home Audience 5 If the breast aches. The right mammary gland hurts: causes. Contact your doctor if you find

If the breast aches. The right mammary gland hurts: causes. Contact your doctor if you find

The female breast is a very important organ. Its main purpose is to feed a newborn child, provide him with all the necessary microelements and nutrients. At the same time, the mammary glands are an integral part of the endocrine system, which reacts sensitively to various changes in the body.

One of the first manifestations of problems is chest pain. The pain on the left should be especially alert. It is on this side that the vital organs are located, which can give a pain syndrome to the chest. Before eliminating pain, you need to find out its etiology. It is possible that discomfort is provoked not only by diseases of the mammary gland, but also by other organs.

Causes of pain

The chest should not hurt if it is healthy. If the pain syndrome has appeared, it may be evidence of pathological changes in the tissues of the organ.

Causes associated with breast diseases:

tumor formations;
inflammatory process;
hormonal disorders.

Causes that are not related to breast problems include:

Pain in the left chest can also be associated exclusively with physiological factors:

puberty;
menstrual cycle;
pregnancy;
menopause.

Aching, unexpressed pain in the left chest may appear while taking certain medications, for example, oral contraceptives, thyroid hormones, antidepressants. But such a syndrome does not occur in everyone, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the body.

Diseases of the mammary glands

In most cases, pain in the left breast is associated with diseases of the organ. Consider the most common.

Mastopathy

Growth of glandular and connective tissue with subsequent formation. Mastopathy develops gradually, as a rule, due to hormonal disorders. The progression of the disease leads to the appearance of foci of tissue structures of the epithelium, which block the milk ducts and prevent the secretion of the gland from being excreted.

On a note! Mastopathy, in addition to dull, aching pain, may be accompanied by discharge from the nipples, fever, deterioration in general well-being.

Fibroadenoma

Aching

It often occurs with sluggish inflammatory processes in the digestive tract, spleen, pancreas, and lungs. With the appearance of nausea and vomiting, a stomach ulcer can be suspected. Aching pain due to stressful situations, excessive physical exertion, can be a symptom of myocarditis and other heart problems.

stabbing

As a rule, stabbing pain is caused by spasm and inflammation of muscle tissue, neuralgia, and rarely angina pectoris. Often, stabbing pain is confused with acute and cutting, which occurs with chest injuries, damage to the walls of the stomach.

Diagnostics

The appearance of pain in the left mammary gland of any nature is a reason to consult a doctor (therapist, gynecologist). He will examine the chest, find out the nature of the pain syndrome, its cyclicity, duration, intensity. In the presence of seals, discharge from the nipple, it is necessary that the woman be additionally examined by a mammologist.

If there is a suspicion that the pain is radiating in nature and its cause lies outside the mammary gland, it may be necessary to consult a neurologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist.

To identify the cause of pain, the following diagnostic studies can be prescribed:

Treatment Methods

The tactics of pain management can be completely different. It all depends on what caused it. With mastopathy, the main method of treatment is the use of hormonal drugs. Mastitis is treated with antibacterial agents. In the presence of cysts, fibroadenomas, surgical removal of the formations is recommended. Malignant tumors additionally require a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

With muscle spasm, neuralgia, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, warming, analgesic ointments can be prescribed. Infectious processes of the respiratory organs (pleurisy, pneumonia) are best treated in a hospital with antibiotics, intravenous administration of medicinal solutions that relieve the symptoms of the disease.

Pain in the breast on the left can occur for a number of reasons. In no case should you spontaneously take painkillers that lubricate the clinical picture of the underlying disease. For any nature of pain, you should immediately contact a therapist who, based on complaints and an external examination, will determine a plan for further action: prescribe the necessary diagnostics, refer you for a consultation with other specialists.

Video about the possible causes of pain in the breast in women on the left and ways to alleviate the pain syndrome:

Pain in the mammary glands (both or one - it doesn't matter) is called mastalgia. And she is familiar to 70% of women Breast Pain. However, doctors insist: discomfort always speaks of a deviation from the norm - sometimes harmless, and sometimes dangerous.

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

However, it's important to make sure you don't fall into those unlucky percentages. Look for your symptoms in the list of root causes Why Do My Breasts Hurt? mastalgia.

1. PMS or ovulation

During ovulation or before menstruation, the breasts may swell and hurt. It's normal, that's how hormones work. True, as in the case, you should be more careful: cyclic pain should not be severe. If discomfort does not allow you to forget about yourself, consult a gynecologist as soon as possible.

Normal cyclic pain can be recognized by several signs:

both breasts hurt, mainly in the upper and central (at the level of the nipples) parts;
the chest “fills up”: it swells, it becomes harder to the touch;
sometimes the pain radiates to the armpits;
painful sensations occur no earlier than 2 weeks before menstruation, and then disappear;
you are of reproductive age.

What to do with it

Most often, discomfort during PMS or ovulation is quite tolerable. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, or naproxen can be taken to reduce pain.

