Dear Annie
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Dear Annie: I started seeing someone recently. “Matthew” is a perfect gentleman in many respects, but he has one habit that I find very rude and jarring: He burps, frequently, and sometimes without even covering his mouth. We sit down to watch a movie together after dinner, and all I can focus on is his constant gurgles next to me on the couch. The relationship is still relatively new, and I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but this is a serious turnoff. What should I tell him? -- Excuse You Dear Excuse You: Don’t be too quick to judge: It might not be his fault. Frequent belching can be a sign of acid reflux, which might seem like a minor condition now; however, in the long term it can cause serious damage to the esophagus if left untreated. The next time he’s having these attacks of indigestion, suggest that he talk to his doctor about it, thus bringing his attention to the issue while also showing that you care -- a win-win.