Belly noises are normal, especially after a meal, as the intestinal walls contract to facilitate the passage of food and promote digestion. Furthermore, noises are also common in case of gas or when the person is hungry, as in this case, the intestine and stomach contract, resulting in noises.
However, when the noises are accompanied by other symptoms such as pain and enlargement of the abdomen, fever, general malaise, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation and weight loss without an apparent cause, it may be indicative of infection, inflammation or obstruction. intestinal.
Therefore, if belly noises are frequent and accompanied by other signs and symptoms, it is important that a gastroenterologist or general practitioner is consulted so that the diagnosis can be made and the most appropriate treatment indicated.
Main causes
The main causes of belly noises are:
1. Fome
Hunger is one of the main causes of rumbling in the stomach, this is because when we feel hungry there is an increase in the concentration of some substances in the brain that guarantee the sensation of hunger and which sends signals to the intestine and stomach, inducing the contraction of these organs and leading to emergence of noises.
What to do: When hunger is the cause of belly noises, the best thing to do is to eat, giving preference to healthy foods rich in fiber to promote bowel movement and digestion.
2. Excess gas
The presence of a greater amount of gases in relation to the amount of liquid that passes through the digestive system also leads to the appearance of noises.
What to do: It is important to have a diet low in foods that cause gas, such as beans and cabbage, for example, as they ferment a lot during the digestive process and increase the amount of gases produced in the body, which results in noises.
3. Digestion of food
After eating, the digestion of food can also cause noises in the belly, as the food, liquids or gases pass through the stomach and intestines, this gastrointestinal movement known as peristalsis.
What to do: As is a normal condition, however, it is recommended to eat slowly, chewing food well, and avoiding foods that produce gas, such as beans, broccoli, sweets, milk, potatoes, broccoli, eggs, lentils and cabbage, for example. See the complete list of foods that cause gas.
4. Gastrointestinal infections
Noises can also occur due to gastrointestinal infections, such as gastroenteritis, which cause diarrhea, increasing bowel movements.
In these cases, in addition to borborygmus, other symptoms usually appear, such as abdominal pain and discomfort, malaise, vomiting and nausea.
What to do: As soon as these symptoms appear, it is important to go to the emergency room or hospital to avoid dehydration, nutritional deficiencies or other complications. Furthermore, it is important to rest, have a healthy diet and only use medication if indicated by your doctor.
5. Food intolerance
Belly noises can be caused by food intolerance, which occurs due to difficulty digesting certain foods such as milk, bread, pasta, or food additives, such as dyes or preservatives, for example.
In addition to belly noises, other symptoms include a swollen belly, excess gas, diarrhea, nausea or abdominal cramps.
What to do: one should try to identify the food that caused the intolerance and consult a gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis, and follow an individual diet, guided by the nutritionist. In addition, you should keep your body well hydrated by taking small sips of water or homemade serum regularly, as diarrhea can cause dehydration.
6. Irritable bowel syndrome
Belly noises can be caused by irritable bowel syndrome, which is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by inflammation of the intestinal villi.
Generally, irritable bowel syndrome leads to excessive gas production, in addition to other symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, periods of diarrhea alternating with constipation.
Although the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not completely known, it is known that symptoms worsen during periods of stress and anxiety.
What to do: Treatment is carried out by a gastroenterologist and involves changes in diet and/or the use of probiotics and antidepressants, which calm both pain and other symptoms. In addition, activities that can reduce stress should be carried out and, thus, prevent symptoms from worsening. Check out the main treatments for irritable bowel syndrome.
7. Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease caused by inflammation in the lining of the intestine that can result in bleeding or ulcers in the intestine, and symptoms such as watery diarrhea with bright blood or brown or black, and a foul smell.
Furthermore, other symptoms are excess gas, which can result in noises in the stomach, abdominal pain, mucus in the stool, fever, as well as diarrhea that can be chronic or anemia due to intestinal bleeding, for example.
What to do: Treatment is carried out by a gastroenterologist and varies according to the severity of the symptoms, and the use of immunosuppressive medications, biological therapy or even surgery may be indicated.
8. Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease is another inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the lining of the intestines, leading to symptoms such as watery diarrhea, which may be yellow due to poor absorption of nutrients, abdominal pain, or stools with blood or mucus. Know how to identify the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
Furthermore, this disease can lead to an increase in intestinal gas, which leads to belly noises.
Crohn’s disease can be caused by genetic factors or by malfunctioning of the immune system, for example.
What to do: The treatment recommended by the gastroenterologist must be carried out, which generally involves the use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or biological therapy, in addition to changing eating habits. In some cases, your doctor may also recommend surgery to remove the damaged parts of your intestine.
9. Intestinal obstruction
Intestinal obstruction can also lead to the appearance of noises in the belly, because due to the difficulty in passing liquids and gases through the intestinal tract, the intestine itself increases the amount of peristaltic movements to facilitate the passage of these liquids and gases, also leading to an increase in noises.
Intestinal obstruction can have several causes, such as the presence of worms, intestinal endometriosis, inflammatory diseases and the presence of hernias, for example, with not only noises in the belly but also other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, very strong colic, decreased appetite and nausea, for example. Learn more about intestinal obstruction.
What to do: Treatment for intestinal obstruction varies according to the cause, and it is important that it is carried out in the hospital to avoid complications.
10. Celiac disease
Celiac disease is a severe intolerance to gluten that causes intestinal irritation and malabsorption when a person consumes foods with wheat, rye or barley, which leads to an increase in the speed of feces in the intestine, resulting in rumbling in the belly.
Furthermore, this disease can cause excess gas, oily or frothy diarrhea, with a bad smell, or bloating in the belly, for example.
Typically, people with celiac disease show improvement in symptoms when they remove gluten-containing foods from their diet.
What to do: Treatment must be carried out under the guidance of a gastroenterologist, who may recommend a gluten-free diet and, in some cases, the use of immunosuppressive medications. Find out how celiac disease is treated.
11. Hernia
A hernia is a situation characterized by the exit of part of the intestine out of the body, which can result in intestinal obstruction and, consequently, belly noises.
In addition, other symptoms may appear, such as pain, swelling, local redness, nausea and vomiting.
What to do: It is recommended that the person go immediately to a surgeon so that the severity of the hernia can be assessed and surgery can be considered to avoid complications, such as strangulation of an organ in the abdominal region, which leads to reduced blood circulation to the the site and, consequently, necrosis. See how treatment for abdominal hernia should be carried out.
Could belly noises be cancer?
Belly noises can be a sign of colorectal cancer if they are persistent and accompanied by other symptoms, such as persistent abdominal pain or discomfort, changes in bowel habits, weight loss for no apparent reason or persistent belly bloating. See other symptoms of colorectal cancer.
These signs are especially important in people with a family history of colorectal cancer, as there is a combination of factors that can lead to the development of cancer, such as genetics, age and lifestyle habits, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or a sedentary lifestyle. , for example.
In these cases, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist or oncologist for tests and early diagnosis, as the sooner it is detected, the better the chances of a cure.
