Aerophagia

Aerophagia is a condition of excessive air swallowing, which goes to the stomach. Aerophagia may also refer to an unusual condition where the primary symptom is excessive flatus, belching is not present, and the actual mechanism by which air enters the gut is obscure. Aerophagia in psychiatry is sometimes attributed to nervousness or anxiety.

Symptoms

 * Bloating
 * Angina
 * Nausea
 * Shortness of breath
 * Burping
 * Heartburn
 * Abdominal pain
 * Satiety

Causes
Aerophagia is associated with chewing gum, smoking, drinking carbonated drinks, eating too quickly, CPAP air pressure, and wearing loose dentures. In people with cervical spine blockages, inhaling can cause air to enter the esophagus and stomach.

Diagnosis
Aerophagia is diagnosed in 8.8% of cognitively delayed patients where the coordination between swallowing and respiration is not well-defined.

Aerophagia is a dangerous side effect of of noninvasive ventilation, commonly used in treatments of respiratory problems and cardiovascular critical care or in surgery when a general anesthetic in required. In the case of aerophagia during NIV, it is normally diagnosed by experienced medical specialists who check on patients intermittently during NIV use.

Belated detection of aerophagia may lead to gastric distention, which in turn could elevate the diaphragm or cause aspiration of the stomach contents into the lungs or pneumatic rupture of the esophagus due to extreme gastric insufflation.