stomach gurgling and gases??????????

Question

Does anybody know the reason for stomach gurgling and gases?????????????????????????????

thanks a lot

Answer 1

Stomach gurgling is usual and necessary - it is called peristalisis and is the result of internal visceral muscles - like the stomach and other muscles along the intestines - moving digested and semi-digested food along the alimentary canal. Without gurgling and stomach noises, that would indicate the lack of proper digestive function and after a period of time would require medical attention.

As for the gasses, that is just the normal chemical byproducts of digestion. When bacteria in the digestive system and the chemicals and enzymes that the body produces chemically reduce food into its component levels (the molecules and compounds) the natural by product is gas. Carbohydrate metabolism produces methane (CH4) and CO2, as well as other gasses, and metabolism of other nutrients produces other gasses. It might be disgusting, but it's what happens!

Answer 2

The word, “borborygmus” (plural, “borborygmi”) is actually an onomatopoeia; a word created to sound like the noise or event that it represents. The Ancient Greeks were the first to use the word in effort to describe the sound made by a hungry stomach. Borborygmi occur most often when we are hungry, although it does occur at times when you may not "realize" that you are hungry. In response to to this hunger, the stomach prepares for the anticipated feeding my retracting muscles designed to force material which has already been partially digested farther into the intestine and push digested food farther down into the colon in preparation for disposal. This activity causes small pockets of water and air to form in the stomach and intestines and the resulting noises are caused by gases and materials being squeezed between the folds and around resident material. The intensity of sound differs according to the intensity of the contractions and the contents of the stomach and intestines. If you want to try and duplicate the noise in an effort to better understand how this happens, try streching the opening of a balloon while the air is escaping. The result will be higher pitched when the opening is pulled tighter, and lower pitched as the tension on the opening is decreased. To create an even more accurate demonstration you can perform this experiment while holding the ballon just under the surface of water or other moist material. Borborygmi is not an inherited trait or condition. Sensitivities that sometimes cause it, however, can be. It is possible (whether you realize it or not) that you suffer from alactasia (or lactose intolerance) – an inherited condition causing the lack of the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar. Try modifying your diet and see if you get better results. If you eliminate milk and milk products (cheese, creams, etc.) from your diet for a few days you may note a dramatic drop in the frequency (no pun intended) in the noise or it may stop altogether. Otherwise, for the time being at least, if this embarrassing situation happens to you in church, the library, or some other quiet setting where others can hear it, a temporary solution that sometimes helps is to apply a bit of pressure to your abdomen or simply slip a cracker or cookie into your mouth to “fool” your stomach into believing that there is more to come. Both of these solutions seem to work for most people.

Answer 3

Your body is simply moving food and fluids through your body.

Peristalsis makes your intestines squeeze along the length here and there, causing some food to go forward, and some to move backward a little, smushing and mixing.

Gases are created by decomposing food (mainly done by digestive enzymes from saliva in your mouth and juices in your stomach/intestines.

After the foods are broken down, bacteria in your large intestines breaks it down further by eating it, and that bacteria literally poops and farts, creating gasses and odor.

A good way to get rid of body gasses is to simply....drink more water. It fills every crevice of the intestines and forces any excess gases out.

Answer 4

Yes, something is causing the excess gas production. Since it is in the stomach (and not the intestines), avoid these foods - carbonated drinks, sugarfee chewing gum (they contain sorbitol), iron supplements, broccoli, and dairy products. This is called an exclusionary diet. Try it for a week -- and be strict. If the gas settles down, one of the above is your culprit, so each subsequent week, add 1 back into your diet and see which causes you gas.

I did this and found it was Coke, dairy, iron pills, and sorbitol, to my angst. So I gave up Coke (a very hard thing, believe me) and my lovely Dentyne Ice chewing gum ... I don't mind giving up the others.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Are you sure your not just hungry.For gas you can get gas pills over the counter.

Answer 6

hi i also suffer this and it is the symptoms in my case of ibs it would be worth getting it checked out by your doctor.good luck