Possible Causes of Pain Around the Belly Button

It’s never a good idea to ignore pain. Pain is the body’s way of saying that an unseen damage, injury, or an underlying illness is behind it. Although stomach pain is one of the most common types of pain in the body, pain around the belly button is the most worrisome. Why? There are a lot of organs located in that area of the stomach and serious medical conditions could be causing a seemingly simple pain in the belly button.

Knowing the Kind of Belly Pain

A sharp, sudden pain near the belly button could indicate anything from pregnancy to a ruptured spleen.  That’s why it’s important to determine just what kind of pain you’re having. Is the frequency of the pain constant or does it flare-up from time to time? Does it hurt only when you move or after eating? Is the pain mild and subtle or does it disrupt normal activities? The consistently and level of the pain itself could give you an idea what’s wrong.

Common Causes of Pain in the Belly Button Area

The Food You Ate

Most types of stomach aches are caused by the food you ate. When you eat too much too soon, it puts excessive pressure in the stomach and this causes pain. Eating too little will also cause pain because what little food you consumed will trigger acid reflux. Food allergies as well as viral and bacterial infections could also cause stomach pain along excessive gas and damaged intestinal linings.

Medication Reactions

Pain in the belly button might not necessarily be caused by your organs; it could be your stomach reacting adversely to certain medications you took. Some types of drugs may disrupt the digestive function of the stomach, triggering pain that will pass within a few hours.

Urinary Tract Infection

Some types of urinary tract infections cause pain in the belly button. These infections may vary from bladder infection, cystitis, and gonorrhea. If pain around your belly button is followed by painful urination, then it’s likely you’re afflicted with urinary tract infection. We recommend having yourself checked and letting your doctor recommend the right medication for you.

Hernia

The stomach is one of the places in the body where hernias occur because there are many organs in that area. Hernia is a protrusion of an organ through the wall of the cavity that contains it. Some types of hernias could cause pain in the belly button, in the intestines, or umbilicus. If the pain worsens with movement and there is pronounced tenderness around areas of the stomach, it’s likely you have a herniated organ.

Ulcer

When the stomach’s mucous lining is corroded, gastric juices will start getting in contact with the exposed stomach tissues. This will cause dull or sharp pain that gets worse throughout the day. Eating spicy food, acidic foods, and being emotionally upset could trigger ulcer. Hyperacidity, stress, and bacterial infection could also cause stomach ulcer, resulting in pain around the belly button and on the upper part of the abdomen.