Swallowing air (and the 'air vomit')
Quick summary
- A few people with R-CPD gulp air on purpose, to give themselves a bubble to practise burping with.
- It can backfire. Swallowed air is a common cause of bloating (opens in a new tab), and with R-CPD it may not come back up.
- Don't do it until it hurts, and don't make yourself gag. If it causes pain, stop.
What is air swallowing?
It means gulping a small mouthful of air on purpose, so there's a bubble in your food pipe. The idea is the same as practising with a fizzy drink: it gives you a gurgle to work with. Then people try to relax into the burp.
What is an "air vomit"?
People with R-CPD often say that being sick starts with a big release of air. Dr Bastian's clinic calls this "air vomiting" (opens in a new tab). A couple of people in old r/noburp posts said they tried to bring this on to release air. Please don't make yourself gag or retch to do this. It's unpleasant, it can make you sick, and for people with a fear of being sick it can be very upsetting.
Why can it make things worse?
- The NHS says bloating can be caused by swallowing air when you eat (opens in a new tab), and suggests you chew with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing air (opens in a new tab).
- A 2026 review of R-CPD says people who swallow less and don't drink carbonated beverages may have less frequent symptoms (opens in a new tab). How much air people swallow each day varies enormously (opens in a new tab).
- So if the air can't get back up, it ends up as more gurgling, bloating and wind.
If you still want to try it
- Only try it when you're relaxed and at home.
- Take one small gulp of air, not lots.
- Sit up straight, tuck your chin or turn your head, and try to let it out (see positions).
- Stop after a few tries. If it hurts or you feel more bloated, stop for the day.
- If air gets stuck, lying on your left side for a while may ease it (Karagama 2021 (opens in a new tab)).
What do people with R-CPD say?
“I would just swallow air, wait for it to come up, and swallow as hard as possible as soon as I felt it in my throat.”
“It took like 5 years of air vomiting before I started micro burping, then over a year or so I gradually just became able to burp like a normal person lol”
“I taught myself how to burp by forcing myself to "air vomit" whenever I got the gurgles over a few months.”
Patient reports. Short quotes, linked to the original post. We leave out usernames.
What does the evidence say?
- No study has tested air swallowing as a way to learn to burp.
- The 2026 review suggests that less swallowing, not more, may mean fewer symptoms (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
Can swallowing air help you burp?
A few people with R-CPD use it to practise (patient reports (opens in a new tab)). But swallowed air is a common cause of bloating (opens in a new tab), so it can make things worse if it won't come up.
What is air vomiting?
It's the big release of air that often comes first when someone with R-CPD is sick. Dr Bastian's clinic calls it "air vomiting" (opens in a new tab). Please don't make yourself gag to bring it on.
Is it dangerous to swallow air?
Small amounts aren't dangerous, but too much can cause pain, bloating and wind. Stop if it hurts, and see your GP if you have new chest or tummy pain.
Sources
- NHS: Bloating (opens in a new tab)
- Lehmann and Kahrilas 2026, narrative review (free full text) (opens in a new tab)
- Laryngopedia: Can't burp? Resources for R-CPD (opens in a new tab)
- Karagama 2021, Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol (free full text) (opens in a new tab)
- r/noburp self-cure megapost (Internet Archive copy) (opens in a new tab) (patient reports)
Other things people try
- Shaker exercise (head lift)Lie flat and lift your head to look at your toes. The exercise people mention most.23 of 120 people mention it
- Relaxing into the burpNotice the gurgle, relax your throat and let it come up. Don't force it.78 of 120 people mention it
- Side neck sit upsLie on your side and lift your head towards the ceiling. Often done with the Shaker.12 of 120 people mention it
- Throat massage and pressureGentle massage around the voice box. Never hitting or squeezing your neck.21 of 120 people mention it
- Back, chest, yoga and postureGym work, yoga, physio for the back, and sitting up straight.23 of 120 people mention it
- Fizzy drinks and positionsLying on your left side, chin tucks, head turns, and practising with a fizzy drink.47 of 120 people mention it
- Swallowing airA few people gulp air to practise. It can make bloating worse, so read the warnings.25 of 120 people mention it
- Diet: less gasLow FODMAP, fewer fizzy drinks, eating slowly. Can ease symptoms while you try other things.7 of 120 people mention it
- HypnosisThe only non-Botox, non-surgery case in the medical papers so far.Backed by one published case
- Speech therapy and physio (BERP)A therapist teaches you positions to let a burp out. Tested in a small study.7 of 120 people mention it
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