What causes a growling stomach?
Mar 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Introduction
When the stomach has been empty for a prolonged period, gastric acid irritates the gastric mucosa, promoting increased gastrointestinal motility and producing gurgling sounds. This is often accompanied by a significant feeling of hunger. Timely consumption of easily digestible foods, such as bread or biscuits, can alleviate the gurgling symptoms. It is important to maintain regular eating habits and eat at fixed times and in appropriate quantities in daily life. Cold stimulation to the abdomen can cause contraction of the intestinal smooth muscles, accelerating the movement of intestinal contents.
Growling stomach may be caused by hunger, abdominal cold exposure, indigestion, acute gastroenteritis, or irritable bowel syndrome, and can be improved according to different situations. It is recommended to visit a hospital promptly and receive treatment under a doctor's guidance.
1. Hunger: Prolonged fasting leads to an empty stomach, where stomach acid stimulates the gastric mucosa, promoting faster gastrointestinal motility and producing a growling sound. This is often accompanied by a significant feeling of hunger. Timely intake of easily digestible food, such as bread or biscuits, can alleviate the growling. Maintaining regular eating habits with consistent meal times and portion sizes is important in daily life.
2. Abdominal Cold Exposure: Cold stimulation to the abdomen causes contraction of intestinal smooth muscles, accelerating the movement of intestinal contents and resulting in growling, often accompanied by mild abdominal pain and diarrhea. Applying a hot water bag to the abdomen for 15-20 minutes each time, drinking more warm water, and keeping the abdomen warm to avoid further cold exposure can help alleviate discomfort.
3. Indigestion: Overeating or consuming excessive fatty foods increases the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and disrupts digestive function. Fermentation of food in the intestines produces gas, causing growling sounds, often accompanied by bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite. Patients may take medications such as Jianwei Xiaoshi Tablets, Baohe Pills, or Domperidone Tablets under a doctor's guidance to improve symptoms.
4. Acute Gastroenteritis: Often caused by unhygienic food, viral or bacterial invasion of the gastrointestinal tract leads to inflammation and increased intestinal motility, causing growling sounds along with vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. It is recommended to follow medical advice and take medications such as蒙脱石散 (Smectite Powder), Norfloxacin Capsules, or Cefixime Granules to relieve discomfort.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Stress, dietary triggers, and other factors can lead to intestinal dysfunction, increased intestinal sensitivity, and abnormal motility, causing growling sounds. These are often accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation, with symptoms influenced by emotional and dietary factors. Patients may take medications such as Pinaverium Bromide Tablets, Bifidobacterium Quadruple Active Tablets, or Bacillus Licheniformis Active Bacteria Granules under medical guidance to alleviate symptoms.
In daily life, it is recommended to chew food slowly and thoroughly, avoid rapid eating, chewing gum, and using straws. Engaging in moderate physical activity can promote gastrointestinal motility and help expel gas.
References:
[1] Cai Yongning. How to Effectively Alleviate Discomfort from Acute Gastroenteritis? [J]. Family Science, 2025, (02): 32.
[2] Hu Xiaoqiu. Irritable Bowel Syndrome - A Digestive Disease Not to Be Underestimated [J]. Health Reading, 2024, (20): 37.
