Aching pain in chest. Causes of aching chest pain in women

Chest discomfort can be very scary for a person. Many associate this phenomenon with heart pathologies, therefore, if chest pain occurs, some simply panic. In fact, there can be many reasons for such troubles. These are not only pathologies of the heart muscle and circulatory disorders, but also problems with the lungs and esophagus. Therefore, if a person has an unpleasant sensation in the chest, first you need to determine its nature, and also pay attention to the accompanying symptoms. Based on these data, a preliminary diagnosis can be made, which will help in fixing the problem.

The pain that can occur in the chest is divided into several types: burning, arching, pressing, aching and sharp. Depending on what kind of discomfort a person will have, they judge the presence of a particular problem.

Symptoms associated with chest pain

The discomfort that a person may experience with certain problems can vary significantly in nature. The pain is often intense and accompanied by a cough. In this case, we can say for sure that discomfort in the chest area is associated with diseases of the respiratory system. This includes pneumonia, bronchitis, and other diseases. A strong cough leads to the fact that the discomfort in the chest increases. Chest pain that occurs with respiratory diseases can be identified immediately. A similar problem is familiar to many, and its symptoms are very different from the discomfort that occurs during a heart attack or with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

It is possible to determine that an unpleasant feeling in the chest is associated with the heart by signs such as acute and unbearable pain that radiates to the arm or neck. This is a clear symptom of coronary disease or myocardial infarction. If the pain is very severe, but does not radiate to the arm, but to the back, it may be an aortic dissection in the thoracic region.

When discomfort in the chest is burning, this is a sign of problems with the stomach or intestines. Most often, this phenomenon indicates the presence of GERD. Reflux disease is also accompanied by such troubles as frequent heartburn, increased acidity of the stomach and abdominal pain. Acid causes discomfort in the chest area, which is thrown into the esophagus, and then corrodes its walls. The result is severe pain that is burning in nature. You can get out of this problem quickly. To do this, it is enough to take a Rennie or Gaviscon tablet. However, it should be borne in mind that with frequent manifestations of the disease, the disease can become chronic. In such a situation, the patient will have to drink pills constantly.

Discomfort that increases during movement may be due to pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. These diseases are additionally accompanied by severe shortness of breath and cough.

When a person has acute, but quickly passing pain in the chest, do not worry, as this is not a sign of a serious pathology. This may be due to stress or physical overexertion. Some pathologies of the spine can cause minor discomfort in the chest area.

Most often, such troubles arise due to the development of GERD, peptic ulcers and osteochondrosis. These are not dangerous diseases, but it is still worth consulting a doctor to eliminate discomfort. The most serious causes of chest discomfort are myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism.

Difficulties in diagnosis

Experts say that most often discomfort in the chest area is not a sign of a terrible disease. Most people have problems due to nervous strain or physical activity. It is enough just to calm down and normalize breathing, after which the discomfort will pass.

However, if the pain is somewhat unusual and severe enough, it all greatly worries the person. Many in such cases begin to panic, which further exacerbates the situation.

When contacting a doctor with complaints of discomfort in the chest area, the patient must inform the specialist about all the accompanying symptoms and describe in detail the nature of the pain. The thing is that chest pain speaks of several diseases. Diagnosis can be complicated, and this is dangerous, especially when emergency help is needed.

For example, with problems with the cardiovascular system, an unpleasant feeling in the thoracic region can be a sign of 4 dangerous ailments. If the discomfort is increasing in nature, and the chest seems to be squeezing, this indicates angina pectoris. An attack can happen when a person is at rest, and after physical exertion. Angina pectoris is relieved by taking nitroglycerin.

Intense pain indicates a heart attack. In this case, discomfort will be in the left side of the chest, arm or neck. Additionally, the patient may feel nausea, dizziness and general weakness. Taking medications for pain in the heart during myocardial infarction will not give the desired effect, urgent qualified medical care is needed here.

Thrombosis of the artery causes discomfort, which is very similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. In such a situation, diagnostic difficulties often arise, so the doctor must pay attention to additional symptoms, namely the presence of shortness of breath. Late in the development of the problem, there will be a loose cough that will produce bloody sputum.

Intense pain during aortic dissection is concentrated in the middle of the chest. Patients rarely provide specialists with accurate information about the localization of discomfort, which makes it difficult to make a correct diagnosis.

Unlike heart pathologies, problems with the lungs and stomach can be identified immediately. In the first case, the pain will not be constant. It is strong enough, but mostly occurs after the patient clears his throat. Gastrointestinal diseases that cause discomfort in the chest area are always accompanied by characteristic additional symptoms. We are talking about severe heartburn, a feeling of acid in the mouth and pain in the abdomen. Nausea and severe vomiting may occur after eating.

Ovulation is the process of release of an egg into the lumen of the fallopian tube from the ovary. In this case, most often women experience discomfort and some soreness in the lower abdomen. This is understandable, but many also note soreness in the chest area. Why is this happening? Do I need to urgently run to the doctor or is the condition a variant of the norm?

Why does my chest hurt during ovulation?

In gynecology and mammology, there is a special term that defines soreness of the mammary glands during ovulation. This condition is called cyclic mastodynia. Experts consider this condition to be the norm for the female body.

