Your stomach is usually making noise because of normal digestion and movement of gas, liquid, and food through your intestines; it’s rarely something serious on its own.

Why is my stomach making noise?

Quick Scoop

Those rumbles and gurgles actually have a name: borborygmi. They’re most often just your gut muscles squeezing and moving gas and fluid along your digestive tract.

When these three things are happening at the same time, you get noise:

  • Muscular contractions in your intestines (peristalsis)
  • Liquid in your intestines (digestive juices, what you’ve eaten or drunk)
  • Gas in your intestines

Think of it like sloshing and bubbling in a long, soft tube—your intestines.

Common harmless reasons

In most people, noisy stomach = normal gut doing its job.

1. Hunger

  • When your stomach and small intestine have been empty for a few hours, your brain triggers stronger contractions to “sweep” things along and prepare for the next meal.
  • With less food inside to muffle the sound, the growls are louder and more echo‑like.

2. Normal digestion after eating

  • As food, liquid, and digestive juices mix and move, they create bubbles and sloshing noises.
  • Gas produced by gut bacteria also gets pushed along and can make higher‑pitched gurgles.

3. Swallowed air

  • Drinking fizzy drinks, using straws, chewing gum, or eating fast adds more air into your gut.
  • More air = more bubbles and rumbling as it moves.

When the noise might mean something else

Noise plus other symptoms can sometimes point to an underlying issue.

Possible causes include:

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – Noisy gut with bloating, cramping, diarrhea and/or constipation.
  • Food intolerances (like lactose or gluten) – Gurgling with gas, diarrhea, pain after certain foods.
  • Gut bacteria overgrowth or imbalance – More gas, louder rumbling, bloating.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease or other GI problems – Usually also brings pain, weight loss, blood in stool, or ongoing diarrhea.
  • Bowel blockage (emergency) – Very loud, high‑pitched noises plus severe pain, vomiting, bloating, and not passing gas or stool.

If you imagine a forum thread right now, a typical post might look like:

“My stomach is SO loud in meetings but doesn’t really hurt. Is this normal or should I worry?”

Most replies tend to say: if it’s just noise and maybe a bit of mild gas, it’s usually normal; if you have pain, weight loss, or big changes in bowel habits, get checked.

Simple things that can help

These aren’t cures, but they often calm everyday rumbling:

  1. Don’t skip meals for too long
    • Long gaps can trigger loud “hunger waves.” Try regular, balanced meals.
  2. Eat and drink more slowly
    • Reduces swallowed air and may lessen gas and noise.
  1. Watch trigger foods
    • Some people get more noise with beans, onions, very greasy foods, carbonated drinks, or specific intolerances (like dairy).
  1. Gentle movement
    • Walking can help gas move through more comfortably, which may reduce pressure and sound.
  1. Hydration and fiber (gradually)
    • Enough water and moderate fiber help keep things moving smoothly, but adding a lot of fiber quickly can increase gas at first.

On recent gut‑health blogs, you’ll see a lot of people in 2024–2025 talking about “gut health” trends—probiotics, low‑FODMAP diets, and “microbiome‑friendly” eating—as ways to reduce gas and noises. These can help some people but are best done with guidance if you have significant symptoms.

When to see a doctor

Noisy stomach alone, with no other issues, is usually not dangerous. But you should get medical help if noise comes with:

  • Strong or worsening abdominal pain
  • Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
  • Blood in your stool or black, tarry stool
  • Persistent diarrhea or constipation
  • Fever, vomiting, or severe bloating
  • Inability to pass gas or stool (possible blockage)

Mini FAQ style wrap‑up

  • Is it normal for my stomach to be loud in quiet rooms?
    Yes. Everyone’s gut makes noise; you just notice it more in silence.
  • Does it always mean I’m hungry?
    No. Hunger growls are one type, but your intestines also make sounds while digesting even when you’re not hungry.
  • Can stress make it worse?
    Stress can speed up or slow down gut motility in some people, which may change gas patterns and noise, so many patients report louder stomachs when anxious.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.