A belly button pain is something that should not be ignored especially if the cause is unknown. There are various reasons for the navel or the belly button to be in pain and among the reasons could be serious. The pain can be intermittent or it can be unswerving depending on the cause of the pain.

Pain in the belly button is often felt when stretching, bending or leaning forward although the pain is not that too intense. The pain felt is often just a discomfort instead of a true pain or an excruciating pain. The pain however, can be sharp for some and the incidence is quite alarming as the area of the belly button consist of so many organs around it.

People would often think that pain in the belly button is nothing serious and something that can just be ignored. The pain itself is something that should be thought about as pain the natural response of the body when something is not going right inside the body.

Belly button pain can be experienced by everyone regardless of age, gender and racial group. The pain can be mild or it can be serious depending on the underlying cause. It is pain that usually does not go away with rest.

Symptoms of Belly Button Pain

The onset of belly button pain can be consistent or it can be sporadic. The symptoms of belly button pain depend on the underlying cause that brings pain in or around the belly button.

Stomach infection for example, does not only bring pain to the belly button but mostly bring patient to experience diarrhea or constipation depending on the causative agent.

The pain in belly button is varying depending on the cause or the underlying condition that brought pain directly or indirectly to the belly button. The pain can be mild to moderate or it can be severe while for some the pain can be discomforting or can be tolerated. The pain is also especially felt when stretching the body or doing stretching exercise, bending and leaning forward.

Causes

There are many reasons for the belly button to be in pain and it is important to determine what is causing the pain to give it an appropriate attention. The cause of pain in and around the belly button can be due to minor problem or may be due to a serious problem where belly button pain is part of the manifestation.

Minor problems causing belly button pain include the following:

Urinary tract infection results to an increase urge of the patient to urinate which is caused by the infection. The pain is often felt and is severe while urinating although throughout the day mild to moderate pain is experienced around the belly button.

Vigorous exercises involving the abdomen can cause the pain in or around the belly button. This is mainly the result of the abdominal muscle being stretched too much or may have been too strenuous for the abdominal muscle and is manifesting in the form of pain in the belly button.

Manner of eating is another reason for the belly button to hurt. It is among the most common cause of belly button pain which may be due to too much eating or eating a little. Overeating can cause pressure to the stomach as it expands to accommodate the size of food taken in while eating a little will trigger acid reflux which can trigger the pain in the belly button.

Food poisoning causes the stomach to expand as a result of gas buildup in the stomach caused by the increasing numbers of bacteria. The expansion of the stomach brings pressure in the abdominal muscle that causes pain in and around the navel area.

Medications can also bring pain to the navel particularly medications used for the treatment of stomach pain and others. The pain in the belly button is generally an adverse reaction towards the intake of the medicine which is probably not absorbed properly.

Pregnancy causes the stomach to expand to accommodate the increasing size of the developing fetus. As the stomach expands, the belly button is also expanding thus causing pain. The pain of the belly button however should not be disregarded and should be observed as it may indicate a problem such as ectopic pregnancy.

Post surgery of the abdomen can cause the patient to experience pain in and around the belly button. The pain can be mild or severe and should resolve as the incision site heals.

Stomach infections such as from the bacteria and virus can cause the stomach to expand due to swelling. The swelling thus causes the pressure in the abdominal muscle leading to pain in and around the belly button.

Major problems causing belly button pain include the following:

Disorder of the small intestine can result to pain in and around the belly button. The small intestine is situated near the belly button that when it winds through the abdomen as a result of a disorder, this will bring the pain within the area of the navel.

Gallstones generally cause no symptoms except when it is already in its severe form or when there is already the presence of a complication. The usual symptom is pain in the upper abdomen which may radiate towards the belly button.

Hernia is a condition characterized by the protrusion of an internal organ resulting from the inability of the weak abdominal muscle to contain it in its position. The protrusion in the abdomen results to pressure buildup in the muscle which could possibly lead to pain in the belly button.

Treatment

It is important to identify the cause of pain in the belly button as this condition should not be disregarded especially if it exists for an unknown reason. Proper identification of the cause is tantamount to a proper approach in treating pain and its cause.

