Why chest hurts 11 harmless and scary reasons

Breast pain (both or one - it does not matter) is called mastalgia. And it is familiar to 70% of womenBreast Pain. However, doctors insist always uncomfortable talking about deviation from the norm - sometimes innocuous and sometimes dangerous.

But only 15% of women with chest pain do need serious treatment.

Nevertheless, it is important to make sure you do not go into these unfortunate interest. Look for your symptoms to the list of the main reasons forWhy Do My Breasts Hurt? mastalgia.

1. PMS or ovulation

At the time of ovulation or before menstruation breast can swell and ache. This is normal work hormones. However, as in the case menses, Should be more careful: cyclic pain should not be severe. If the discomfort does not allow itself to forget as soon as possible consult with a gynecologist.

Recognize normal cyclic pain can be on several grounds:

• both breasts sore, preferably in the upper and central (on nipples) portion;
• chest "poured": swells, it becomes harder to the touch;
• sometimes gives pain in the armpit;
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• painful sensations arise not earlier than 2 weeks before menstruation and then disappear;
• you are in the reproductive age.

What to do

Most often, discomfort during PMS or ovulation is quite tolerable. To reduce the pain, you can take painkillers based on ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen.

If you are worried about the pain each cycle and is already fed up, complain to the gynecologist. The doctor will help you choose oral contraceptives or if you are already taking them, adjust the dosage.

2. hormonal imbalance

For mastalgia often in response to two hormones - estrogen and progesterone. In different periods of the life of their ratio may vary, and this halloo to one another swelling and discomfort in the chest. Most often, a hormonal imbalance occurs during:

• puberty (puberty);
• pregnancy (usually talking about the first trimester);
• breastfeeding;
• menopause.

What to do

If there is moderate pain in any of the above periods, it is generally okay. Enough to endure the discomfort.

But once again emphasize: do not tolerate a lot of pain! If it is present, go to the gynecologist.

3. Lactation

Tide milk often causes tension and pain in the chest. If you feed and thus see that the bust size increased by two and aches - that's okay too.

What to do

Nothing. The discomfort will disappear in proportion as your breasts get used to the new state.

4. lactostasis

Sometimes nursing women clogged milk ducts. They stagnant milk. Chest of the affected site even more swells, hardens (under the skin, you can find a lump resilient), there is a pain, even with a light touch.

What to do

The best option - to actively feed the baby, so he sucked milk from the duct spasm. If this is not enough, after feeding, try to pump liquid massage movements. When difficulties contact a consultant on breastfeeding.

5. Mastitis

So called Breast inflammation - one or both. Often in mastitis develops lactostasis: stagnant milk causes inflammation. This type is called lactation mastitis. But nelaktatsionnye possible options, when the infection gets into the breast tissue through a scratch or the bloodstream.

Incidentally, the "chill chest" - this is also an example of mastitis. Because of supercooling decreases local immunity, and any infection (e.g., pathogenic microorganisms, trapped in the blood due to a cold or, say, a chronic inflammatory mouth) easily attack the dairy process gland.

Symptoms of mastitis are obvious:

• Body temperature rises to 38 ° C and higher;
• breast swells, becomes a "stone", any touch to it causes a sharp pain;
• the skin on the breast feels hot to the touch;
• there are weakness, dizziness, fatigue.

What to do

Run to the doctor - the therapist or gynecologist! Mastitis - not only extremely painful, but deadly disease because it can cause blood poisoning.

In the initial stages of mastitis can be cured with antibioticsTreatment of Infectious Mastitis during Lactation: Antibiotics versus Oral Administration of Lactobacilli Isolated from Breast Milk. But if the disease is almost run, you may need surgery - up to the removal of the affected breast.

6. Fibrocystic breast changes

Chest while abuse becomes swollen and soft at the same time. It can be felt hard fibrotic sites (scar tissue, similar to the internal scarring) and cyst (elastic, fluid-filled sacs). It is expected that the development of fibrocystic changes may be associated with an individual hormonal and age.

What to do

See a doctor for further diagnosis. If it is really about fibrocystic changes, treatment is usually not carried out, because the state is considered to be harmless. Relieve pain (if any), you can use non-prescription pain medications on the basis of acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

7. Taking certain medications

Mastalgia can be a side effectTen common causes of breast pain certain drugs. For example:

• oral hormonal contraceptives;
• drugs used in postmenopausal women;
• antidepressantsIn particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor;
• for the treatment of infertility;
• diuretics;
• neuroleptics.

What to do

If you are taking any medications, discuss with your doctor whether they can cause mastalgia. If so, consider what can be replaced by medication.

8. injuries

After hitting or squeezing chest will hurt. It can last even a few days.

What to do

If the injury was minor and did not cause any visible signs (eg, bruising or swelling), give the breast to heal. To quell the pain, take non-prescription pain relievers.

In the future, try to protect the breast from injury: glandular tissue under the stress is easily converted into a fibrous, it appears the nodules and cysts.

If the injury is visible effects, in any case refer to a gynecologist.

9. Mismatched Bra

Too tight clothes compresses the chest, causing blood stasis and pain. Alternatively, you have a large bust, and the bra is too loose. Because of this breast tissue is stretched, which again causes pain.

What to do

Pick the right size bra. How to do this in detail wrote Layfhaker here.

10. reflected pain

You just seem like chest pain. In fact, the pain is coming from another organ or tissue. A classic example: you are not actively engaged in the gym - or moved up, say, practiced on the rowing simulator - overextended and the pectoralis major muscle, which is located under the bust. As a result, muscle aches, and it seems as if aching chest.

Mastalgia symptoms can manifest themselves angina pectoris, gallstones, costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs and the sternum), and some other diseases.

What to do

If there is a possibility that the mastalgia associated with overexertion of muscles, wait a couple of days - the pain will pass on their own.

If you do not pass while you carefully read our list of reasons, but have not found yours, consult a gynecologist to rule out other diseases.

11. Fibroadenoma, or breast cancer

In both cases of tumors: fibroadenoma - a benign cancer - malignant and deadly. In the initial stages recognize these diseases are complicated, but can they make themselves felt primarily lump, which is detectable in one breast.

Other symptoms gradually emerging:

• discomfort or pain of unknown origin, which do not go away within two weeks;
• any discharge from the nipple - translucent, bloody, purulent;
• discoloration and shape of the nipple: he can "fail" or, on the contrary, become too prominent;
• changes in skin structure on the affected breast; it becomes like a lemon peel.

What to do

Do not wait for symptoms rise. If you feel discomfort in your chest for more than two weeks or groped in one of mammary lump, immediately contact your gynecologist or mammologist. The doctor will conduct inspection and possibly give you direction on a number of analyzes. According to their results it will be put the exact diagnosis and prescribed treatment.

And remember: to prevent cancer chance, at least 1-2 times a year to be screened in mammalogy.