3. Frequent Belching: More Than Just Bad Manners
Frequent belching may seem like a trivial inconvenience, but when it happens too often, it could be a red flag signaling a tubulovillous adenoma. It’s a venting mechanism, an expulsion of air or other gases from the stomach through the mouth, and while it’s natural, excessive amounts are concerning.
Typically, swallowed air accounts for 90% of expelled gas via belching. However, an adenoma might interfere with the valve separating the stomach from the esophagus, preventing air from escaping naturally and causing more frequent belching episodes.
Let’s delve into the chemistry of gases like nitrogen and oxygen, often found in belched air. Changes in the stomach’s pH level due to an adenoma could alter the solubility of these gases, making them more likely to form bubbles, which then prompt belching as a release mechanism.
How about the act of eating itself? You might notice that frequent belching often accompanies meals. This isn’t coincidental. When an adenoma is involved, the very act of eating—normally a trigger for various digestive processes—becomes a trigger for belching instead, owing to the disruptive presence of the tumor. (3)
