Often associated with hunger, the sounds coming from the abdominal region can be annoying and even a little embarrassing. Yet the presence of most abdominal sounds is completely normal and shows that your digestive system is doing its job. In some cases, however, abnormal sounds can be a sign of a medical condition that your doctor should evaluate. The absence of abdominal sounds is also a major cause for concern.
The Digestive Process
The digestive process begins in the mouth when enzymes in your saliva help break down food and digest its starch. After passing through the throat and esophagus, the food lands in the stomach, where acid further breaks it down. Your stomach's lining also secretes an enzyme that digests protein from the food. From there, the mixture makes its way into the small intestine, where secretions from the liver and gallbladder aid in digestion. The remaining undigested food goes into the large intestine, and more water and minerals are absorbed from it. What's left behind is excreted.
Intestinal Sounds
Your digestive system is obviously busy, so it's no wonder that you hear some noises from the abdominal area. The intestines are responsible for many of these sounds. Also called bowel sounds, these noises occur when what you consume makes its way through the intestines. These sounds can occur as often as every two to five seconds during digestion, according to Dr. Charlie Goldberg of the University of California School of Medicine in San Diego.
Hunger Sounds
Hunger can also make for a noisy abdominal area. Your brain sends signals to your stomach and intestines to start the flow of digestive secretions when you're hungry. The muscle contractions and release of these fluids cause not only the associated growling sounds, but also the discomfort of hunger pains. Dr. Bonnie J. Brehm, a registered dietician and professor at the University of Cincinnati, suggests eating healthy snacks and small meals containing protein throughout the day to help reduce hunger signals.
Abnormal Sounds
Sounds vary from person to person, but if you are hearing unusual abdominal sounds, especially if you are experiencing other symptoms, you should get medical attention. Your physician will evaluate changes in frequency and tone of abdominal sounds in conjunction with symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, pain, gas, nausea and vomiting. Infections, bowel obstructions, intestinal blood clots and certain GI diseases are possible causes. Reactions to medications and anesthesia can affect bowel sounds. The absence of sounds can also signal a life-threatening intestinal rupture or tissue death, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Your Digestive System and How It Works; April 2008
- University of California, San Diego; A Practical Guide to Clinical Medicine: Exam of the Abdomen; Charlie Goldberg, MD
- MayoClinic; Stomach Noise: What Makes My Stomach Growl When I'm Hungry?; Michael Picco, MD; April 2011
- NetWellness; Ask an Expert: Stomach Growling; Bonnie J. Brehm, PhD, RD; October 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Abdominal Sounds
