Body odor is natural part of human physiognomy, while some people may experience less of it, it can be stronger in others. This odor is not uniform throughout your body, certain body part smell more, like your armpits, groin and feet. The Cleveland clinic explains that this smell is due to bacteria and smell on your skin. Your body odor can also change if you are on medication, or ate a certain food or even experience some hormonal changes.

Similarly, It's common for belly buttons to have a slight odor, but sometimes it can become noticeable and unpleasant. While a little smell is often nothing to worry about, a strong, foul odor, especially when combined with other symptoms, could be a sign of a more serious problem. It's important to understand the possible causes of a smelly belly button so you can take the right steps to address it. Knowing when to simply clean it better versus when to seek medical help is key to keeping yourself healthy.

Possible Causes of Belly Button Odor

If your belly button smells bad and you also have redness, swelling, pain, or bleeding, you should see a doctor. These symptoms could be a sign of an infection that needs medical treatment Here are some reasons why this may be happening.

Not Cleaning It Well

Just like any other part of your body, your belly button needs regular cleaning. If you skip cleaning it with soap and water, things like dirt, sweat, and natural oils can build up inside. As explained above, his buildup creates a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to a musty or unpleasant smell. This is especially true if you have a deep belly button, as it has folds and crevices that are harder to reach and clean properly. A deep belly button is a warm, damp place, which is exactly what bacteria love.

Stuff Getting Stuck

Even if you take regular showers, your belly button can still collect things like dead skin cells, lint from your clothes, and other small pieces of debris. WebMD explains that these things can get trapped inside, and when mixed with moisture from sweat or water, they can start to smell bad. Sometimes, these things can clump together and form a hard, smelly lump called a navel stone. This stone can be quite smelly, even though it's usually not painful.

Bacterial Infections

We all have bacteria on our skin, but sometimes they can cause infections. According to WebMD if bacteria get inside your belly button, especially through a small cut or scratch, they can multiply and cause an infection. Infections like impetigo and cellulitis can cause redness, swelling, pain, and pus, along with a bad smell. People with weak immune systems or poor blood flow are more likely to get these infections. If these infections are not treated, they can lead to serious problems, so it's important to see a doctor.

Yeast Infections

Yeast, which is a type of fungus, can also grow in your belly button, especially if it's warm and moist. According to the Cleveland Clinic a common type of yeast is Candida. Yeast infections can cause a sour, bread-like smell, along with redness and itching. Sweating a lot, wearing tight clothes, or taking antibiotics can increase your risk. People with diabetes or weak immune systems are also more likely to get yeast infections. These infections usually go away with antifungal creams, but it's important to keep the area dry to prevent them from coming back.

Cysts

Cysts are small, fluid-filled bumps that can form under the skin. They can happen when dead skin cells and oils get trapped in your belly button. Most of the time, these cysts are harmless and don't cause any problems. But sometimes, they can become infected, which can cause them to swell, become red, and release a gray or white discharge with a cheesy smell. If a cyst gets infected, it might need to be drained by a doctor.

Piercings

If you have a belly button piercing, it's very important to keep it clean. If you don't clean it properly, bacteria can build up around the piercing and cause an infection. Signs of an infection include pain, redness, swelling, and smelly pus. If the infection is not treated, it can spread to your bloodstream and cause serious health problems. Cleaning your piercing regularly with warm, soapy water can help prevent infections.

Symptoms of menopause vary a lot, and many people do not know just how many ways menopause can affect a woman’s health. To explain it, Dr Jay Jagannathan, board-certified neurosurgeon pointed out how menopause can also neurologically affect women as well.

Menopause is the natural end to the reproductive years of a woman. However, what most people are not aware of is the way menopause can affect a woman’s health. In fact, even women are not as informed about it. In a 2022 study published in the Women’s Health journal, in their survey of 738 women showed that over 80% of them had no knowledge or some knowledge of menopause. This revealed that most women under 40 have limited education of menopause.

To tackle this, a lot of doctors like Dr Jagannathan take to social media and help educate more people about it.

Does Menopause Affect The Brain?

