Why Does My Stomach Make Noise?

What Causes My Stomach to Make Noise?

Have you ever been in a quiet area when suddenly, out of nowhere, your stomach decides to make its presence known to everyone in the room? Yes, it happens to everyone. Dr. Aaron Workman, a talented chiropractor at Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated auto injury medical care programs in Kentucky, explains what causes your stomach to make noise. These crazy sounds are known as stomach rumbles or growling. While you may feel embarrassed, these noises are a normal and natural occurrence in the digestive process. Most will say their stomach is growling and they must be hungry, but what are the real reasons? Let us talk about some of the reasons our midsections make the sounds it does.

The path of the digestive system is amazing. It houses a complex symphony of muscular contractions, gas movement, and fluid dynamics within the digestive tract. The digestive system is made up of a series of organs and tissues whose jobs are breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and eliminating waste.

One of the primary parts of the journey lies within the stomach itself. When you consume food, it travels down the esophagus and enters the stomach, where it encounters a potent mix of gastric juices and enzymes. These digestive juices help break down food into smaller particles, all of which aid nutrient absorption later in the digestive process.

As the stomach mixes its contents, it gives off waves of muscular contractions known as peristalsis. This can be a source of some of your digestion first sounds. These rhythmic contractions serve to send food on its way through the digestive tract, ensuring thorough mixing with digestive enzymes to help nutrient absorption. This is not always a silent activity. When the stomach is empty and you get that hunger going, the contractions can become music to anyone that is near. This intensified muscular activity, along with the movement of gas and fluids within the digestive tract, can produce the characteristic rumbling sounds we associate with the stomach growling. This is a popular reason for the phrase “I must be hungry.”

Another less flattering factor to stomach rumbling is the presence of gas in the digestive system. It is a natural byproduct of the digestive process, resulting from the fermentation of certain foods by gut bacteria or swallowed air. When gas accumulates in the stomach or intestines, it can create pockets of pressure that contribute to audible rumbling sounds as it moves through the digestive tract. If those rumbling sounds are coming from the abdomen, then this is likely going to be the culprit.

In addition to peristalsis and gas movement, other factors can influence the occurrence of stomach rumblings. Stress, anxiety, and nervousness can stimulate gastrointestinal motility, potentially increasing the frequency and intensity of stomach contractions. Similarly, consuming certain foods or beverages, such as carbonated drinks, coffee, energy drinks or high-fiber foods, can stimulate gas production and contribute to stomach rumbling.

In most cases, stomach rumblings are harmless and temporary, resolving on their own once the digestive process has run its course. However, persistent or severe stomach rumbling accompanied by other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, or changes in bowel habits, may require a trip to your doctor to rule out any possible gastrointestinal issues. Otherwise, this is just the body doing work and sometimes that work is loud enough for all to hear.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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