A stomach growl is the audible sound produced by gas moving through your digestive tract, typically when you're hungry. This phenomenon, also called borborygmi, occurs due to normal digestive processes.
The human digestive system produces sounds constantly, but we usually only hear them when air passes through an empty stomach. When food is present, it absorbs the sound. The growling occurs when the muscles in your stomach and small intestine contract to move food along, pushing gas bubbles through the liquid.
Stomach growls happen for several reasons:
Occasional stomach growling is completely normal. However, if the sounds are frequent, loud, or accompanied by other symptoms like pain, diarrhea, or weight loss, it may indicate an underlying condition like irritable bowel syndrome or malabsorption issues.
Most stomach growls are harmless and simply indicate that your digestive system is working properly. In rare cases, persistent or severe growling accompanied by other symptoms may warrant medical attention.
Many people believe stomach growls only occur when hungry, but they can happen at any time. Another misconception is that stomach growls are caused by stomach acid, when in fact they're caused by gas moving through the digestive tract.
Stomach growls can sometimes be heard by others, especially in quiet environments. The sound can travel through clothing and furniture, making it audible to those nearby.