Hello! I have been a doctor for 21 years. My name is Georgy Olegovich Sapego. In this article, I will talk about gurgling in the stomach.
There are three gurgling mechanisms:
- muscle contraction in the intestinal wall;
- movement of fluid in the intestine;
- gas movement in the intestine.
Such gurgling often confuses people. Our stomach and intestines can stir and propel food very loudly. In fact, most of the intestinal sounds are inaudible.
In addition to the usual gurgling in the stomach, there is still belching, bloating and flatulence (farting). All this can occur in the same person. But all these sounds may not be related to each other.
In our belly, about 8 liters of different liquids and digestive juices are secreted every day. Then most of this liquid is sucked back.
While these fluids move in the ducts of the pancreas or liver, we cannot hear them. In about the same way as we do not hear the movement of water through water pipes. Sound only appears when liquid is mixed with gas.
The gas in the intestines is made up of the air we swallowed and the gases that microbes release when they ferment the contents of the intestines. This produces hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide.
The loudest gurgle comes from the stomach. The gut is usually much quieter.
Even if we do not hear the gurgling in the ear, the doctor can hear it with a stethoscope. It is normal for the doctor to listen with the tube to the stomach. There will or may not be heard the bowels or the noise from the blood vessels.
If the gurgling is gone
Sometimes the gurgling in the abdomen disappears after surgery. It can be a sign of intestinal paresis, and can lead to dangerous intestinal obstruction. Usually, at first, the gurgling disappears, and only after a while does abdominal pain and vomiting appear. Therefore, listening to your belly is very important.
Loud gurgling
This happens with diarrhea. With diarrhea, the bowel is bad and it contracts a lot. Even with diarrhea, the intestinal wall secretes a lot of fluid. The microbes that caused diarrhea can also produce gas.
If the intestinal contents move quickly through the intestines, then food will be poorly absorbed, and microbes in distant parts of the intestine will receive many nutrients. Microbes will make a lot of gas out of them.
Before the liquid stool flies out of the person in the toilet, all this gas and liquid will loudly gurgle and splash all over the stomach.
Another loud gurgling occurs with intestinal obstruction. If there is any obstacle to the movement of intestinal contents, then the intestines begin to contract loudly, trying to push the food further.
In fact, anyone can drink a lot of liquid, and then it will gurgle loudly in the stomach.
If you have a loud gurgle in your stomach, but there is no diarrhea, then this is most likely normal.
Food
Certain foods can increase the gurgle. Most often these are sugars like fructose or sorbitol. Both are used as a sweetener. Both can be found in natural fruits. They act as a laxative and are very popular with the microbes in the intestines.
See a doctor
If gurgling interferes with your life, then consult your doctor.
I know one woman who really didn't like the gurgling in her stomach. There was nothing wrong with this gurgling, but it turned into an obsession with her, and the woman decided to expel the water from herself.
She couldn't find anything better than to start taking a diuretic. The bubbling diminished, but the diuretic kept her lack of water constantly.
The woman was unable to work and suffered from weakness. A few years later, from the diuretic, side effects began in the intestines. Part of the colon has stopped contracting. This is a common side effect of taking large doses of diuretics all the time.
Over time, intestinal obstruction developed, and part of the large intestine was excised. They saved her life, but without a part of her intestines, she became even more weak. Here is the result of self-medication.
If something bothers you in the stomach, then see your doctor.
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Why is food poorly absorbed
Gut bacterial overgrowth
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