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What Happens When I Swallow Air?

Mike Howells
Mike Howells

Swallowing air may seem like a fairly innocuous human condition, but too much of it is a medically recognized disorder known as aerophagia. It can result in problems ranging from mild bloating to serious gastric distention. When people swallow air, discrete pockets are forced down the esophagus and digestive tract into the stomach. There, the air collects and periodically makes its way out of the body through belching and flatulence, but often not before causing significant pain and discomfort.

It is important to note that all people swallow air to a small degree as a result of day to day processes such as eating, drinking, and talking. Aerophagia is characterized as the excessive intake of air into the stomach, causing problematic symptoms. There are a variety of reasons why a person may swallow air, including drinking soda, smoking, and cognitive disabilities that impair coordination.

People may swallow air when drinking soda.
People may swallow air when drinking soda.

Air that makes its way through the digestive tract to the stomach acts similarly to any gas trapped in a suspension. Eventually, pressure forces it out, either back the way it came or onwards through the small intestine. This is a manageable and painless phenomenon for most people, but can be embarrassing. For those who swallow air to an excessive degree, the built-up pressure can cause painful bloating of the stomach and even cause distention of the gastric organs. In very rare cases, the amount of pressure in the digestive tract can be so extreme it causes the esophagus to rupture.

People may swallow air while smoking.
People may swallow air while smoking.

For preventable causes like soda, gum chewing, or talking while eating, there are a variety of steps that can be taken to limit aerophagia. The most important factor is often being aware of the predilection for taking in too much air and consciously trying to limit it. Smaller portions of food, switching from chewing gum to eating mints, and cutting down on soda are often all it takes to help people restrict the amount of air they swallow. Avoiding potential problem items, such as dairy products and high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods, can also limit the gas that may build up as a by-product of digestion, further curbing the symptoms of aerophagia.

A person may swallow air when talking while eating.
A person may swallow air when talking while eating.

Individuals with coordination problems, often due to cognitive disability, may have difficulties resolving the issue. In these cases, the propensity to swallow air is less due to poor habits or dietary choices and more a result of neurological impairment. Anti-pyschotic drugs, such as chlorpromazine, have been shown to be effective at reducing the muscular dysfunctions that lead to the problem.

Discussion Comments

discographer

I swallow air because of sleep apnea and it's terrible. Every morning, I wake up with an aching, bloated tummy. I actually have trouble breathing from the bloating. I don't know how to stop swallowing air while sleeping.

candyquilt

@literally45-- It's highly likely that your gas and bloating is due to swallowing air. Have you paid attention to your eating habits? Do you talk while eating or do you gasp for air in between bites? If you do these and if you burp for a long time after meals, you must be swallowing air. It can be fixed with behavioral therapy. You have to become conscious of the times you swallow air and try to avoid it.

Also, do you have acid reflux? I read that people with acid reflux are more likely to swallow air during and in between meals, which adds to their problems. Taking anti-acids and proton pump inhibitors helps.

If things don't improve in the next month though, you might want to see a doctor.

literally45

I've been experiencing a lot of bloating and flatulence lately. I become extremely bloated after meals and experience gas. It's so embarrassing that I've stopped eating meals outside completely.

The odd part is that the issue started suddenly about a month ago. I did not have this problem before that. Could it be possible that I've started swallowing air with meals? What should I do?

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    • People may swallow air when drinking soda.
      By: tiverylucky
      People may swallow air when drinking soda.
    • People may swallow air while smoking.
      By: julia_fotogr
      People may swallow air while smoking.
    • A person may swallow air when talking while eating.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      A person may swallow air when talking while eating.
    • Avoiding dairy products may help prevent the buildup of gas.
      By: Anna Bobrowska
      Avoiding dairy products may help prevent the buildup of gas.
    • Chewing gum can cause a person to swallow air, which can lead to gas.
      By: blende40
      Chewing gum can cause a person to swallow air, which can lead to gas.
    • Belching occurs after too much air is taken into the stomach.
      By: Dan Race
      Belching occurs after too much air is taken into the stomach.
    • Excessive amounts of swallowed air often lead to painful bloating.
      By: xalanx
      Excessive amounts of swallowed air often lead to painful bloating.