.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease causes stomach acid to back up the esophagus into the mouth. A person may continue to swallow the excess stomach acid as well as excess air. The symptoms of GERD are common when a hiatal hernia is present. Some people may suffer from gas-bloat syndrome after surgery to correct GERD. The syndrome does not allow a person to belch to remove air from the stomach and occurs in about 10 percent of patients receiving corrective surgery for GERD, notes the NDDIC.
Swallowing Excess Air
A person who swallows excess air suffers from aerophagia. The condition is a common side effect of eating or drinking rapidly. A person who smokes, chews gum or eats hard candy may also swallow excess air. Drinking from a straw or drinking carbonated beverages also causes excess air swallowing. Older adults wearing loose dentures commonly suffer from the condition. Swallowing excess air may cause stomach bloating. When excess air is swallowed and not removed by belching, it builds up in the stomach and cause pain varying from mild to intense.
Diet
According to the NDDIC, most carbohydrates cause excess gas while foods high in protein and fat cause very little gas. Beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and other vegetables contain raffinose, a complex sugar found in most vegetables that cause gas. Lactose is the natural sweetener found in dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. Some people are unable to digest lactose and suffer from increased gas and abdominal pain when consuming foods containing the sugar. Artichokes, pears and onions contain fructose, another natural sweetener commonly known to cause gas. Some foods will cause excess gas and abdominal pain in some people and no gas in others.
