What causes pain around the navel?
Mar 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, pain around the navel may be caused by factors such as cold stimulation, improper diet, muscle strain, indigestion, or irritable bowel syndrome. Symptomatic management may involve general treatments and medications. In daily life, it is recommended to maintain good living habits, avoid chilling of the abdomen, and regularly clean the navel, which can help reduce pain symptoms.
In general, pain around the navel may be caused by cold stimulation, improper diet, muscle strain, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, or other factors. Symptomatic treatment such as general care and medication may be needed. If symptoms persist or worsen, timely medical consultation and comprehensive examination are recommended to determine the cause. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Cold Stimulation
Exposure of the abdomen to cold may cause abdominal muscle spasms and abnormal intestinal motility, leading to pain around the navel, possibly accompanied by abdominal distension, diarrhea, and other symptoms. It is important to keep warm by adding clothing, and applying heat compress or abdominal massage may help relieve the pain.
2. Improper Diet
Consumption of raw, cold, spicy, or hard-to-digest foods may irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing pain around the navel, which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and other symptoms. It is recommended to adjust the diet, consuming bland and easily digestible foods such as noodles and porridge, while avoiding irritants.
3. Muscle Strain
Intense physical activity or improper body posture may lead to abdominal muscle strain, causing damage to muscle fibers or tendons, resulting in localized inflammation and pain. When muscles around the navel are affected, pain may be felt around the navel, possibly accompanied by local swelling, tenderness, and restricted movement. Adequate rest, application of cold compress to reduce inflammation and swelling, or appropriate heat compress and massage are recommended.
4. Indigestion
Indigestion may be caused by excessive gastric acid secretion, weakened gastrointestinal motility, and other factors, leading to prolonged retention of food in the stomach, production of gas and acidic substances, which irritate the gastric mucosa and surrounding tissues, causing pain around the navel, possibly accompanied by abdominal distension, belching, acid regurgitation, and other symptoms. It is recommended to use medications such as domperidone tablets, compound pepsin capsules, and live lactobacillus granules under medical guidance to alleviate symptoms.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional intestinal disorder that may be related to abnormal intestinal motility, increased intestinal sensitivity, and psychosocial factors. Pain around the navel may be caused by intestinal spasms or hypersensitivity, and may also be accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal distension, alternating diarrhea and constipation. It is recommended to use medications such as mebeverine hydrochloride tablets, alverine citrate capsules, and pinaverium bromide tablets under the guidance of a physician.
In daily life, it is recommended to maintain good living habits, avoid exposure of the abdomen to cold, and regularly clean the navel to help reduce pain symptoms.
References
[1] Cai Renzhen. Navel Care for Improved Health [J]. Farmhouse Wealth Creation, 2024, (19): 61.
[2] Deqing Zhuoga, Sofia Dili Xiat, Tu Lei. Research Progress on the Regulatory Mechanisms of Visceral Sensitivity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome [J]. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 2025, 37(01): 55-58.
