What Are The Main Reasons For Breast Pain in Women?

Breast pain is the main concern for most women especially those residing in industrial countries. Since a lot of women have been taught that pain is equal to something serious, a few of them conclude that breast pain means they have cancer. However, breast cancer has little warning signs and pain is very rarely a symptom of cancer. The term which is medically used to refer to breast pain is mastalgia. Unfortunately, the breast pain causes are not well understood so treatments for it are not as clear. For most women, it is helpful to monitor breast pain as well as any symptoms of hormonal imbalance during their own menstrual cycle. Breast-related pain for women aged 40 and above could be a sign of perimenopause.

Breast Pain

When a woman begins to have pain in her breasts, it is a reason enough for worrying. Most often, women immediately think of tumor or cysts as the cause of this sharp pain in the breast. But the fact is most of the pain experienced in the breast are benign and not alarming.

When the pain is just fleeting and only occurs once or twice, it is not something to worry about. This is because we felt pain in our body that we do not know the cause but they also disappear right away.

The breast is composed of muscles and the sharp pain in the breast that you felt could be just a pain in the nearby strained muscles. However, when the pain does not go away and centered only on one spot on your breast, the medical investigation is already needed.

Other cause of breast pain can be also from hormonal changes that cause sensitivity to the breast, pregnancy, lactation, problems in wearing a bra, weight gain, mastitis or infection in the breast, possible injury to the breast, hormone replacement therapy, inflammation and simple cysts in the breast. When any of these causes is the reason for the stabbing pain in your breast, discuss it immediately with your doctor.

Breast Pain Causes

Essentially, the common kind of a pain in the breasts is due to hormones which are related to one’s monthly cycle. Swelling of the breasts is stimulated by progesterone and estrogen during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Such cyclic breast pain happens in either both breasts or at one side more than the other. Pain is usually felt in the breast’s lateral aspect where more breast tissue is present. The pain could also differ each month but often gets worse prior to one’s period and then halts when menstruation arrives.

Breast-related pain could also be made worse by certain foods and medications. For one, caffeine has methylxanthine which causes the dilation of blood vessels. This swelling could then cause breast distention and pain. Also, diets which are rich in salt could increase swelling and cause the body to retain fluid thus putting a strain on breast tissue.

Evidence also shows that fatty foods, specifically animal fats, cause pain. The reason is not as definitive but it might have to do with the hormones of animals, the foods they consume and the process of how fat is broken down into their bodies. Similarly, dairy products are also considered as the cause of painful breasts.

Iodine deficiency might also be a cause for breast-related pain. When the body lacks iodine, breast tissue is more sensitive to any type of estrogenic stimulation. Pills which contain hormones, be it birth control pills or HRT (hormone replacement therapy), could also be the reason for breast pain. Take note that antidepressants, psychiatric medications or heart medicines, as well as cholesterol-lowering medications, could cause changes in the breasts.

The remedy for breast-related pain could be had by balancing the hormones in the body. Dietary changes are a must as well as dietary supplements such as Vitamin E, B, and omega-3. Reducing stress and engaging in exercise is highly recommended.

Fibrocystic breast disease is another cause of breast pain. A 2004 study showed that after 3 months of iodine supplementation more than 50% of the 6.0 mg/day treatment group recorded a clinically significant reduction in overall pain.

Causes of Sharp Breast Pain

What causes sharp breast pain? Breasts are composed of nerves, connective tissues, blood vessels, lobes, and ducts. They are not protected by major muscles or bones. In the event that your breast is injured, it might ache and bruise till it heals. Any form of surgery to the breast can hurt affected tissues. Some heart surgical procedures include augmentation, reconstruction, reduction, and mastectomy. Regional breast pain can be caused by the growth of fibroadenomas and cysts which press on adjacent tissues.

Beneath your nipple or near it, the development of abscess or clogging and infection of milk ducts can occur, leading to ductal ectasia or mastitis. Breasts that are large in size might cause noncyclical sharp pain which can affect not only your breasts but also shoulders, back, and neck. Another possible cause of sharp pain in breast is high-stress levels. This is due to the tension experienced by some nearby muscle groups. Although very rare, cancer of the breast can come with sharp pain.

In some cases, sharp pain takes place just close to your breast. This occurrence is hard to identify whether it is beneath you breast or within it. Costochondritis is a painful inflammation of one’s chest wall bones and cartilage.

Any form of arthritis in your breastbone can cause breast pain each time you a cough or take a deep breath. The pain in your chest area caused by acute bronchitis may also be interpreted as pain in the breast when in fact, it is not. Improper bending, exercising or lifting can also lead to a rib fracture, back pain and chest wall pulled muscle which may all feel as excruciating as sharp breast pain. If these kinds of bodily occurrence have been experienced by you lately, you should consult a doctor immediately for diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

What Are The Main Reasons for Breast Pain in Women, Last Updated: 1/10/2017

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