If the pain worries you every cycle and is already fed up, complain to the gynecologist. Your doctor will help you choose or, if you are already taking them, adjust the dosage.

2. Hormonal imbalance

Two hormones are often responsible for mastalgia - estrogen and progesterone. At different periods of life, their ratio may change, and this comes around to edema and discomfort in the chest. Most often, hormonal imbalance occurs during:

puberty (puberty);
pregnancy (as a rule, we are talking about the first trimester);
breastfeeding;
menopause.

What to do with it

If moderate pain appears in any of the periods listed above, it is generally normal. Enough to endure the discomfort.

But again, we emphasize: you don’t have to endure severe pain! If it is present, go to the gynecologist.

3. Lactation

The flow of milk often causes tension and soreness in the chest. If you feed and at the same time observe that the bust has increased by a size or two and it hurts, this is also normal.

What to do with it

Nothing. The discomfort will disappear on its own as your chest gets used to the new condition.

4. Lactostasis

Sometimes breastfeeding women get clogged milk ducts. They have milk in them. The chest in the affected area swells even more, hardens (an elastic lump can be felt under the skin), pain occurs even with a light touch.

What to do with it

The best option is to actively feed the baby so that he sucks milk from the spasmodic duct. If that's not enough, try pumping out liquid after feeding. If you have any questions, please contact a lactation consultant.

5. Mastitis

This is the name of inflammation of the mammary gland - one or both. Often, lactostasis develops into mastitis: stagnant milk causes an inflammatory process. This type of mastitis is called lactational. But non-lactational options are also possible, when the infection enters the breast tissue through scratches or through the bloodstream.

By the way, “blew out the chest” is also an example of mastitis. Due to hypothermia, local immunity decreases, and any infection (for example, pathogenic microorganisms that have entered the bloodstream due to a cold or, say, a chronic inflammatory process in the mouth) easily attacks the mammary glands.

The symptoms of mastitis are obvious:

body temperature rises to 38 ° C and above;
the chest swells, becomes "stone", any touch to it causes a sharp pain;
the skin on the chest feels hot to the touch;
weakness, dizziness, fatigue.

What to do with it

To run to the doctor - the therapist or the gynecologist! Mastitis is not only an extremely painful, but also a deadly disease, as it can cause.

In the initial stages, mastitis can be cured with antibiotics. Treatment of Infectious Mastitis during Lactation: Antibiotics versus Oral Administration of Lactobacilli Isolated from Breast Milk. But if the disease is slightly started, surgical intervention may be required - up to the removal of the affected breast.

6. Fibrocystic changes

The chest with this violation becomes swollen and at the same time soft. In it, you can feel hard fibrous areas (scar tissue that looks like internal scars) and cysts (elastic, fluid-filled sacs). It is assumed that the development of fibrocystic changes may be associated with individual hormonal levels and age.

What to do with it

Consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis. If it is really fibrocystic changes, treatment is usually not carried out, since the condition is considered harmless. Pain relief (if present) can be achieved with over-the-counter paracetamol or ibuprofen pain relievers.

7. Taking certain medications

Mastalgia can be a side effect Ten common causes of breast pain some drugs. For example:

oral hormonal contraceptives;
funds used in postmenopause;
, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
means for the treatment of infertility;
diuretics;
neuroleptics.

What to do with it

If you are taking any medications, discuss with your healthcare provider if they may be causing mastalgia. If so, think about how you can replace the drug.

8. Injuries

After a blow or squeezing, the chest will hurt. This can even go on for several days.

What to do with it

If the injury was minor and caused no visible marks (such as bruising or swelling), let the breasts heal. Take over-the-counter pain relievers to manage pain.

In the future, try to protect the chest from injuries: the glandular tissue easily turns into fibrous tissue upon impact, nodules and cysts appear in it.

If the injury has visible consequences, just in case, consult a gynecologist.

9. Poorly fitted bra

Too tight underwear squeezes the chest, causes blood stasis and soreness. Another option: you have a large bust, and the bra is too loose. Because of this, the breast tissue is stretched, which again causes pain.

What to do with it

Choose the right bra size. How to do this, Lifehacker wrote in detail.

10. Referred pain

You just feel like your chest hurts. In fact, the pain comes from another organ or tissue. A classic example: you were too active in the gym - pulling yourself up or, let's say, exercising on a rowing machine - and overexerting the pectoralis major muscle, which is located under the bust. As a result, the muscle hurts, but it seems as if the chest is aching.

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

What to do with it

If there is a possibility that mastalgia is associated with muscle strain, wait a couple of days - the pain will go away on its own.

If it does not go away and at the same time you carefully read our list of reasons, but did not find yours, consult a gynecologist to rule out other diseases.

11. Fibroadenoma or breast cancer

In both cases, we are talking about tumors: fibroadenoma is benign, cancer is malignant and deadly. At the initial stages, these diseases are difficult, but possible: they make themselves felt primarily as a lump that is palpable in one breast.

