A rare condition in which sufferers are unable to burp leaves them too embarrassed to get help, a new study claims.
Most people who are can’t belch have painful and isolating side effects, hugely impacting their daily life
The disorder, called retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD), is caused by failure of a muscle in the throat to relax to allow the outward passage of gas – aka a burp.
To evaluate the impact of this condition on quality of life the team, from Texas Tech University, studied results from 199 affected adults.
The results, published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility, revealed that sufferers of this condition do have a decreased quality of life.
Most of the participants reported abdominal bloating, socially awkward gurgling noises, excessive flatulence and difficulty vomiting.
Participants also reported embarrassment, anxiety/depression, negative impacts on relationships, and work disruption due to R-CPD.
‘R-CPD encompasses more than just the physical challenge of being unable to burp; it also significantly impacts people’s daily lives, relationships, and mental well-being,’ said lead author and medical student Jason Chen.
‘Future efforts should concentrate on raising awareness about R-CPD, which can help increase identification and treatment rates.’
Despite the painful symptoms and mental health impact, only half of the participants discussed their symptoms with their primary care clinician.
An overwhelming 90% of them felt that they did not receive adequate help from their healthcare providers.
The researchers believe that the key to improving sufferers’ quality of life is to change this statistic and give medical professionals more education on the topic.
‘R-CPD is unfamiliar to many healthcare providers, leaving patients underserved,’ added Mr Chen.
‘It not only affects daily life but also personal and professional relationships.
‘Raising awareness by understanding disease basic features may increase diagnosis and treatment rates, improving quality of life.’
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