If you’ve never burped in your life, there’s actually a medical name for it

There are some things you probably don’t think twice about doing until someone tells you they physically can’t do them, and apparently burping is one of them.

Via Canva

RCPD, or “no-burp syndrome”, has been having a bit of a moment online this week, with people realising that their inability to burp, constant bloating and bizarre throat noises might not just be one of those random things their body does.

The condition is officially called retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction, and while it sounds extremely niche, the symptoms are surprisingly easy to recognise if you’ve spent years wondering why your stomach is permanently full of air.

What is RCPD?

RCPD is a rare condition which means someone is physically unable to burp or belch normally.

Basically, the muscle in your throat that needs to relax to let a burp out doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, meaning air can become trapped instead.

Being able to burp is life changing I can’t believe you have all been doing this the whole time????

— Kirsten 🍿 (@WTFucKirsten) September 22, 2026

What are the symptoms of RCPD?

The most obvious sign is a lifelong inability to burp. People with RCPD often say they have never been able to burp naturally, even if they drink fizzy drinks or try to force one out.

People with RCPD can experience loud, involuntary gurgling or croaking noises in their throat or chest, particularly when air gets trapped.

Severe bloating and abdominal distension are also common, as well as excessive flatulence as the body attempts to get rid of the gas in a different direction. Other symptoms can include pressure around the chest or neck and painful hiccups.

One woman spent years thinking she had IBS

@_gemmarenwick Five key signs associated with R-CPD. Please seek individual medical advice rather than diagnosing yourself through TikTok. I have created a UK parliament petition calling for greater awareness of this condition on the NHS – please sign and share it (linked in bio) #RCPDSymptoms #NoBurp #RCPD #HealthAwareness ♬ original sound – Gemma Renwick

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Gemma Renwick has been sharing her experience with RCPD on TikTok to help raise awareness of the condition.

Gemma spent most of her life assuming that never being able to burp was simply something she had to deal with. Even after seeing several doctors, she struggled to get an answer for the symptoms she was experiencing. She says she had never been able to burp naturally for as long as she could remember, while the trapped air could leave her feeling sick and in pain.

It was only years later that she discovered there was actually a name for what she had been experiencing: retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction, better known as RCPD or “no-burp syndrome”.

Gemma was diagnosed in 2024 and found out that Botox could be injected into the affected throat muscle to help it relax and allow the trapped air to escape. 

@_gemmarenwick What R-CPD really felt like after 43 years of being unable to burp. This is my personal experience, not a diagnosis. I have created a UK parliament petition calling for greater awareness of this condition on the NHS – please sign and share it (linked in bio) #RCPD #NoBurpSyndrome #RCPDAwareness #CantBurp ♬ original sound – Gemma Renwick

Can RCPD be treated?

There is treatment available for RCPD, with Botox injections being one of the main options. A doctor can inject Botox into the cricopharyngeus muscle, temporarily relaxing it so that trapped air can escape more easily.

Research suggests that a single treatment can provide lasting relief for around 80 per cent of patients, although it doesn’t work permanently for everyone and some people may need further treatment.

So, if you’ve spent your entire life watching other people casually burp after a fizzy drink while you’re left with a stomach full of trapped air and a mysterious throat gurgle, you’re definitely not alone.

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Featured image via Canva