Aerophagia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Aerophagia occurs when a person swallows too much air and experiences bloating and belching. The disorder is very common, but despite frequent gulping and other telltale signs, people may not realize that air swallowing is the cause of their discomfort.

If you use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, you may have noticed symptoms of aerophagia. It is important to know that there are many ways to reduce discomfort from swallowed air. Understanding what causes aerophagia and when to visit a doctor are the first steps toward attaining relief from your symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms of Aerophagia?

Aerophagia is characterized by excessive air swallowing. The word aerophagia means “ air eating Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source ” in Greek. The air enters the gastrointestinal tract and causes a range of symptoms.

The symptoms of aerophagia Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source are related to the way air passes through the body. Depending on whether the air primarily stays higher up or passes down through the intestines, you may experience:

• Bloating
• Belching
• Flatulence
• Gurgling stomach
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Distended belly

Though some of the symptoms are similar, aerophagia is considered a different disorder than excessive belching, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or functional dyspepsia, which is indigestion with no known cause. Aerophagia is not caused by a blockage in the intestines. That being said, it is not uncommon for people with aerophagia to have another gastrointestinal disorder as well.

Less common symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and nausea. Unlike with other gastrointestinal disorders, vomiting is not generally considered a symptom of aerophagia. Symptoms may come and go over time.

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If these symptoms sound familiar, we encourage you to take our short quiz below to understand whether you may have sleep apnea.

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What Causes Aerophagia?

Aerophagia can happen anytime a person swallows too much air, but this may occur more often for certain people. For example, aerophagia is sometimes associated with anxiety, which can cause irregular breathing patterns.

Certain activities, such as drinking carbonated beverages, may also increase the amount of air you swallow. Aerophagia is a common side effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, especially during the initial phase of treatment.

How Is Aerophagia Diagnosed?

To diagnose aerophagia, your doctor may ask you to describe your symptoms, particularly regarding belching, bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence, or constipation. They may check for signs of a distended belly and tap your abdomen to see if it sounds like there is extra air inside. They may also listen for bowel sounds and verify that you do not have any physical blockages obstructing your intestines.

An abdominal X-ray, also called a radiograph, can provide visual confirmation of excessive air inside your intestines or expanded bowels due to air. With this test, your doctor checks for air-fluid levels Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source , a pattern of air and fluid mixing together that indicates a bowel obstruction.

Your doctor might also rule out supragastric belches, which differ from air swallowing in that the air enters the esophagus and immediately comes out again. If appropriate, they may perform an upper endoscopy, inserting a small camera into the esophagus and stomach.

To receive a diagnosis of aerophagia, you must have symptoms for at least 12 weeks — not necessarily in a row — out of the previous 12 months.

How Do CPAP Machines Cause Aerophagia?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices deliver a constant stream of pressurized air designed to keep the airway open for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). As muscles relax during sleep, the separation between the windpipe and the esophagus becomes weaker, allowing air to pass more easily into the esophagus. This air then travels down the esophagus into the stomach and sometimes the intestines.

An estimated 16% Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source to 50% of CPAP users experience aerophagia symptoms, including both children and adults. Some researchers have also linked aerophagia from CPAP to symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, or heartburn. The theory is that as swallowed air causes the stomach to bloat, the stomach pushes upwards, making it easier for stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus.

How Can I Prevent My CPAP Machine from Causing Aerophagia?

Doctors may try several methods to improve your aerophagia symptoms while using CPAP therapy.

Adjust CPAP Pressure

Reducing the total amount of air Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source entering the body is one way to protect against aerophagia, but it can be counterproductive if the low air pressure causes a rebound in apnea symptoms. To work around this problem, some researchers have proposed switching to an automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) device, which adjusts air pressure throughout the night as needed. Initial research suggests this switch can relieve symptoms of bloating, flatulence, belching, and abdominal pain, without negatively affecting OSA treatment.

Change Mask

Some researchers believe that full face CPAP masks may cause more aerophagia symptoms than nasal masks. Using a mask that covers both the nose and the mouth may leave you more susceptible to leaks, and the larger mask may require higher pressure. Your doctor can help you find a mask that seals properly and allows you to receive the air you need, according to whether you primarily breathe through your mouth or nose.

If adjusting pressure on your CPAP device or switching you to a nasal mask does not ease your aerophagia, talk to your doctor about alternate options to treat your obstructive sleep apnea. They may suggest a bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) device instead, as this type of device offers lower pressure during exhalation.

Treatments for Additional Causes of Aerophagia

Aerophagia usually improves with certain lifestyle changes. Depending on what causes your aerophagia symptoms, your doctor may recommend:

• Changing the way you swallow
• Practicing breathing exercises
• Taking medications
• Avoiding carbonated beverages, drinking straws, and chewing gum
• Eating more slowly
• Undergoing speech therapy to minimize air swallowing

In rare cases, a person may swallow so much air that they risk twisted organs and breathing difficulties. In these cases, doctors may siphon out the extra air using a tube through the nose, and administer sedatives as a short-term method of reducing air swallowing.