Dorothy FarrarBowel sounds
Intestinal sounds are usually not an indication of a serious illness. Everyone is familiar with these slight digestive problems and they depend, among other things, on the food consumed. If the bowel noises occur frequently and there are other symptoms, the symptoms should be examined by a doctor.
What are bowel sounds?
Intestinal murmurs are unusual noises that come from the intestines. These sounds can be very different. It is often bubbling or gurgling, but there can also be bowel noises reminiscent of moaning. This depends on the cause and on the nature of the transported food .
These gut sounds can usually be heard clearly unaided, sometimes even from a distance, depending on how loud the sounds are. There are many causes of bowel noises. Certain foods can be responsible for this, but the intestinal noises can also occur as a side effect of an illness.
causes
Our gastrointestinal tract is used every day to transport and digest our food. This requires a great deal of digestive activity. The intestinal wall is particularly important here, as it has the ability to transport food to the anus by means of wave-like contractions. In technical terms, this process is referred to as peristalsis. If there are intestinal noises, the peristalsis of the intestine is usually disturbed. This can be due to insufficiently crushed food components or foods that are generally difficult to digest.
When transporting such things, there can be noises from the intestines, which are usually described as bubbling. But flatulence can also be perceived as intestinal noises. Many foods have flatulent properties. This means they create air bubbles in the digestive tract. These air bubbles also have to pass through the entire intestine, so they are also transported by the peristalsis. Intestinal noises can be caused by the air. In some cases, bowel sounds can also indicate a bowel obstruction. But then there are other symptoms, such as cramps.
Diseases
When to the doctor?
Bowel sounds that occur shortly after eating are often not a cause for concern. They go away on their own as digestion progresses. If they occur more frequently, it is important to check which foods triggered the bowel sounds. If this cannot be clarified obviously, a doctor should be consulted. It is often a question of lactose intolerance, which is detected by a blood test. This is followed by a change in diet, which leads to a reduction in intestinal noise. In the case of an intolerance, flatulence is often added to the intestinal noises.
If other symptoms occur in addition to the intestinal noises, a doctor should be consulted. Diarrhea or pain are signs of infection or inflammation. These are contagious and, if left untreated, will spread further in a short time. If you have cramps in your intestines or stomach, you should also consult a doctor. In severe cases, an ulcer or tumor develops that needs to be treated.
Intestinal noises can be an indication of psychological problems. Stress , anxiety, or trauma are possible reasons a doctor can help with. The psychosomatic complaints often increase if they are not clarified in time. Pregnant women often suffer from intestinal noises. This should be considered a normal and natural progression with no cause for concern.
diagnosis and course
In order to diagnose the exact cause of intestinal noises, it is first necessary for the patient to describe the complaints to the attending physician as precisely as possible. It is important how often the intestinal noises occur, whether there is a direct connection with food intake, how long the noises last and whether other symptoms occur as well.
In a subsequent physical examination, the doctor will feel the stomach and listen to the bowel sounds. A stethoscope is usually used for this purpose, with which the doctor can clearly hear the bowel sounds. This examination is also called auscultation and focuses on all four areas of the abdominal wall. It is important that the doctor listens to the sounds in one place for a sufficiently long time. This is the best way to define the bowel sounds.
Basically, bowel sounds are always present. But if these are particularly loud and violent, it indicates a digestive disorder, which can also be caused by illness. Gastrointestinal diseases with diarrhea, which can be triggered by viruses or bacteria, come into consideration here. If such an infection can be ruled out, there may also be food intolerance or an intestinal obstruction.
complications
There are a number of complications associated with bowel murmurs, usually related to the cause. If intestinal sounds are due to malnutrition , skin diseases and nerve disorders can occur. If intestinal noises occur as a result of allergies, it can lead to rheumatic inflammation of the joints. Deficiency symptoms can also occur in connection with intestinal noises.
Intestinal noises are usually associated with gastric complaints. If bowel sounds are due to abdominal pain and symptoms of shock, an acute abdomen can occur. Other possible complications are an intestinal blockage or a perforation of the appendix or stomach. Bowel sounds can also be associated with aerocolia or aerogastric activity in the intestinal tract.
However, intestinal noises are often harmless and are associated with an unproblematic gastrointestinal upset with diarrhea, constipation or stomach pain. If the gastrointestinal tract is upset, however, the affected person is often quite restricted in his everyday life and in his mobility. If an irritable bowel causes noises in the intestine, the well-being of the affected person is often reduced. Treatment with medication may initially increase bowel sounds. With good treatment, however, long-term complications should not be expected.
treatment and therapy
The treatment of bowel sounds must of course be dependent on the cause. In many cases it is a matter of digestive problems, caused by food that causes bloating. In these cases, you can simply wait until the food has been completely transported to the anus. Then the bowel noises disappeared again. If the flatulence causes extreme pain , there are special medications that ensure that these air pockets are released. In most cases, however, this is not necessary.
The cause of intestinal noises is just as often an infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Viruses or bacteria can disrupt digestion in such a way that normal processing of the ingested food is no longer possible. The food components reach the intestines without the stomach having prepared them sufficiently. This is why intestinal noises occur during further transport through the intestine. Diseases of this kind always bring with them diarrhea, sometimes also vomiting . In such cases, care should be taken to ensure adequate fluid intake, which is particularly important for children.
Associated spasms can be treated with relaxing medication. In addition, bland food is required so as not to further burden the digestion. Surgery may also be necessary for more serious diseases that cause intestinal noises. This is especially the case with intestinal obstructions.
outlook and prognosis
As a rule, intestinal noises do not always indicate a serious illness. In many cases, they can also occur after eating and usually indicate normal bowel activity. However, if the intestinal noises persist for a long time or are associated with pain, the patient should consult a doctor. In this case, there is no self-healing and the bowel sounds can indicate another and more serious illness. However, it cannot generally be predicted whether this will lead to a positive course of the disease.
If the gut murmurs are caused by a stomach flu , the murmurs usually go away after the flu is fought. In most cases, there are no particular complications or other symptoms. It is not uncommon for intestinal noises to be associated with nausea or vomiting and can reduce the quality of life. Intestinal noises can also occur with poisoning. In this case, however, medical treatment must be carried out, otherwise, in the worst case, the patient may die.
prevention
To prevent general digestive problems, a balanced diet with enough fiber is essential. Hygiene also plays a role. To prevent infections, you should always wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet. Cleanliness must also be observed when it comes to food. Uncooked food (fruit, vegetables) should only be eaten after thorough washing. In addition, food should always be sufficiently cooled to prevent spoilage. However, if an intestinal problem is hereditary and congenital, no preventive measures can be taken.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.