Other gradually occurring symptoms:

pain or discomfort of unknown origin that does not go away within two weeks;
any discharge from the nipple - transparent, bloody, purulent;
changes in the color and shape of the nipple: it may “fail” or, conversely, become too convex;
a change in the structure of the skin on the affected chest: it becomes like a lemon peel.

What to do with it

Don't wait for symptoms to get worse. If you feel discomfort in your chest for more than two weeks or feel a lump in one of the mammary glands, immediately contact a gynecologist or mammologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and, possibly, give you a referral for a series of tests. According to their results, an accurate diagnosis will be made and treatment will be prescribed.

And we remind you: in order not to give oncology a chance, at least 1-2 times a year, undergo an examination by a mammologist.

There are a lot of glands - these can be hormonal disorders, serious pathologies, and sometimes physiological processes, which means there is no reason to worry. The stronger the pain, the more significantly it affects well-being, the sooner you need to visit a doctor. It makes sense to imagine for what reasons the chest hurts, what is the nature of the sensations in this case.

Dedicated to anatomy

Before finding out where the pain in the left or right mammary gland came from, it is worth understanding the structure of the chest. Body formed:

fibrous tissue;
fatty structures;
dividing the glandular regions into sections by ducts;
glandular cells.

Fibrous tissue, gland correlate with each other in a certain proportion. For a woman, the value is strictly individual. The ratio is determined by the hormonal background, age. The specificity of the structure of a particular woman plays a role.

Normally, iron undergoes cyclical changes corresponding to menstruation. They are explained by the adjustment of hormonal balance. Usually the duration of the cycle is 28 days. During the first half of this period, follicles mature in the ovaries, then a rupture occurs, and the egg is released. The process is called ovulation.

Ovulation triggers the release of estrogen into the bloodstream. The place of the follicle after it is occupied by the corpus luteum, and progesterone becomes dominant in the circulatory system. In the absence of conception on time, the corpus luteum degenerates. At the end of the cycle, the concentrations of hormonal compounds in the circulatory system are low, monthly bleeding begins.

One of the causes of pain in the mammary glands can be estrogen. This hormone has a strong influence on breast development, stimulates an increase in the number of glandular cells, and provokes the growth of fibrin tissue. With an excess of estrogen, the glands can transform into cysts. Such formations do not pose a danger in the predominant percentage, and no treatment is prescribed, but the patient is registered, regularly examined by ultrasound, and palpated.

Under the influence of progesterone, the breasts can swell, and the blood supply to this area is activated. Shortly before monthly bleeding, most women feel pain in the right breast or left, more often in both. These features should not cause panic: the processes are natural, the cells are preparing in the production of milk in case conception occurs. However, if the pain becomes very severe, then you should see a doctor - perhaps the reasons are much more unpleasant, unnatural.

Mammalgia

This term denotes a condition when pain in the mammary gland on the left, on the right occurs when menstruation approaches. Medical statistics show that the main percentage of women who go to doctors because of pain suffer from them precisely because of the cycle. Unpleasant sensations begin a few days before the start of bleeding, weaken when the discharge begins, completely disappear with the completion of menstruation. Such pains in the mammary gland with menopause completely disappear.

Mastodynia is more often recorded in the age group of 17-40 years. To a greater extent, persons with breasts of medium or more than average size are susceptible to it. Usually sensations are evenly distributed on both breasts. The maximum soreness is localized in the upper part of the organ.

PMS

Quite often, pain in the mammary gland (left, right) worries monthly, being an element of premenstrual syndrome. The discomfort associated with this period can be significant. Additionally, PMS is indicated by:

If the cause of pain is PMS, there are no unpleasant sensations before ovulation. If they're bothering you at any point in your cycle, it's because of something else. Usually, soreness comes after the 14th day of the next menstrual cycle, until this moment there is no discomfort in the chest. The peak of negative sensations falls on 2-3 days before the onset of bleeding.

This syndrome worries a predominant percentage of women, although its strength varies. There is no need to treat pain associated with PMS. Some healers believe that the syndrome is one of the harbingers of cancer, but special studies conducted on this topic have not revealed any patterns and connections.

Pain: not linked to the cycle

Acyclic soreness is a sensation that cannot be explained by PMS. Causes of pain in the mammary glands in women:

drug therapy;
transferred operation;
injury;
neoplasms (malignant, benign).

Statistics show that non-cyclic pain is most often attributed to a cyst, tumor, or injury. With such causes, sensations disturb only in one of the breasts. Often sensations are localized in a small, easily identifiable area.

cysts

This term is used to denote cavities filled with a special organic liquid. As doctors say, at least one cyst is in the body of almost any woman - this is due to the specifics of the menstrual cycle. Problems begin when such formations become larger than average in size. To determine the cause of pain in the mammary glands, the patient is sent for an ultrasound examination. In the absence of signs of malignancy, the cyst is usually not disturbed. In some cases, a course of treatment similar to diffuse mastopathy is prescribed.