In the video caption, Dr. Jagannathan explained that when people talk about menopause, they usually focus on hot flashes, changes in mood, or concerns about bone thinning. But what's often missed is the major effect hormonal changes have on your brain. He further explained how estrogen is more than just a reproductive hormone—it functions as a neuroprotective shield for the brain.

• It plays a key role in regulating blood flow.
• It helps reduce inflammation.
• It actively protects brain cells from stress and damage.

When estrogen levels decline significantly during and after menopause, this vital protection weakens, leaving the brain more vulnerable.

How Does Hormone Decline Put Women At Neurological Risk?

When estrogen levels fall sharply during the menopausal transition, this vital protection is lost, which is why we see a rise in specific brain issues:

Increased Risk of Silent Strokes

A silent stroke is a tiny blockage in the brain's blood vessels that you usually don't notice. Over time, these small blockages add up and quietly damage areas of the brain, leading to problems with memory and thinking. Without estrogen's help to keep vessels healthy, these silent strokes become more common.

Accelerated Memory Decline

Memory is often the first thing affected. Women may notice they are more forgetful, have trouble finding the right words, or feel mentally "slow." This is partly because the areas of the brain responsible for memory are very sensitive to the drop in estrogen.

Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Persistent Cognitive Fog

Cognitive fog is that temporary feeling of being mentally fuzzy or unable to concentrate. Alzheimer's is a serious disease that causes severe memory loss. The loss of estrogen's protection is a major risk factor that increases the chances of developing Alzheimer's and experiencing chronic brain fog decades later.

How Can You Protect Your Brain During Menopause?

Dr Jagannath assures that it can be controlled. We can proactively manage this biological reality. Based on my clinical guidance, here are essential steps to safeguard your brain health:

• Control blood pressure and cholesterol, the health of the brain's vessels relies on it.
• Maintain consistent physical and mental activity.
• Focus on achieving restorative, high-quality sleep.
• Talk to your doctor about your hormone levels and overall vascular health; early monitoring is crucial.

He concluded the post by warning not to wait until problems start. Discussing your menopausal symptoms, hormone levels, and risk factors (like a family history of heart disease or dementia) with your doctor allows for early intervention, which might include hormone therapy or other medications to protect your vessels and brain.

In the past, heart problems were often seen as frightening and potentially fatal. While cardiac conditions remain serious, advances in heart medicine over recent years have dramatically improved treatment success and reduced risks. Among these modern options, lasers are proving to be highly effective. Laser angioplasty is one such procedure that allows cardiologists and vascular surgeons to remove plaque, a major cause of coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease.

What Is Laser Angioplasty?

Laser angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure where a laser is used to break down plaque inside arteries. Unlike traditional angioplasty, which uses a balloon to widen arteries, this method targets difficult or stubborn blockages that are hard to treat otherwise. A thin catheter carrying the laser is guided to the blocked area, where the laser vaporizes the plaque and restores blood flow. This technique can help patients avoid open-heart surgery and often leads to shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery, according to Stanford Health Care.

Laser Angioplasty Procedure

Before the procedure, a specialist—either an interventional cardiologist or vascular surgeon—evaluates the patient’s overall health and determines whether laser angioplasty is appropriate. As per NIH, Once approved, the process generally follows these steps:

• The patient is placed under general anesthesia.
• A small incision is made in the groin.
• Using X-ray imaging, a guide wire is inserted through the femoral artery to reach the blockage.
• A catheter is threaded over the wire to the site of the plaque.
• The laser is passed through the catheter to the blockage, where it vaporizes the fatty deposits. X-ray imaging and contrast dye are used to monitor the process.
• Once the plaque is cleared, the laser, catheter, and wire are removed, and the incision is closed.
• Patients are monitored afterward and, depending on their condition, may be able to go home the next day.

Advantages of Laser Angioplasty Over Traditional Methods

Laser angioplasty offers several benefits compared with conventional balloon angioplasty or bypass surgery. The laser can precisely vaporize plaque and thrombus, allowing treatment of chronic or heavily calcified blockages. This precision often results in shorter hospital stays and faster recovery, helping patients get back to normal life sooner.