The treatment of pain in the belly button depends on what caused the pain. Belly button pain from overstretching the body for example can be managed through cessation of stretching exercise until the pain has died down. Medications are also available to help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation if pain is caused by an ongoing inflammation. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be given depending on which medication the patient can tolerate or which the patient has no allergic reaction.

Surgery is necessary if belly button pain is due to an impending appendicitis or if due to hernia.

Remedies

Belly button pain due to minor problems can be addressed with home remedies such as:

Application of ice pack over the belly button will help relieve the pain. The coldness of the ice pack will help constrict the blood vessels thus reducing the pressure and relieving the pain.

Frozen vegetables can also relieve pain by applying it over the belly button in case an ice pack is not available.

A pinched nerve can cause so much pain and discomfort that it can affect the function and quality of life of an individual suffering from a pinched nerve. It is a condition defined as the compression of the nerve when there is too much pressure applied in the surrounding tissue such as the bone, muscle and cartilage of a specific area of the body such as the shoulder blade.
Pinched nerve can happen to everyone and almost all people regardless of age, gender and racial belonging get to experience a pinched nerve at one point in their lives. It is not a serious or life-threatening condition but it can be so discomforting and can impair the normal function of the affected part of the body.

The nerves are very essential to the human body as it function just like an electrical cords which is responsible for transmitting messages to the brain from the entire body. The motor or efferent nerve is responsible for transmitting messages from the brain to the body such as commanding the muscle to contract and move. The sensory or afferent nerve on the other hand is responsible for transmitting message from the body to the brain in order to process information for sensation such as temperature, taste and pain.

A pinched nerve in the shoulder blade is when there is too much pressure applied in the surrounding tissue of the shoulder blade due to nerve compression or a trapped nerve. It is, however, a condition that does not result to an irreversible or permanent damage but it can impair the function of the nerve in transmitting signals to the brain and vice-versa.

The shoulder blade is among the many parts of the body that gets to experience a pinched nerve. Although generally not a serious and life-threatening condition, it can definitely affect the quality of life as pain can be so discomforting.

Symptoms

Pain is the prominent symptom of a pinched nerve. The degree of pain experienced is not always common and differs from one patient to another. The pain is not permanent although there are some patients who get to experience a lingering pain. The symptom of a pinched nerve in the shoulder blade and even in the other parts of the body usually gets worse when the patient is at rest or at sleep.

The pain of pinched nerve in the shoulder blade does not necessarily mean a compressed nerve located directly in the shoulder. It is described as a radiating nerve in which the compression of the nerve comes from a distant area mostly in the neck. The pain is radicular that radiates to the peripheral of the extremities from the point of origin of the compressed nerve. In pinched nerve, a fast movement such as sneezing and coughing can cause the pain to become worse.

Weakness is also another symptom that a patient with pinched nerve will experience. The weakness in the shoulder blade can impair the ability of an individual to lift their arms over their head or even lift an object.

Tingling and numbness or the sensation of pins and needles is another symptom of a pinched nerve in the shoulder blade. This tingling sensation and numbness may come and go although it may linger in others. Movement of the shoulder however can make the tingling and numbness subsides.

The symptoms of pinched nerve in the shoulder may be short-lived or temporary for some which indicates only a minor problem. In rare cases, lingering symptoms indicate a serious problem that requires a medical consultation.

Causes

A pinched nerve occurs when there is a presence of damaged or injury in the nerve resulting from a direct compression of the nerve. The compression of the nerve impairs its function of transmitting message to the brain from the body and vice-versa thus, leading to the symptoms of pinched nerve.

There are several causes that can lead to a pinched nerve not only in the shoulder blade but also in other parts of the body.

The causes of pinched nerve include the following:

• Poor posture is one common cause of a pinched nerve in the shoulder blade. Women with large breasts are more prone for suffering from a pinched nerve in the shoulder due to a poor posture in carrying large heavy breasts.
• Repeated movement of the shoulder blade can cause the nerve to get compressed and eventually a pinched nerve and its symptoms.
• Overexertion of the arms can also cause nerve compression resulting to a radicular pain that radiates to the shoulder blade.
• Overweight or obesity is a factor considered for developing a pinched nerve. The excess weight adds pressure to the nerves and muscles which can cause a pinched nerve such as in the shoulder blade.
• Pregnancy contributes to the onset of a pinched nerve particularly in the shoulder blade. This is generally due to an added weight brought by the developing fetus thus putting too much pressure in the nerves and muscles.
• Several medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome increase the risk for experiencing pinched nerve. These medical conditions directly put a pressure on the nerve due to damage or injury brought by the condition itself.

