Women constantly think about why the mammary glands hurt. Women in the period after menopause are less likely to encounter this kind of problem. As a rule, this question concerns those with a regular menstrual cycle.
One of the explanations why the mammary glands hurt is the approach of menstruation. Regular pain in one breast or in several is observed every month, although it can be one-time. Remember that very often before menstruation there is a similar discomfort: swelling of the chest, which prevents sleep on the stomach, linen becomes tight and uncomfortable. When this happens periodically, once a month, there is no reason to worry. This phenomenon is called cyclic mastalgia. It is observed in most women. More than 80% of women suffer from a similar condition, which, due to a change in the hormonal background, disappears after the onset of menopause.
In order to correctly diagnose mastalgia, you must observe your own condition for several months. This is the only way to establish a connection between the onset of menstruation and chest pain. Also, young girls and women need to conduct an independent breast examination, preferably after the end of menstruation.
After the onset of menopause in women , the so-called acyclic mastalgia may occur. In this situation, cramps and burning sensation appear in the mammary gland, and the pain is irregular: either prolonged or short-term. As a rule, the reason why the mammary glands hurt in this case is mastopathy - a benign tumor. But it cannot be stated unequivocally: a consultation with a mammologist is necessary.
One of the possible causes of chest pain can be an infectious disease of the mammary glands, which leads to an unstable general condition, fever, constant migraine. Perhaps the occurrence of weakness and loss of appetite. Infected mammary gland swells, hurts. There is some redness of the skin of the chest.
One of the very unpleasant, but possible causes of chest pain is the development of breast cancer. As a rule, a cancerous tumor occurs in the outside of the chest (near the armpits). The skin in this area wrinkles, becomes uneven, and the surface becomes rough. At risk of developing this disease are women who:
- never gave birth or gave birth late;
- are obese;
- suffer from mastopathy;
- have a hereditary predisposition.
Summing up, we can describe the main causes of chest pain:
- Hormonal changes before menstruation.
- Past trauma to the mammary gland, with consequences.
- Pregnancy
- Lactation
- Introduced infection
- Breast cancer
“Why do the mammary glands hurt?” - a question that begins to excite as soon as such pains appeared. To exclude the possibility of tumor development, it is necessary to regularly inspect and palpate the breast independently. There is a certain procedure procedure:
- First of all, you should conduct a visual examination of the chest in front of the mirror, first raising both hands, then lowering it.
- Then raise one hand, and the other palpate the adjacent mammary gland with light circular movements, slowly descending from top to bottom. Do the same with the other breasts.
- In the supine position under one shoulder, put the roller and place an appropriate arm under it. Then, with your next hand, feel your chest from edge to nipple.
- Press a little on a nipple to determine presence of secretions.
- Feeling the hollows of the armpits.
Remember that an independent examination is necessary for every woman, but, with the slightest alarming symptoms, you must immediately seek help from specialists!