What’s that sound? From burps to the growling of your stomach to the occasional popping of your joints, your insides are trying to tell you something. Here’s a quick guide to which body noises are normal—and which ones aren’t.
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1. Whistling in your nose
Whistling is a sign of airflow obstruction and may mean excess mucus is lining your nasal passages.
When to worry: If you suffered a nasal trauma, whistling may indicate a tear in the cartilage between the nostrils, repairable by an ENT or plastic surgeon.
2. Sneezing
Sneezing may be triggered by anything from a virus to bright lights, which can stimulate a reflex response running from the brain to the diaphragm. Some people sneeze louder because of the volume of their lungs, size of their trachea or strength of their abs.
When to worry: Chronic attacks may warrant allergy testing.
3. Whooshing in your ears
Whooshing that you hear when you’re lying with your head on a pillow could be blood moving through your carotid artery and jugular vein, which run behind your ear, and the sound becomes noticeable when external noise is blocked. Whooshing you hear 24/7 may be due to an infection or allergies. Congestion in your eustachian tube, which connects your nose and throat to the middle ear, also muffles external sounds; it should clear on its own or with the help of an antibiotic or decongestant.
When to worry: Whooshing without obstructed hearing could mean a blood vessel blockage or abnormality; call your doc.
4. Ringing in your ears
Ringing in one or both ears is known as tinnitus. Infections, aging and very loud noise can damage hair cells in the inner ear that translate sound waves into electrical signals. The result is that your cochlea sends signals to the brain even when no sound waves come in.
When to worry: If a phantom sound lasts more than two days or is accompanied by pain or vertigo, see a doctor for tests to rule out infection or neurological issues.
5. Belching
Belching is the sound of air escaping your stomach. No surprise—it’s usually a result of swallowing air.
When to worry: Burps plus burning chest pain or a sore throat might be symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, which can be treated with Rx drugs.
6. Hiccups
Hiccups occur when your diaphragm spasms, causing an inhale that’s abruptly stopped by the glottis (part of the larynx). The diaphragm is partially controlled by the vagus and phrenic nerves, which can be stimulated by excitement, nervousness, certain meds or stomach distention after a big meal.
When to worry: If hiccups last longer than 48 hours, seek medical care to rule out nerve irritation or a central nervous system problem.
7. Rumbling in your gut
Rumbling or gurgling that seems to come from your belly is actually the sound of air and fluid as they’re moved by muscles through the digestive tract. If you experience the noise on an empty stomach, it could mean your gut is sweeping out leftover debris—or it’s a cue that it’s mealtime.
When to worry: Experiencing high-pitched noises (with pain, cramping or nausea) but no BMs is a marker of partial bowel obstruction, which may require surgery.
8. Farting
Farting is often an auditory indicator that your gut flora are digesting high-fiber foods, like cruciferous veggies and beans. The by-products—including methane, nitrogen and hydrogen gases—are expelled through your rectum.
When to worry: Flatulence (with cramping and diarrhea) that occurs after you eat dairy could indicate lactose intolerance. Having these symptoms after drinking soda or fruit juice might point to a digestive disorder called fructose malabsorption. To check, try cutting out the offending foods for a week or two. Otherwise, flatulence is rarely something to worry about.
RELATED: Could you be suffering from fructose malabsorption? Here’s how to tell
9. Your joints popping
Your joints popping and cracking are usually no biggie. Your joints are lubricated by fluid; when you squat or stand, the pressure in a healthy joint changes and the fluid may form bubbles that pop.
RELATED: Fun and low-impact exercises that will save your joints
When to worry: If you have popping associated with pain, locking or instability, see your doctor. It could be a tendon or ligament rupture, a fracture or a cartilage injury. Hear creaking with a grinding sensation? That might signal osteoarthritis, as cartilage starts to deteriorate. Anti-inflammatory meds and physical therapy can bring relief.
10. Wheezing
Dial 911 if you can’t catch your breath. Allergies, asthma or even congestive heart failure can cause the bronchi in your lungs to become inflamed and swollen. Heart failure may require hospitalization, while allergies and asthma can typically be treated with medication.
11. Snorting or gasping at night
Both are associated with sleep apnea, a condition in which the airway frequently collapses. Two other telltale signs: You snore and regularly feel tired during the day.
12. Whooping
People who have pertussis (or whooping cough) make this strange sound when they try to inhale through an inflamed airway following coughing spasms. Episodes are usually worse at night. The infection is highly contagious and is considered especially risky for children. All kids—and adults—should get the DTaP vaccine.
Curated Article from: Health.com