For patients with in-stent restenosis or total occlusions, laser angioplasty can achieve results that might otherwise require multiple procedures or open-heart surgery. Its ability to target tough blockages makes it an invaluable tool in modern cardiac care.

Risks and Considerations

While laser angioplasty is generally safe when performed by experienced specialists, it does carry some risks. Similar to standard angioplasty, complications like hematoma at the catheter site, arterial perforation, or acute thrombosis can occur. Specific to the laser procedure, there may also be vessel injury, spasm, embolism, or bleeding

Patient selection is very important. The procedure may not be suitable for arteries that are extremely curved, tortuous, or involve the left main coronary artery. There is also a chance the artery may narrow again, requiring repeat procedures or bypass surgery. Despite these considerations, the benefits of laser angioplasty—including precise targeting and faster recovery—make it a promising option for many patients.

FDA menopause hormone therapy: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday that it will remove the strictest “black box” warnings from hormone therapies used to manage menopause symptoms. The move could make these treatments more accessible to women and healthcare providers, who have long avoided them due to safety concerns.

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the decision comes after a thorough review of scientific research, feedback from an expert panel in July, and a public comment period.

"After 23 years of outdated caution, the FDA is now stepping back from the fear-based messaging that has kept women from this life-changing—and sometimes,life-saving—treatment," Makary said at a press briefing.

"We are responding to women who have been challenging the paternalistic approach in medicine, and to female medical students calling for better menopause education in medical training," he added.

The agency is also greenlighting two new treatments for menopausal symptoms. This includes a generic version of Pfizer’s Premarin and a non-hormonal option for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms, like hot flashes.

What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment for people experiencing menopause symptoms. Doctors may also call it hormone therapy (HT), especially when prescribed after age 50. Generally, “HRT” is used for people starting treatment at a younger age, often before 40.

During menopause, the ovaries produce less estrogen, which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
• Mood swings, irritability, or depression
• Insomnia
• Urinary incontinence

HRT works by replacing the hormones your body is no longer making enough of, helping to relieve these symptoms. It can also help prevent bone loss, such as osteoporosis and osteopenia, which can occur when estrogen levels drop.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: When Should You Start Hormone Therapy?

Dr. Joann Pinkerton, a menopause specialist at the University of Virginia Health, recommends starting estrogen therapy before age 60 or within ten years of the onset of menopause, which begins one year after your last period. Many women continue taking birth control through perimenopause, which can help manage hot flashes and night sweats as hormone levels fluctuate.

Once menopause is complete and pregnancy prevention is no longer a concern, continuing birth control may not make sense. “Birth control usually contains more estrogen than is used in menopause hormone therapy,” Pinkerton says, “so that’s a good time to discuss hormone therapy options with your provider.”

Menopause Hormone Therapy FDA: How Long Should You Be on Hormone Therapy?

Typically, women use hormone therapy for three to five years, though this is not a strict rule. “For those with ongoing symptoms or bone loss—which can be addressed with hormone therapy—we continue treatment,” Pinkerton explains. She emphasizes the importance of reviewing treatment annually. “It’s about working with each patient to find the safest and most effective approach.”

Lauren Streicher from Northwestern University, as per NPR, adds, “We don’t stop hormone therapy simply because three to five years have passed.” She notes that menopause symptoms can last longer for some women, with Black and Hispanic women often experiencing extended periods of discomfort.

HRT Therapy: Who Should Avoid Hormone Therapy?

Certain medical conditions can make hormone therapy risky. Women with estrogen-sensitive breast or uterine cancers, or those who have had, or are at high risk for heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or pulmonary embolism, should avoid HRT.

“Women need to have a detailed discussion with a knowledgeable healthcare provider,” Pinkerton says. “It’s crucial to understand what benefits and risks apply to you personally.”

Whether HRT is right for you is a conversation to have with your healthcare provider. While hormone therapy can ease menopausal symptoms, it carries potential risks. Discussing these benefits and risks with your doctor will help determine if HRT is suitable for your needs.