Treatment

The aim of treatment for a pinched nerve is to relieve the pressure applied due to the compression of the nerve. The condition is not permanent and can be treated and which does not leave a permanent damage after it has been treated.

The treatment for pinched nerve in the shoulder blade varies and depends on the underlying cause. The treatment may include the following:

Rest is the initial treatment recommended to patient suffering from a pinched nerve in the shoulder blade and all types of pinched nerve. In some cases, immobilization of the affected part is necessary.

Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help in relieving the symptom of pain. Inflammation is addressed by giving the patient with anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids.

Surgery is recommended to pinched nerve that is unresponsive to rest and medical treatment. The type of surgical procedure will depend on which part of the body is affected with pinched nerve.

Remedies

Home remedies can also help improve a pinched nerve such as:

Hot and cold compress help in reducing pain and inflammation. This remedy requires alternating application of hot and cold. The initial step is to apply cold compress for fifteen minutes followed by hot compress for another fifteen minutes.

Physical therapy can strengthen the muscle and can help in stretching and straightening the muscle thus relieving the pressure on the pinched nerve.

What is Gliosis?

Gliosis is the reactive response of the glial cells in the central nervous system following a trauma or injury to the brain.  It is a process of scar formation in the brain that resulted from the proliferation of the astrocytes in the part of the brain that has been diseased or injured.  It is a nonspecific response of several types of glial cells in the central nervous system that often leads to the formation of scar.

Gliosis involves a process that undergoes series of changes of molecular and cellular that takes place over several days.  It involves the glial cells in the brain and in the spinal cord and is the primary immune response after an injury or damage in the brain takes place.

The onset of gliosis can be either beneficial or detrimental to the central nervous system.  The gliosis helps the surrounding healthy cells from further harm or damage.  This is achieved by containing the damaged and unhealthy neurons.  The protection of the healthy cells from the results of cell death and inflammation is the beneficial part of the gliosis.  On the other hand, the onset of gliosis is detrimental in part when the scarring continues subsequently leading to an irreversible damage or permanent damage to the neurons.  The continuous scarring can also prevent the surrounding neurons from recovering completely.

Symptoms of Gliosis

Gliosis is a process of cellular and molecular changes of the glial cells that generally occur as a nonspecific response from trauma and damage in the central nervous system.  This can occur in any part of the brain with which a trauma, disease or an injury has occurred.

The glial scars are created after the glial cells initially collected all the damaged or dead neurons.  The scar serves as the wall or barrier to contain the damaged or dead neurons so as to protect the surrounding healthy cells from the harm of the dead cells.

The clinical manifestation of gliosis therefore depends on the part of the brain and spinal cord that has been damaged or injured.  It can occur in any part of the brain and spinal cord particularly where an injury has occurred.  Gliosis located in the sensory cortex may cause the patient to experience numbness and tingling sensation while gliosis in the motor cortex may cause the patient to experience weakness.  A gliosis that occurred in the occipital lobe can result to visual impairment of the patient.

Gliosis Causes

Injury, trauma and disease in the brain and the spinal cord trigger the process of gliosis.  The migration macrophages and microglia to the site of the injury is the primary process of gliosis.  This process in known as microgliosis which occur several hours immediately after the injury to the central nervous system has occurred.

Over several days after microgliosis has developed, remyelination will occur after the oligodendrocyte precursor cells have migrated to the site of injury.  The glial scar then develops after the surrounding astrocytes has proliferated or is known as astrogliosis.

Gliosis occur after the astrocytes have proliferated.  The incidence is brought by several factors that bring injury to the brain and the spinal cord.

Stroke or cardiovascular accident is a medical emergency in which the brain has ceased from functioning due to an interruption in the blood flow of the brain.  The interruption to blood supply in any part of the brain may lead to death of brain cells.  The interruption in the blood flow may occur in the brain and thus the process of gliosis.