A special approach is necessary for patients who, with ultrasound, were able to detect dubious tissue areas in the breast. If the pain is associated precisely with such areas, doctors will send for additional studies in order to exclude malignant processes. It is highly likely that they will advise you to undergo surgery to remove suspicious elements, especially if they provoke very severe pain in the mammary gland.

Fibroadenoma

The term is used to denote a benign neoplasm. In most cases, it has a round shape, rarely provokes severe pain. Adenoma mobile, smooth. There are different options for localization, the dimensions also vary significantly from case to case. Breast pain in women with fibroadenoma depends on the size and location of the formation. With such a problem, you need to contact a mammologist, gynecologist.

Fibroadenomas are explained by hormonal imbalance. More often the diagnosis is made to young ladies. If studies have shown a fibrous adenoma, the patient is referred for a biopsy in order to exclude cell malignancy. The specialist inserts a needle into the detected node, takes a small amount of samples for histological examination. Cells are studied in the laboratory under high magnification. After confirming the diagnosis, a benign neoplasm is removed surgically. After the operation and successful rehabilitation, the syndrome completely exhausts itself.

lactocele

There may be pain in the mammary glands in women, due to cysts containing milk. Usually the formation is due to a scar, due to which the fluid is not released. Lactocele is a formation characteristic of women who, during feeding, milk stagnation occurs, the outflow of this fluid is disturbed. Over time, the cyst becomes larger, as the cavity accumulates milk produced by the gland, and this causes pain.

Particularly strong are the pains in the area of the mammary glands with lactocele, if the violation is accompanied by an abscess, when suppuration occurs in the affected area. To clarify the condition, a puncture is required. If the procedure is accompanied by the release of milk, the diagnosis is considered established. To alleviate the condition, the woman is sent for an operation to remove the formation.

lactostasis

In this case, pain in the mammary gland is explained by an unformed feeding rhythm. For example, a child may have a weak appetite, and the glands produce a large amount of milk, which leads to stagnation. Over time, individual areas of the chest become denser, localized here. Temperature increase is possible, but not too significant. Usually this phenomenon is observed in the first quarter, sometimes a third of the year since the start of feeding. Gradually, the body independently adjusts to the rhythms that satisfy the child's appetite.

The main method of combating lactostasis is the activation of feeding. The initial portion of milk should be expressed. The first three months after the birth of the child, you need to feed constantly, when the baby asks to eat. This applies not only to daytime hours, but also to nighttime hours. With lactostasis, the pain in the mammary gland becomes even stronger if the woman stops using the disturbing breast to feed the baby.

Mastitis

The word is familiar to many, although not everyone knows what it means. The term is used to denote inflammatory processes that explain chest pain. The mammary glands are more likely to become inflamed during the period of feeding the child in a natural way. Mastitis in this situation is closely related to lactostasis. With stagnation of milk and the presence of cracks in the nipples, local immunity is greatly weakened, pathological bacteria receive conditions that are comfortable for existence and reproduction, and colonies grow at a very rapid pace. With mastitis, the breast swells, fever is possible, and the skin turns red. The organ hurts a lot, the patient as a whole feels weak. The heat can reach 39 degrees.

If the pain in the mammary gland on the right, on the left is explained precisely by mastitis, there are no problems with diagnosis. It is more difficult to maintain the possibility of natural feeding. The therapeutic course usually involves antibiotics. Medicines are chosen by the doctor, based on the characteristics of the pathological microflora identified during the tests. If the condition does not improve, antimicrobials do not show a pronounced effect, the patient may be referred to the surgical department. An incision is made on the chest to remove purulent secretions. All activities are carried out as carefully as possible so that the possibility of breastfeeding is preserved as you recover.

Injuries

For this reason, discomfort is rare. In women, pain in the mammary gland on the right or left is possible if the patient is injured, for example, in an accident. If an event caused a hematoma, over time, the area begins to hurt. Removal of a hematoma is possible by puncture. This helps to prevent inflammatory processes. By the way, this is characteristic not only of the fair sex, with large mammary glands. Pain in a man in the chest area after an injury is also possible - it all depends on how exactly the person suffered, on which part of the body the load of an external aggressive factor fell.

Implants cause pain

Pain may accompany the period after implant surgery. There are many reasons for such a surgical intervention, but the two most common are:

reconstruction;
breast augmentation.

During the rehabilitation period, the resulting scars heal, gradually the body gets used to the new volumes. After a while, the pain completely disappears on its own. If this does not happen, the sensations intensify, the patient's condition as a whole becomes worse, and the likelihood of an inflammatory process is high. In addition, incorrect, unsuccessful installation can cause irritation of nerve endings, which is also the cause of pain.

If after the operation a woman often feels aching pain in the mammary glands, it is necessary to contact the doctor who performed the intervention. The doctor will explain in which cases sensations are considered the norm, in which additional intervention is required.

