Noisy stomach? It may be a sign of something bigger
Everyone has experienced the desperate rush of trying to stifle the sound of their growling stomach in a quiet room. And while these bowel sounds are usually normal, too much grumbling can sometimes signal something more.
Bowel sounds, or borborygmi, happen when food, fluid and gas move through the stomach and intestines.
“Abdominal noises are typically described in three ways: normal, hyperactive or hypoactive,” says Dr. Peter Sargon, a gastroenterologist at Advocate Health Care. “Most people have normal bowel sounds, but sometimes the gut can become overactive or underactive in a way that suggests something isn’t right.”
Hyperactive bowel sounds are more frequent, sometimes higher-pitched and may be linked with diarrhea, cramping, nausea or abdominal pain. Hypoactive bowel sounds are quieter, less frequent and can occur after abdominal surgery, with pain medications, like opioids, or with constipation.
These four conditions might be behind your abnormal stomach noises:
- Food intolerances or allergies: Food intolerances, such as lactose or fructose malabsorption, and food allergies can rev up bowel activity, leading to gas, bloating, abdominal pain or diarrhea.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): IBS is a functional condition that can cause bloating, abdominal discomfort, and changes in bowel habits — sometimes with louder abdominal sounds. IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, involves chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Both can cause cramping, diarrhea and noticeable stomach noises.
- Gastrointestinal infections: Infections that irritate the stomach or intestines — like food poisoning or stomach flu — often cause hyperactive abdominal sounds along with diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever or stomach pain.
- Bowel obstruction: A bowel blockage can first cause loud, high-pitched noises but later lead to extremely quiet or absent sounds. Obstructions are often linked to scar tissue from prior surgeries, hernias, tumors or severe inflammation, such as with IBD.
Dr. Sargon says the following are ways you can support your gut health:
- Limit foods high in fat, added sugars or lactose, especially if they bother you
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat slowly and chew thoroughly
- Keep a food diary to spot trigger foods
- Cut back on carbonated drinks
- Manage stress with exercise or relaxation techniques
“Your body will often tell you when your gut isn’t working properly,” says Dr. Sargon. “If that happens, we can work with you to relieve your symptoms and may order bloodwork, imaging or endoscopic tests if needed.”
