Burping is often considered a ‘faux pas’ because it can be embarrassing and unpleasant, 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: retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD), also known as ‘no burp syndrome.”
The cricopharyngeus is the main muscle of the upper esophageal sphincter, the upper portal of the food pipe. Without burp syndrome, this muscle does not relax, which disrupts the belching process, according to Neil Chheda, MD, associate professor and vice chairman of the department of otolaryngology and chief of the division 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 unknown,” Chheda told Fox News Digital.
The inability to burp is a medical condition called retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (R-CPD), also known as ‘no burping syndrome’. (iStock)
It may not seem like the inability to burp is a big deal, but it can pose serious problems, the doctor said.
“Those who are unable to burp may report quality of life issues such as bloating, gurgling and discomfort with certain foods and drinkslike carbonated drinks,” 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 burp syndrome can cause “significant problems.” psychological distress” in the affected person.
“It actually has a serious impact on an individual’s life, making social situations embarrassing because the gurgling can be loud and the flatulence excessive,” she told Fox News Digital.
“Those who are unable to burp may report quality of life issues such as bloating, a gurgling sound and discomfort with certain foods and drinks.”
As over-the-counter options, prescribed medications And lifestyle changes won’t solve acid reflux problems, patients may turn to Botox for a possible cure, medical experts say.
Whether injected into the face for a cosmetic procedure or elsewhere in the body for functional reasons, Botox works by preventing a motor nerve from releasing the chemical transmitter that signals a muscle to contract, explains Dr. Chheda from UF Health.
Botox works by preventing a motor nerve from releasing the chemical transmitter that tells a muscle to contract. (iStock)
“When Botox is injected into the cricopharyngeus, the muscle is unable to contract and therefore relax and ventilate the esophagus.”
As a result, this can help a patient burp.
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Dr. Krishna of Loma Linda University told Fox News Digital that a Botox injection can be a very safe procedure as long as it is injected into the correct and targeted muscle.
“That means a surgeon familiar with the anatomy — like all otolaryngologists — injects the cricopharyngeus muscle,” she said.
While it may not seem like the inability to burp is a big deal, it can pose serious problems, a doctor said. (iStock)
The cure was discovered by Robert Bastian, MD, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) and director of the Bastian Voice Institute in Downers Grove, Illinois.
“I specialized in laryngology (the ‘T’ for ENT), which means voice, swallowing, upper airway, sensory neuropathic cough and inability to burp, or R-CPD,” he told Fox News Digital. “So I describe myself as a ‘laryngologist.'”
Bastian said he pioneered the procedure that injects Botox into the cricopharyngeal muscle, allowing it to loosen and allow burping.
What to expect from the procedure
According to Bastian, there are two methods of using Botox to cause acid reflux.
The first is a short procedure under general anesthesia in an outpatient operating room.
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“A simple ‘scope’ procedure allows one to see the sphincter muscle, at the junction between the lower throat and the opening of the esophagus,” the doctor told Fox News Digital. “A small needle is then inserted into the muscle to inject Botox.”
“Both men and women can be affected, and the risk factors for developing this condition are unknown,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Because of the anesthesia, someone must take the patient home after the procedure.
The second method is to inject the muscle while the patient is sitting in a chair doctor’s office.
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“A needle is inserted into the muscle from the side of the neck. Surface landmarks and three-dimensional visualization are used by the surgeon, and an EMG device monitors and verifies the placement of the muscles,” 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, according to a doctor. (iStock)
Bastian said it was worth pioneering the Botox method.
“It has been a great privilege to be the one who ‘discovered’ and codified the diagnosis and helped spread the information to other doctors… and above all it has been an honor to work with dear patients who have suffered so much long with this terrible condition,” he told Fox News Digital.
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One of Bastian’s patients spoke about the effectiveness of the procedure, saying that it allowed them to burp, that “any gurgling is gone” and that “the bloating is almost completely reduced,” the doctor reported.
The patient also noted that getting the procedure occurred improved “dramatically”. their daily lives.
Fox News Digital reached out to the manufacturer of Botox and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking comment.
