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Stomachs growl, noses run, and yawning is contagious: Ever wonder why?

Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., Harvard Health Blog on

Published in Health & Fitness

There are certain things our bodies do so often and so automatically that we barely notice them. Yawning, growling stomachs, and runny noses are good examples. Each is a universal part of our daily human experience.

But did you ever wonder why? Below are a few things we know and a few we suspect.

Why do you yawn?

Perhaps you associate yawning only with being tired or bored. While we don’t know exactly why people yawn, there's no shortage of theories. Yawning may:

It’s also unclear why yawning is contagious. In the animal kingdom, it’s common to see contagious yawning among members of a group, perhaps as a signal for collective behavior (such as moving from activity to rest).

Why does your stomach growl?

That rumbling in your stomach is known medically as borborygmi — an excellent Scrabble word if you have the right letters. We usually assume it reflects hunger. And it’s true that the experience of hunger can make itself heard in anticipation of a meal.

But your stomach may also growl after a meal, when the stomach and intestines propel liquids and food through the digestive tract. Stress can also trigger stomach rumbling.

What's causing all that noise — and is it ever a problem? It may be due to gas moving around in response to muscular contractions of the intestinal walls. Occasionally, noises from the abdomen may be a sign of an intestinal infection or other trouble. If you’re experiencing other symptoms, such as pain or fever, check in with your doctor. But the vast majority of noises are harmless and a sign that your gut is working normally.

 

Why does your nose run?

Sometimes it can seem like your nose is running for no reason. But there are some well-known triggers, such as:

The bottom line

Some of the most common everyday human experiences are also some of the least understood. There are many other examples, of course: Why are we ticklish? What purpose do hiccups serve? What’s the deal with brain freeze? Perhaps topics for another day.

It may seem like a leap of faith, but it’s likely there are very good reasons for the way our bodies work — even when we don’t know what those reasons are.

(Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is a senior faculty editor and Editorial Advisory Board member for Harvard Health Publishing.)

©2023 Harvard University. For terms of use, please see https://www.health.harvard.edu/terms-of-use. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


 

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