Nipples: cracked

Shortly after the birth of a child, breast pain bothers almost every woman. The child needs frequent feeding, and the body is not yet used to it, the process of milk production does not converge in rhythm with the appearance of appetite in the child. The need for frequent feeding causes not only pain, but also local burning, itching, because the nipple is constantly irritated by the child's lips. If the skin is dehydrated, cracks soon form, exacerbating discomfort.

After the birth, the mother must feed the baby frequently, and the time intervals between events are not enough for the wounds received during the previous procedure to heal. The child irritates the damaged nipples again and again, the cracks become larger, they hurt a lot, and it is simply impossible to heal them. To alleviate the condition a little, you should use special wound healing agents. Popular ointments:

"Bepanthen".
"Depanthenol".

They are made specifically for nursing mothers, so they are completely safe for both the adult body and the child. If more severe wounds than cracks appear on the nipples, you should consult a doctor. The process is complicated by inflammation, pathological microflora multiplies here. You should not breastfeed your child with a sick breast.

Hurts! But why?

Not always pain in the mammary gland in women on the left, on the right is explained by the specific features of the reproductive cycle. One possible cause is Tietze's syndrome. Medical statistics show that it occurs infrequently. A distinctive feature is pain, swelling near the costal cartilages. The causes of this disease have not yet been established. It is known that the condition becomes worse if a woman is faced with exorbitant physical activity, is regularly exposed to stress factors. The spread of pain from the ribs is possible in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mammary gland. To identify the disease, you need to sign up for a chest x-ray procedure. The doctor will examine the results and assess the condition of the cartilage in this area. A specific therapeutic approach has not yet been developed. If the pain is severe, anti-inflammatory and painkillers are prescribed. It is known that there is a high probability of self-healing if you adjust your lifestyle, primarily physical activity.

Possible pain, radiating to the mammary gland, with herpes zoster. A disease of viral origin. For the first time, a person encounters a pathogen as a child - chickenpox has a similar nature. Although the disease passes, the person will still be a carrier of the virus, with time a relapse in the form of shingles is possible. The disease is accompanied by various unpleasant sensations, rashes, vesicles with a specific liquid appear on the skin. The affected areas hurt. If the lichen has affected the chest, this area will also respond with pain.

More often, with herpes zoster, the lower back suffers, damage is done to both the skin and the nerve endings of this area. Somewhat less often fix foci on the mammary glands. Symptoms are in many ways similar to mastopathy, which can cause an incorrect diagnosis. Usually, rashes become less noticeable 2-3 weeks after the onset of the disease, gradually the pain goes away completely. Antiviral drugs can be used to alleviate the condition. In modern pharmacies, the choice of remedies for herpetic viruses is quite large - they are indicated for herpes zoster.

Danger awaits everyone

Perhaps the worst thing that can explain the pain in the mammary gland is cancer. Among the total number of women suffering from soreness in this area, only a small percentage have cancer. At the same time, among malignant neoplasms, perhaps the most common in women is precisely the process affecting the breast. In developed countries, the incidence of this cancer is growing from year to year. If you fail to notice the disease in time, make a diagnosis, choose the right method of treatment, the risk of death is high.

The likelihood of an oncological process is higher if a woman:

did not give birth;
did not become pregnant;
over 60 years old;
suffered malignant neoplasms of the intestinal tract, ovaries;
has oncological patients among the closest relatives.

People who have their first menstrual period before the age of 12 are more likely to have cancer and menopause started too late. Provoke malignant processes can features of the hormonal background. If it is known that mother, grandmother had breast cancer, one should constantly come for preventive examinations, since the likelihood of a neoplasm is much higher than for other women. But soreness with PMS is not a reason to look for oncological diseases in oneself, doctors have not revealed any connection between these two conditions.

How to notice?

Pain in breast cancer is not always disturbing. Soreness is characteristic only of the case when the tumor affects the nerve endings, compresses the tissues of this system. In order to notice something was wrong in time, you should regularly come for a check-up to the doctor. You can carry out diagnostics at home. Palpation of the breast allows you to notice seals, which, in turn, may indicate cell malignancy. Doctors recommend having a check-up every week. The reason to visit the doctor should be any education, no matter how small they are, what shape they have. If the contours are uneven, the area is motionless, the areas are large, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible.

It is possible to suspect malignant processes not only by pain in the mammary gland in women on the left and right, but also by the following characteristic manifestations:

The presence of secretions (for non-nursing women).
Asymmetrical breasts.
Nipple retraction.
Temperature increase (local).
Soreness when touched, characteristic not only of the PMS period.
The presence of ulcers on the skin.
The appearance of "lemon peel" on the surface of the glands.
Change in skin tone.