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the nervous system that involves the myelin sheath of the nerve cells of the brain and the spinal cord.  This inflammatory disrupts the communication between the brain and the rest of the body.  The attack in the myelin sheath causes the damage in the brain tissue and the spinal cord which later will contribute to gliosis.  Gliosis is the prominent feature of multiple sclerosis.

Other factors that contribute to gliosis include the following:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Acute trauma in the central nervous system
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Treatment

The treatment for gliosis is generally directed towards its underlying cause.  Gliosis is a process of scar formation as a response of the immune system towards the trauma or injury incurred in the brain and in the spinal cord.  This process is generally triggered by several factors that cause trauma and injury to the brain and the spinal cord.

No specific treatment has been identified for gliosis and the therapeutic approach is aimed towards minimizing the proliferation of the astrocytes in the central nervous system.

What does Fluttering in Chest mean?  

Fluttering in the chest is an abnormal rhythm of the heart which may be beating too fast or too hard or may be skipping a beat.  Fluttering is the sensation that is felt when the heart is having an abnormal rhythm.

Fluttering in the chest is medically termed as atrial flutter which is a disorder of the heart rhythm characterized by tachycardia or rapid heartbeat or an irregularity in the heartbeat.

The fluttering in the chest or atrial flutter occurs when the electrical impulses generated by the sinoatrial node takes an abnormal path thus, causing the rapid contraction of the atria.

Atrial flutter is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder that usually causes no symptoms although is often associated with palpitations, chest pain or discomfort and fainting.  Atrial flutter is a type of supraventricular tachycardia that involves the atria or the upper chamber.  It is generally not a life-threatening condition but may result to serious or severe medical complications that it is also considered a medical emergency.

Atrial flutter is more common in adult men than in women and the risk tends to increase with age.  The incidence of atrial flutter is found to be prevalent in older adults with ages 60 to 90 years.  The outlook for patient with atrial flutter depends on the underlying medical condition that triggers the atria to flutter.  The mortality and morbidity is related to medical complications such as stroke and congestive heart failure.

Fluttering in the chest as a result of rapid heartbeat can cause the heart to pump blood inefficiently and thus causing inadequate supply of oxygen in the vital organs of the body.  Stroke is one specific complication of atrial fluttering which can be life-threatening although can be prevented with prompt medication.

Symptoms of Fluttering in Chest

Atrial flutter may not cause symptoms to some and a steady heartbeat is still in effect although the beat is rather too fast than the average heartbeat. The normal heartbeat is usually about 50 to 100 beats per minute while in atrial flutter the heartbeat is about 250 to 350 beats per minute.

Symptoms may also be experienced by some individuals with atrial flutter.  The symptoms experience depends on the underlying cause.

Generally, the symptoms may include the following:

• Chest pain and discomfort
• Tightness or a feeling of heaviness in the chest
• A sensation of pounding or racing in the heartbeat called palpitation
• Poor intolerance to exercise or heavy activities
• Weakness and fatigue
• Shortness in breath
• Pulse that is fast or rather irregular

What Causes Fluttering in Chest?

The heartbeat in atrial flutter is rather rapid than the average although it beats in a regular pattern.  The heartbeat is governed by the electrical system of the heart.  The electrical impulses pass through the pathway in the heart and are responsible for making both the atria and ventricles to work together in pumping blood to the heart.

The normal heartbeat is generated by a single electrical impulse that came from the sinoatrial node which is found in the right atrium.  The electrical impulse sent by the sinoatrial node allows the contraction of the atria and pushes the blood to the lower ventricles.  In atrial flutter, both the upper chambers of the heart contract too fast than the ventricles resulting to the fluttering sensation in the chest.

The onset of atrial flutter may be due to a disease in the heart or an abnormality in the heart.  It may also be caused by any disease in the body that generally affects the normal functioning or beating of the heart.  Atrial fluttering can also be influenced by substances that can affect the electrical impulse of the heart while in some individuals, atrial flutter may occur without a cause.

Diseases and abnormalities that can result to atrial flutter may include the following:

• Hypertension
• Hypertrophy
• Cardiomyopathy
• Mitral valve abnormality
• Pulmonary embolism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Emphysema
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Treatment

The goal of treatment in atrial flutter is to reduce the rapid heart rate and to keep a normal heart rhythm.

