The stomach makes sounds when we are hungry. But what does this stomach growling mean? Can it indicate illness or is it always just a sign that it’s time to eat the next meal?
What is the stomach growl?
The growling usually occurs when the stomach is empty. The loud hunger signal reminds us that the stomach should be filled. Another term for stomach growling is hunger contraction. In medical terminology, it is called borborygmus. In fact, growling usually occurs when the stomach is empty. The loud hunger signal reminds us that the stomach should be filled. The stomach walls contract and a mixture of air and gastric juices swirls in the stomach. This produces, due to the large resonating body, a loud audible sound. Stomach growling as the only symptom present is not a disease and does not indicate a disease. Also, there is no medication that eliminates stomach growling. The reason for the noise: the stomach cleans itself. It can only do this if it constantly empties itself. To achieve this, the stomach muscles move in the direction of the intestines. Practically, this is like patting out the stomach. The principle is very similar to that of a bagpipe. Again, air is forced through a cavity by contraction and sounds are produced.
Function and task
In a healthy person, the stomach growl indicates that he or she has not eaten enough. Like the movement of the intestines, the movement of the stomach is a Migrating Motor Complex, or MMC. This is a recurring pattern of a movement. The time interval of a cycle in the stomach is one and a half to three hours and can be divided into three phases: 1. No activity, 2. Light movements, 3. Strong movements with air contractions. Then the phases are repeated. The stomach cannot turn off the function of emptying. It constantly reels off this pattern, even if there is no solid food in the stomach at the moment. Thus, the growling basically means that everything is fine with the function of the stomach as long as no other complaints occur. For many people, stomach growling is intensified when they smell or see something good to eat. Sometimes the simple idea of it is enough to make the stomach growl. People who have stomach growling all day often find it helps to divide their meals into several, small portions. During a diet, the growling is particularly annoying for many. Again and again, they are additionally reminded that they are hungry. Even though this is exactly what nature intended, it may be advisable to use low-calorie fillers such as psyllium, chia seeds or flax seeds. These swell up due to the liquid and create the necessary volume to settle the stomach. Numerous experts are of the opinion that stomach growling is a sign that the organ can finally take a rest. The recommendation here is not to eat something immediately at the first growl, but to wait a while. This allows the stomach to regenerate. However, this is only recommended if the person in question does not generally eat very little. It is also possible to settle the stomach by taking a few sips of warm water without eating anything right away.
Diseases and ailments
If the stomach growling occurs in combination with pain in the upper abdomen, it is possible that gastritis is present. In this case, the growling feels duller than the common growl everyone is familiar with. The pain is called fasting pain. It has proven effective to first avoid all irritants such as coffee, nicotine and alcohol. Milk often alleviates the discomfort. If they do not subside after a few days, you should consult a doctor in any case. It must be clarified whether there is a verifiable organic cause. If the doctor does not find any indication, it may also be an irritable stomach. Increased mental stress sometimes triggers an increase in motor tone. Stomach growling can also occur in this way, without hunger being the cause. Even hunger itself can lead to an irritable stomach if we eat too little over a long period of time. Even if we eat too rarely, the stomach may not be sufficiently buffered. The food pulp is nowhere near as acidic as the gastric juice. In this case, buffering is the raising of the pH value by the food to be digested.Apart from the possible irritation, too little food intake can also cause the entrance to the stomach to slacken. It no longer closes properly and stomach acid can rise in the esophagus. This makes itself felt as heartburn. Relaxation, even without disturbing the basic functions, can allow stomach growling to become milder or even stop. Stomach growling can sometimes be mistaken for sounds coming from the intestines. In particular, the upper sections of the intestines feel and sound like stomach growling. If the intestines growl, it is possible that digestive problems are present and should be looked at more closely. Often, it is food intolerances that trigger increased intestinal peristaltic activity. The sounds are caused by the movement of the intestines in combination with increased gas production. Even if the stomach and intestines are growling at the same time, this is difficult to separate.