If there is a stabbing pain in the mammary glands, aching, activated by touch, palpation, if the condition is accompanied by one or more of the symptoms mentioned, it is reasonable to make an appointment with a doctor. The doctor will prescribe instrumental and laboratory tests. In the predominant percentage of cases, the patient is referred for a mammogram - an x-ray of the chest. It is especially important to regularly undergo such a study for people over the age of forty. If the structure of the gland is such that there are many seals, mammography will not give accurate information. In the reproductive period, ultrasound examination of the breast structure is much more useful and informative. With ultrasound, it is possible to make a differential diagnosis of cysts.

To clarify the condition, they are sent for MRI, CT. As a preventive, such approaches are irrelevant, but if you suspect oncology, the study will have to be completed without fail. If an ultrasound or x-ray shows a lump, a biopsy is needed even if the area is not causing pain. Obtaining cells for laboratory histological examination allows us to determine exactly what the nature of the formation is, how dangerous it is, whether malignancy has occurred, and if not, how great is the risk of such a transformation. A fairly popular approach is to remove the neoplasm. After the operation, a study is carried out to determine whether malignancy has occurred. If it is revealed that the area was malignant, the patient is prescribed additional procedures.

Pain does not always indicate bad

Pain under the mammary glands and in them can occur if a woman becomes pregnant. Often, it is pain that is the first sign that comes earlier than the absence of another menstruation. Immediately after conception, changes in the hormonal background begin, which means that the processes of restructuring the gland start. The sensations at the same time are similar to those that are pursued before the onset of monthly bleeding.

To clarify the nature of the pain, you should consult a doctor. Perhaps special tests will reveal the fact of pregnancy. The sooner this can be established, the faster the woman will be able to adjust the rhythm and lifestyle so that the process proceeds as easily as possible, and the birth goes quickly, the child is healthy.

Chest pain on the left

If the pain is acute, localized strictly in the left mammary gland, it is likely that it is associated with a violation of the functionality, health of the tissues of the respiratory or cardiac system. Perhaps the pleura is affected. There is a possibility that chest pain indicates trauma, inflammation, malignancy in the respiratory system.

Pain can be given to the left half of the chest with unhealthy changes in the pericardium and other muscle tissues of the heart. In some cases, acute pain is provoked by pulmonary thromboembolism. The patient loses consciousness, before this, shortness of breath worries.

Particular attention should be paid to diagnosis if the left mammary gland and the arm from this half of the body hurt at the same time. There is a possibility that the cause is a heart attack. It is known that women have a rather high percentage of cases when a heart attack occurs without pronounced manifestations, only pain, a general increase in temperature are worried, so many do not pay due attention to their condition. This leads to complications in the future. If both the chest and the arm hurt, it is worth visiting the doctor and checking the heart. You may need to undergo treatment.

Diseases and consequences

If the pain bothers for a long time, has a pulling character, it is likely that inflammatory processes manifest themselves in this way. The area of their localization is not easy to predict - it can be organs not only of the sternum, but also of the abdominal cavity. It hurts in the chest if the foci of chronic inflammation are in:

intestinal tract;
pleura;
pancreas;
spleen.

If the sensations become stronger at the time of physical exertion, the cause is probably in the heart. Perhaps this is a pathology of the myocardium. When vomiting, chest pain is a sign of an ulcer.

If the nature of the pain is stabbing, there is a high probability of neuralgia between the ribs. The reason is the infringement of the nerve roots. This may indicate inflammatory processes localized in the tissues of the nervous system or muscle fibers. In some cases, stabbing or acute pain is a sign of a severe pathological process in the intestinal tract and lungs. Perhaps this is how the consequences of injuries received by the organs of these systems express themselves. Only by identifying the exact cause, one should begin to fight the symptoms.

It hurts because of hormones: what to do?

Since in most cases the reason is precisely the adjustment of the hormonal background, it is worth considering what measures and methods will alleviate the condition. It is not always necessary to resort to medicines - the most ordinary foodstuffs will benefit. For example, to get rid of excess estrogen, you should diversify your diet with foods containing tocopherol. The accumulation of hormones leads to pain and can cause neoplasms, and regular use of vitamin E eliminates such consequences. You can not only include vitamin-rich foods in your diet, but also use pharmacy medicines. Doctors advise to provide the body with a daily intake of 500 units.

Excess estrogen can be produced with a lack of fiber. It is useful for women to eat foods rich in fiber, which contain a minimum content of fat fractions. This will allow you to control the concentration of estrogens, which means that the risk of cysts and neoplasms that depend on the hormonal background is reduced.

Chocolate, coffee, tea are considered harmful. These products contain methylxanthines, which can provoke the appearance of dense nodular structures in the glands. The body receives methylxanthines with cola. To ensure your safety and reduce the risk of developing formations in the mammary glands, you need to minimize the intake of these products. This is especially important for individuals who are prone to the appearance of cysts from the connective tissue. During PMS, drinks containing caffeine should be completely excluded from the diet.