The primary goal of treatment is to manage the ventricular rate.  In patient without serious symptoms, the ventricular rate is managed with oral medication.  Atrial flutter with serious symptoms requires medical emergency and is managed by defibrillation to bring a normal sinus rhythm.

The second goal of treatment is to prevent atrial fluttering from recurring.  This is generally managed with a daily intake of oral medication.

Stroke is a life-threatening complication of atrial flutter.  Prevention of this complication is among the goal of treatment in atrial flutter.  This can be achieved by giving warfarin or blood-thinning drug to reduce the risk especially in people over the age of 65 years.  Aspirin is prescribed to individuals with atrial flutter who cannot tolerate warfarin.

What is Hyporeflexia?

Hyporeflexia is a condition characterized by the absence or diminished reflex in reaction to an applied stimulus.  This condition is associated with the lower motor neuron defined by a deficit in the nerve that runs through the spinal cord going to the extremities.

Hyporeflexia is among the possible response in deep tendon test and is the reverse of hyperreflexia.  The condition of hyporeflexia is an indication of a problem with the reflex arc itself whereas hyperreflexia represents a problem with the spine located on top of the reflex.

A reflex is an involuntary or automatic movement when a stimulus is applied.  The reflex is governed by the stretch receptors in the muscle after it sends signal to the spinal cord via the sensory nerve of the spinal branch.  The jerking of the extremity applied with stimulus is the result of the contraction signal sent from the spinal cord via the motor nerve.

Hyporeflexia in itself is mostly a symptom that indicates a bigger problem particularly at the spinal cord affecting the sensory and motor neuron of an individual.  The onset of hyporeflexia is characterized by the absence or a diminished reflex when a stimulus is applied.

Hyporeflexia is among the sign of a neurological problem.  It is an indication of a deficiency in the sensory or motor neurons.  The existence of the condition is often discovered during a routine examination that includes a neurological evaluation to determine the extent of the underlying medical condition.

Hyporeflexia Symptoms

The general symptom of hyporeflexia is the diminished or the inability of the reflex to respond to the stimuli applied in certain areas of the body typically in the elbows and knees.  Hyporeflexia is not a disease itself but is more of a sign and symptom indicating a bigger health problem particularly neurological problem.

The reflex of the body is governed by the stretch receptors in the muscle.  It is an automatic or involuntary movement such as jerking of the extremity when a stimulus is applied.  The level of the reflex is significant in the course of neurological evaluation as it may indicate a problem within the sensory or motor neurons of the spinal cord which may have been damaged or may be pressed by other matters.

The level of the reflex can be tested in any of the six primary location of the reflex arc.  These include the tendons in the biceps, triceps and brachioradialis and the cervical nerves in the fifth, sixth and seventh vertebrae.  The thoracic nerve is also included in the primary location of the reflex arc and which can be located in the eighth and all the way to the twelfth thoracic nerve.  Reflex arc in the patellar tendon tests the second to fourth lumbar vertebrae while the Achilles’ tendon involves the first and second sacral tendon.

What are the Causes of Hyporeflexia?

The incidence of hyporeflexia is primarily due to the damage in the nerves that passes through the spinal cord and diverges to the extremities.  The damage in the nerve causes the dysfunction of the nerve and such damage is particularly true in pinched nerves brought by several matters that can press the nerve and prevent it from functioning properly.

Hyporeflexia is commonly cause by the following:

• Radiculopathy such as spondylosis and osteoarthritis is the common cause of hyporeflexia
• Normal variant
• Peripheral neuropathy

It is less commonly cause by the following:

• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Poliomyelitis
• Hyperacute spinal cord injury
• Disorders of the anterior horn cells

Hyporeflexia Treatment

The treatment of hyporeflexia mainly depends on the underlying condition that caused the incidence.  Hyporeflexia that resulted from pressure in the spinal cord can be managed with medicines and several therapies to alleviate the pressure.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary particularly if there is no improvement of the condition.  The aim of surgery is to free the nerve from pressure and to restore the stability and proper function of the spinal cord.