Burping is often considered “fake” as it can be embarrassing and embarrassing, especially in social situations.
But for some, the inability to burp can be an issue that can cause discomfort. There’s even a medical name for the condition: regurgitation cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD), also known as “no burp syndrome.”
The cricopharynx is the main muscle of the upper esophageal sphincter, the upper portal of the alimentary canal. Without burp syndrome, this muscle doesn’t relax, which interferes with the burping process, according to Neil Chheda, MD, associate professor and vice chair in the department of otolaryngology and chief of the department of laryngology at UF Health in Gainesville, Florida.
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“Both men and women can be affected, and the risk factors for developing this condition are not known,” Chheda told Fox News Digital.
The inability to belch is a medical condition called regurgitation cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD), also known as “non-burp syndrome.” (iStock)
The inability to burp may not seem like a big deal, but it can bring serious challenges, the doctor said.
“Those who cannot burp may report quality of life issues such as bloating, gurgling noise and discomfort with certain foods and beverages, such as carbonated beverages,” Chheda said.
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Priya Krishna, MD, an otolaryngologist in the department of head and neck surgery at Loma Linda University in California, agreed that no burping syndrome can cause “significant psychological distress” to the sufferer.
“It actually seriously affects a person’s life, making social situations embarrassing because the gurgling can be loud and the flatulence can be excessive,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Those who cannot burp may report quality of life issues such as bloating, a gurgling sound and discomfort with certain foods and drinks.”
If over-the-counter options, prescription drugs and lifestyle changes don’t solve burping problems, patients can turn to Botox for a possible treatment, medical experts say.
Whether injected into the face for a cosmetic procedure or elsewhere in the body for a functional reason, Botox works by preventing a motor nerve from releasing the chemical transmitter that signals a muscle to contract, explained Dr. Chheda with UF Health.
Botox works by preventing a motor nerve from releasing the chemical transmitter that signals a muscle to contract. (iStock)
“When Botox is injected into the cricopharynx, the muscle cannot contract, so it relaxes and allows the esophagus to vent.”
As a result, this can help the patient burp.
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Loma Linda University’s Dr. Krishna told Fox News Digital that Botox injection can be a very safe procedure as long as it is injected into the correct and targeted muscle.
“This means that a surgeon familiar with the anatomy—like all otolaryngologists—injects the cricopharyngeal muscle,” he said.
While the inability to burp may not seem like a big deal, it can bring serious challenges, a doctor said. (iStock)
The drug was discovered by Robert Bastian, MD, an otolaryngologist (otolaryngologist) and director of the Bastian Voice Institute in Downers Grove, Illinois.
“I’m subspecialized in laryngology (the ‘T’ in ENT), which stands for Voice, Swallowing, Upper Airway, Sensory Neuropathic Cough and Burping Inability, or R-CPD,” he told Fox News Digital. “So I describe myself as a ‘laryngologist’.”
Bastian said he pioneered the procedure, which involves injecting Botox into the cricopharyngeal muscle, which allows it to relax and allows burping.
What to expect from the procedure
There are two methods of using Botox to induce burping, according to Bastian.
The first is a short procedure under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgery.
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“A simple ‘scope’ procedure allows one to see the sphincter, at the junction between the low neck and the opening of the esophagus,” the doctor told Fox News Digital. “A tiny needle is then inserted into the muscle to inject the Botox.”
“Both men and women can be affected and the risk factors for developing this condition are not known,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Because of the anesthesia, someone must drive the patient home after the procedure.
The second method is to inject into the muscle while the patient is sitting in a chair in the doctor’s office.
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“A needle is passed into the muscle from the side of the neck. Surface landmarks and 3D imaging are used by the surgeon, and an EMG device monitors and verifies muscle placement,” Bastian described.
The patient can drive to and from the procedure as only local anesthesia is used.
A Botox injection can be a very safe procedure as long as it is injected into the correct and targeted muscle, a doctor said. (iStock)
Bastian said it was rewarding to pioneer the Botox method.
“It was a great privilege to be the one who ‘discovered’ and codified the diagnosis and helped spread the information to other doctors… and most of all, it was an honor to work with wonderful patients who have suffered so much and for so long with this terrible disorder,” he told Fox News Digital.
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One of Bastian’s patients spoke of the effectiveness of the procedure, saying that it allowed them to burp, that “every gurgling is gone” and that “the bloating is almost completely gone,” the doctor shared.
The patient also noted that receiving the procedure has “drastically improved” his daily life.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Botox maker and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for comment.