One of the main purposes of the female breast is to feed children. During the period of gestation, milk accumulates in the breast, with which the woman subsequently feeds the newborn. At the same time, the female mammary glands are an integral part of the proper functioning of the entire hormonal system. For this reason, the condition and health of the breast should be treated very carefully. A clear sign of pathology is pain in the mammary gland. Of particular alertness is pain in the mammary gland on the left in women, since vital organs are located on this side. In fact, there can be a large number of provoking factors, and in most cases they are determined by the nature of the pain syndrome.

If the pain syndrome occurs in older women, then we should talk about malfunctions in the work of the cardiac organ. In this case, the pain can be acute or aching, making itself felt for certain periods or be permanent.

The most common heart diseases are acute myocardial infarction and aortic aneurysm.

Quite often, the pain syndrome in this area is related to the development of pathological respiratory processes:

pneumonia with left-sided or bilateral localization;
acute or obstructive form of bronchitis.

Pain with localization under the breast on the left side is often associated with diseases of the spleen. The nature of the pain is radiating, which indicates:

a heart attack that has developed as a result of embolism or thrombosis of the splenic artery, which is the largest blood vessel of the peritoneum;
the presence of cystic neoplasms or abscess;
organ enlargement.

Sometimes pain in the left chest occurs against the background of impaired functioning of the central nervous system, which is often caused by neuralgia.

Also, pathological failures in terms of gynecology or oncology are equally common. At the same time, a similar symptom can be exclusively physiological in nature, occurring against the background of:

puberty;
period of gestation;
menstrual cycle.

Update: October 2018

Pain in the area of the mammary glands, to one degree or another, worries more than half of all women. It ranges from mild discomfort to excruciating burning and heaviness that reduces quality of life. Therefore, it is very important to find the cause of pain, and then choose an effective treatment.

How are the mammary glands arranged?

The female breast consists of a gland divided by ducts into lobules, connective tissue and fat. The predominance of glandular or fibrous (connective) tissue depends on age, hormonal levels, weight and body characteristics. But the mammary gland of any woman is an organ in which changes constantly occur in parallel with the menstrual cycle (see). Hormonal transformations are as follows:

The first 14 days (with a 28-day cycle) follicles actively mature in the ovaries. By the middle of the cycle, the follicle ruptures and releases the egg. This is combined with an ejection peak. After the release of the egg, a corpus luteum forms in place of the follicle. This phase is characterized by the production of progesterone. If conception does not occur, then the corpus luteum gradually fades away, and the level of both hormones decreases towards the end of the cycle. Menstruation occurs.

The female hormone estrogen has a great influence on the mammary glands. It causes an increase in the number of glandular cells, connective tissue elements. These cells line all the ducts in the breast. Excess estrogen can turn groups of glands into cysts. They are generally safe and do not require treatment.

Mammary cancer

The most formidable of all causes of chest pain is breast cancer. This is a tumor that occupies the first place among oncological processes in women. In addition to the high prevalence of this cancer, it is also dangerous with high mortality, as many women delay the visit to the doctor until the last.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

Early periods, late menopause, no childbirth or pregnancy
Obesity
Age over 60 years
Previous breast, ovarian, or bowel cancer
Oncological processes of the above organs and closest relatives (mother, sister, grandmother)

Among all these factors, one dominates: the effect of estrogens on the mammary gland. It must be remembered that the usual diffuse mastopathy, cyclic chest pain before menstruation are not risk factors and causes of cancer.

Heredity, burdened by cases of oncology, requires careful attention to health. Up to 10% of breast cancers are thought to be the result of genetic damage. The presence of special BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes increases the risk of getting cancer dozens of times. Therefore, chest pain in a woman whose relatives had breast cancer requires special attention and special studies.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Small tumors without metastases most often do not cause any discomfort. Pain occurs only with an "unfortunate" location next to the nerve endings. Therefore, an important stage in early diagnosis is.

Paget's cancer is considered a special form of cancer. It is localized in the nipple area, causing its deformation and retraction, as well as pain to the left or right of it.

Breast Cancer Treatment

In the initial stages of the disease, when the cancer has not gone beyond the breast or nearby lymph nodes, complex treatment is usually used. It includes surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy and radiation. Depending on the type of tumor, hormonal drugs may be used. Sometimes a tumor that is too large is reduced with chemotherapy and then removed. The volume of surgical intervention in our country is usually large: the mammary gland, lymph nodes and underlying muscles are removed. In European countries, women detect the disease in themselves much earlier, so they use a partial resection of the mammary gland with cosmetic sutures.

Breast Examination Methods

With the appearance of pain in the mammary glands, you need to undergo a series of studies. They will help to establish the cause of discomfort, exclude life-threatening conditions and choose an adequate treatment.

Breast self-examination

Lying down - to examine the right mammary gland, a small pillow is placed under the right shoulder blade, and the right hand is placed behind the head. Fingertips examine the entire breast in a circle, from the periphery to the nipple.
Standing - examinations are carried out in two positions: with the arms lowered and raised up.

