Key takeaways:
Stomach growling — or borborygmi — is caused by air moving through your gut.
Sudden spikes in stomach noises are usually a sign that you’re hungry or that you’ve been swallowing too much air.
Sometimes, loud stomach sounds are a sign of medical conditions like lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). When this is the case, you will have other, more troubling symptoms too.
It always seems to happen at the worst of times. That loud gurgling noise from your stomach that announces to the world that you’re hungry or need to go to the bathroom — or maybe even both. If you’ve ever been embarrassed by stomach noises, you might be wondering why your stomach growls, grumbles, and rumbles. And if you’re a frequent rumbler, you might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to quiet your tummy. Here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about pesky stomach noises and what to do about them.
What causes stomach growling?
As gas moves through your gastrointestinal tract, it can generate noises like:
Growling
Rumbling
Gurgling
Grumbling
