Why Do Doctors Listen to Your Belly

Pressing on your stomach is a way to find out if the size of your internal organs is normal, to check if anything hurts, and to feel if anything unusual is going on. Looking, listening, and feeling are all part of a physical exam.

What do doctors hear when they listen to your stomach?

Abdomen. Your doctor listens to one or more regions of your abdomen separately to listen to your bowel sounds. They may hear swishing, gurgling, or nothing at all. Each sound informs your doctor about what’s happening in your intestines.

Why do doctors tell you to take a deep breath?

Your doctor will also instruct you to take deep breaths while they listen. Deep breaths use the entire lung and thus provide more information if something’s going on deep inside. They’re looking for abnormal sounds, which can point to a potential health problem.