What to look for when examining:

Seal of any shape and size. Especially: with uneven contours, motionless, large sizes.
Nipple retraction
Discharge from the nipple of any color (except for milk during pregnancy and lactation)
Change in breast size (asymmetry)
Changes in the skin of the chest according to the type of "lemon peel"
Changes in skin color (redness, blue) and its temperature
Pain on touch
The presence of ulcers on the skin of the chest

All of the above signs are a reason to contact a specialist. Such a doctor can be a mammologist, gynecologist or therapist. If the doctor has concerns about the health of a woman, he will send her for additional examination and consultation with an oncologist. Examination and probing of the breast by a woman helps to detect breast cancer in the early stages. But in fairness, it should be noted that most of the neoplasms found by a woman on their own. They are benign and do not even require treatment.

Breast examination for pain

Mammography is an X-ray examination of the mammary glands. The method is the standard for diagnosing breast pathology in women over 40 years of age. It allows you to assess the state of breast tissue, the prevalence of pathology, the nature of the growth of the tumor process. But if the glandular dense component predominates in the breast, mammography becomes uninformative. Therefore, young women are recommended to have an ultrasound scan instead of an x-ray.

Ultrasound of the mammary glands- Ultrasound examination of the breast is indicated in the following cases:

in pregnant and lactating women
in young women to prevent
in all women with complaints of pain (as an addition to mammography)
for differential diagnosis of cysts

CT and MRI of the mammary glands- computer and magnetic resonance imaging - additional methods of examination. At the first visit to the doctor or in general for prevention, there is no need to use them. Usually they are resorted to with an unclear diagnosis, when mammography and ultrasound give a fuzzy picture. In addition, MRI and CT help to assess the condition of neighboring organs, to detect even distant metastases in malignant tumors.

Aspiration biopsy- with a painful (or painless) formation in the mammary gland, especially in women in menopause and with aggravated heredity, one x-ray is not enough. To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to examine the cells of the formation for malignancy. For this, aspiration biopsy is often used. In some cases, this stage is skipped, resorting immediately to the removal of the tumor and subsequent examination of the material obtained.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional methods of examination in order to make a diagnosis.

Treatment of pain in the mammary glands

The treatment of pain syndrome directly depends on the cause that caused it. Therefore, first of all, you need to contact a specialist for a thorough examination.

Treatment of cyclic pain

The so-called diffuse mastopathy with premenstrual pain is a safe and benign phenomenon. At its core, this is a normal reaction to a normal ovulatory cycle. But if a woman is worried about pain, several methods are used.

Conversation with a doctor

Oddly enough, often a simple conversation with a specialist is enough to completely relieve symptoms. After an explanation about the safety of mastopathy, the absence of cancer or the risk of its occurrence, the woman's condition improves dramatically, and the pain subsides.

Choosing the right underwear

A tight bra of the correct shape and size helps reduce discomfort from cyclic pain

Aromatherapy, proper rest and dosed physical activity for PMS
Restriction of fatty foods and weight loss
Oral contraceptives

Taking combined oral contraceptives is a temporary “turn off” of ovulation. No ovulation means no hormone surges. Therefore, discomfort and pain while taking COCs usually decrease or even disappear altogether.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (, and others)
Tamoxifen is a drug used for severe mastopathy with very severe pain. It has a number of side effects, so it is prescribed strictly according to indications.

It is important to remember that homeopathic remedies (mastodinon and others), supposedly relieving mastopathy, are quackery. The effect is usually based on self-hypnosis. Therefore, it makes no sense to use drugs with unproven efficacy and safety, when you can limit yourself to proper rest, taking a bath or one conversation with a doctor.

Treatment of non-cyclic pain

If cysts, tumors, inflammatory processes are detected, a doctor's consultation, a thorough diagnosis and, in some cases, surgery is necessary. After removal of a benign formation, PMS treatment can be used. After treatment of malignant neoplasms, many drugs are contraindicated. Pain in breast cancer with distant metastases is usually very strong, painful, and is not relieved by NSAIDs. Sometimes narcotic analgesics have to be used to relieve cancer pain.

Treatment of non-breast related pain

A competent doctor will determine the source and cause of the pain by prescribing additional examinations. Treatment is selected according to the pathology.

Questions your doctor may ask

Before visiting a doctor, you need to think about some questions that a specialist will probably ask.

In which part of the chest is the pain felt?
What is the nature of the sensations? (aching, bursting, stabbing pains?)
How long do the pains bother?
Rate the severity of pain on a 10-point scale
Does one or both mammary glands hurt?
Is there a pattern in the occurrence of pain (menstruation, exercise, breastfeeding, etc.)
When did you have your last mammogram?
Are there other symptoms? (seals in the breast, discharge from the nipple, etc.)
You are pregnant? Are you breastfeeding? Has there been a recent miscarriage or miscarriage?
Have you had breast trauma or breast surgery in the past?
Has anyone in your immediate family had breast, ovarian, or colon cancer?