Why Does Your Stomach Rumble?
The human body is an amazing machine, and every once in a while it will do something to remind you that it's working hard to keep you alive and well. The stomach growl which is medically known as borborygmi (singular ~ borborygmus) is one of these reminders. Loud, soft and sometimes for no good reason at all, your growling stomach has a lot to say.
Whether you call it grumbling, rumbling, gurgling or growling, from time to time everybody's belly chimes in. These noises might sound like they should be coming from a noisy pot of bubbling stew rather than your stomach.
But the big question is, why does it growl in the first place? And why does your stomach seem to growl the moment a room grows quiet?
Your stomach doesn't have such perfect timing or such a malicious sense of sabotage. But there is a perfectly logical explanation why your stomach sometimes feels the need to be heard.
Causes and Cures For Rumbling Stomach
Causes
· Hunger is the most common cause for rumbling or growling stomach. When you’re very hungry or when your body needs food, your brain causes your stomach muscles to cringe to let you know that you are hungry.
· Swallowing air (aerophagia) also causes borborygmi. This is why people are advised not to eat too fast or speak while eating because they will swallow a lot of air along with their food. When the food is digested, this air will settle above the food and will force the upper valve of the stomach open when the pressure increases beyond a limit.
· The action of bacteria on food also releases air while the process of digestion continues as the food moves from the stomach to the intestines. This is another cause for borborygmi and results in flatulence.
· Some people are intolerant to particular types of food, especially milk products. Consuming food that they are allergic to also makes their stomach rumble because their body will try to expel such food as soon as possible by cringing the stomach walls and forcing the food back out of their esophagus.
· Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common bowel disorder that causes frequent and sometimes uncontrollable urge to excrete. This is accompanied by disorderly contractions of the intestines, diarrhea alternating with constipation, abdominal bloating, rumbling stomach, etc.
· Functional dyspepsia which is commonly known as indigestion is another cause for borborygmi.
Symptoms
Symptoms of borborygmi or rumbling stomach disorder include abdominal bloating, flatulence, belching, diarrhea, constipation and rumbling sounds from the stomach which may be accompanied by severe pain.
Cures
· Always drink plenty of water or hydrating liquids to stabilize the ph level in your stomach and prevent dehydration.
· If stomach rumbling is caused by acidity, use an antacid.
· Check for any trigger causes, such as lactose products, which could cause adverse reactions for those who are allergic.
· Avoid skipping meals or staying hungry for long hours.
· Avoid over-eating even at times when you know that you may have to skip your next meal. It is better to eat shorter meals more frequently than few large meals.
· If you are already suffering from borborygmi, avoid foods like sugar, coffee, onions, carbonated beverages, etc. as these are known to aggravate the problem.
· Eat your food slowly and chew it well. Avoid talking or drinking lots of water while eating.
· Consuming a teaspoon of olive oil in the morning during breakfast can help reduce the noise as it prevents intestinal contractions.
· In addition, regularly taking aloe vera juice is useful for calming stomach growling, especially for individuals suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome with constipation.
· Habits like smoking, chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, and sipping fluids with the help of a straw make you swallow more air. Thus, limit these behaviors. Similarly, do not drink water or any other liquid while eating.
· Stay relaxed and reduce stress and anxiety as these issues may also trigger stomach rumbling.
· Engaging in physical activity can help cure this problem as it improves digestion and reduces stress. Bending exercises, in particular, are useful in this regard.
· Furthermore, it is believed that taking a deep breath when you feel that the gurgling is about to start is helpful in stopping the rumbling temporarily. Hold the breath for a few seconds, that is, until the rumbling stops.
Although rumbling stomach is a common problem, it is not one to be neglected. Sometimes it could be a symptom of an underlying disorder which could be dangerous or fatal if not cured at the earliest. Please consult a doctor if your symptoms persist longer than 24 hours.
Sources:
health.howstuffworks.com
unp.me
speedyremedies.com
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