How to Stop Your Stomach from Rumbling and What to Do About It

Bowel sounds, also known as stomach growling, are noises produced in the digestive tract.

Sounds produced by digestion are often reminiscent of water rushing through pipes because the intestines are hollow organs.

Keep reading to find out why you're hearing bowel sounds and what you can do about it.

The passage of food, fluids, digestive juices, and air through the intestines is likely to be the cause of a "growling" stomach.

Hunger is a common cause of stomach rumblings.

According to a study published in the journal Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, hormone-like substances in the brain trigger the desire to eat when one is hungry. These noises are the result of the contraction of the muscles in your digestive system.

It's normal for your stomach to make some noises as your intestines digest the food you just ate. Muscle is the primary component of the gastrointestinal tract's wall. Your intestinal walls tighten as food travels through them, blending and squeezing it for optimal digestion.

The term for this phenomenon is peristalsis. The rumbling sound you experience after eating is typically caused by peristalsis. It can happen long after you've finished eating and disrupt your sleep.

Normal, hypoactive, and hyperactive abdominal sounds have been identified.

Reduced or absent bowel sounds may indicate a decrease in intestinal activity. Hyperactive bowel sounds, on the other hand, are more audible sounds associated with increased intestinal activity. These may occur following digestion or during a bout of diarrhea.

Although both hypoactive and hyperactive bowel sounds may occur on occasion, a medical problem may be present if they occur frequently or are accompanied by other abnormal symptoms.

In most cases, a person should not panic because of abdominal noises. A health problem may be present if the sounds are accompanied by other symptoms. Examples of such symptoms could be:

While hypoactive and hyperactive abdominal sounds may not always indicate a more serious problem, they may point to gastrointestinal distress. A few examples:

• When there is a problem with the nerves that control the intestines, we call it paralytic ileus.
• insufficient blood flow to the intestines due to blocked arteries
• hernia, tumor, adhesions, and other conditions can all lead to bowel obstruction.

Bowel sounds may be less active (hypoactive) for other reasons.

• digestive and elimination slowing drugs (like codeine)
• after waking up from anesthesia
• abdominal irradiation
• similar to epidural sedation, spinal anesthesia
• abdominal operation

The following are some additional reasons why bowel sounds might be more active than usual:

• Dysbiosis cronica
• reactions to foods
• diarrhea
• hemorrhaging in the digestive system
• infectious diarrheal disease
• Constipation and Diarrhea

It's a good sign that your digestive system is healthy if your stomach grumbles occasionally around lunchtime or after a big meal.

The only time you should think about seeing a doctor is if there has been a significant increase in severity or frequency, or if there are concerning co-occurring issues.

Normal abdominal rumblings can be ignored. If you're experiencing bloating and gas in addition to the noises, cutting back on foods that cause gas may help. Among these are:

• some fruit (apples, peaches, raisins, etc.)
• the broccoli, artichoke, and cabbage family of vegetables
• beans
• sugar substitutes (such as sorbitol)
• drinks with carbonation
• complete grain and bran foods

If you have lactose intolerance, don't eat dairy products.

Excess air in the digestive system can also be caused by swallowing air while eating too quickly, drinking through a straw, or chewing gum.

If the sounds coming from your stomach are stressing you out, take solace in the fact that most people are unable to hear them. The vast majority of people either don't notice them or don't care (despite the fact that they, too, are experiencing them).

It is recommended to see a doctor if abnormal abdominal sounds are accompanied by other symptoms.

Your doctor will likely use a stethoscope to listen for abnormal bowel sounds after discussing your family medical history and asking you questions about the frequency and severity of your symptoms. Auscultation is the term for this process.

Your doctor will likely order additional diagnostic procedures to determine the root of your health problem:

• X-ray images of the belly can be taken with a CT scanner.
• An endoscopy is a procedure in which a camera is inserted into the digestive tract through a small, flexible tube.
• To rule out infection, inflammation, or organ damage, blood tests are performed.

Constipation causes a high-pitched squealing sound that can be heard even without a stethoscope. Abdominal discomfort, swelling, and constipation may also occur together with them.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are gastrointestinal conditions that can be treated with medication. Your doctor may give you medication if you've been diagnosed with one of these conditions.

Emergency situations and abdominal noises

You will need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment if you exhibit signs of a medical emergency, such as bleeding, bowel damage, or a severe obstruction.

In some cases, just giving the digestive tract a break and administering intravenous fluids will do the trick. Possible surgical procedures for others

Intestinal blockage, severe infection, or injury are all conditions that may necessitate surgical intervention in order to restore normal function and repair any associated damage.

Stomach noises (such as growling) are typically harmless and not something to worry about.

A failure to treat certain complications can be fatal in extremely rare cases. Particularly risky are obstructions of the intestines.

This is why it's so important to pay attention to your physical sensations and sounds to ensure your own well-being. Talking to a doctor if you're feeling unwell is both harmless and potentially beneficial.

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