In order to understand why this happens, you should know what the monthly cycle is for and what kind of changes in the woman's body take place. Ovulation occurs approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle (somewhere in the second week after the end of the last period). Physiologically, it is characterized by the rupture of the follicle with a mature egg and its release from the ovary. At the same time, there is an increase in the level of progesterone, the female sex hormone, in the blood. This phase is called the luteal phase.

What is progesterone responsible for?

Progesterone in the female body is responsible for the possibility of fertilization and prepares the expectant mother for a possible pregnancy. First of all, the uterus directly experiences its influence on itself. The epithelium on it begins to grow and prepare for the implantation of a fertilized egg.

The hormonal surge does not go unnoticed by other target organs. The mammary gland is one of them. Pregnancy involves further lactation period - feeding the baby with breast milk. With an increase in progesterone levels, the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for preparing the mammary gland for feeding, is stimulated. There is fluid retention in the glandular tissue, which a woman observes on the scales (weight fluctuation from one and a half to three kilograms during the day). The mammary gland is stretched, noticeably increases in size, swells. Pressure irritates pain nerve receptors and vascular bundles. Violation of patency through the vessels leads to an increase in their permeability and even greater swelling of the mammary gland due to flooding of the connective tissue. All this leads to a feeling of discomfort and soreness in the chest.

Why does my chest hurt after ovulation?

After ovulation, progesterone and prolactin levels remain high for some time, which is considered the best for conceiving a child. Then, 3-4 days before the onset of menstruation, the pain subsides, the hormonal background is rebuilt. With the onset of menstruation, there should be no pain in the mammary gland.

If fertilization has occurred, then the pain does not subside, but may even intensify. In this case, it makes sense to take a test to determine a possible pregnancy. If the test did not give results, and the discomfort persists, you must consult a specialist and undergo a diagnosis to rule out a possible pathology.

Why does my chest hurt before ovulation?

In the first phase of the female cycle, the hormone estrogen is synthesized. During puberty, it is the cause of the appearance of sexual characteristics in a girl, including being responsible for the growth of the mammary glands. This process is accompanied by pain.

After the hormonal changes are settled and puberty ends after menstruation, the pain in the mammary glands should disappear before the onset of ovulation. Sometimes discomfort in the area of ​​​​the glands appears 3-4 days before the rupture of the follicle. This is associated with the crossover of the hormonal background: there is still a lot of estrogen, and the level of progesterone begins to rise.

If the stomach and chest hurts after ovulation

After ovulation has occurred, soreness in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe mammary glands persists, but it is dull, aching in nature, causing discomfort. If there is an increase in pain against the background of pain in the abdomen, the likelihood of pregnancy is high.

During the period of ovulation itself, pain in the lower abdomen is natural. This is due to the fact that the rupture of the follicle itself is an injury, which is accompanied by cramping pain, may be accompanied by a feeling of nausea, sometimes vomiting is added. A woman at that time may feel weak, fatigue increases. After the egg begins its "journey" through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity, the pain subsides, the condition returns to normal.

As soon as fertilization has occurred, the probability of which remains high for the first 48 hours after ovulation has occurred, the egg is implanted in the endometrium - the mucous layer at the bottom of the uterus. This process may be accompanied not only by pain, but also by bloody discharge from the vagina.

Pain in the nipples during ovulation

Before the release of the egg in the blood, there is a release of estrogen, which in turn stimulates the pituitary gland to release luteinizing hormone. After ovulation, the so-called corpus luteum remains in place of the burst follicle. It is this formation that produces progesterone.

On the 14th day, an increased concentration of female estrogen and an insufficient amount of progesterone at that time cause the characteristic symptoms of cyclic mastodynia:

• drawing pains in the mammary gland;
• increased sensitivity of the nipples;
• increase and swelling of the organ in size;
• symmetrical lesion.

Most of the nerve endings are concentrated in the nipples. With the growth of gland tissue under the action of progesterone, compression of the vascular bundles occurs. The impact is transmitted to the nerve endings - the woman feels pain in the nipples. It happens that patients note increased sensitivity and discomfort in the nipples. In this case, the breast tissue changes slightly.

Hormonal imbalance and the appearance of pain during the period of ovulation can cause stress, a previous abortion or miscarriage, and inflammation of the thoracic spine.

Another cause of pain in the nipples is the lack of sex. The oversaturation of the body with hormones in the middle of the cycle does not find the proper release, so the substances are sent to the target organs, where they produce the corresponding symptoms.

Swelling and pain in the nipples may worsen when taking oral contraceptives. The reason is an incorrectly selected drug, a violation of the medication, an insufficient or overestimated dosage. Mandatory consultation of a specialist and the decision of further tactics.

How to alleviate the condition?

There are a number of techniques that can improve the general condition of a woman.

1. The easiest way to relieve pain is to shower or bathe. Warm water dilates blood vessels, relieves swelling of the mammary gland. Additionally, you can use aromatherapy. Soothing scents will help relieve tension, which somewhat reduces the concentration of prolactin, which is a stress hormone.
2. It is recommended to perform self-massage. Movements should be light, sliding. Compression and pressure on the mammary gland is contraindicated. Edema tissues react extremely painfully to such manipulations.
3. During the period of ovulation, it is advisable to avoid sunbathing and hypothermia. Ice compresses are not recommended.
4. An important aspect of treatment is proper nutrition. For the period of ovulation, it is required to exclude coffee, carbonated and alcoholic drinks, chocolate, table salt, fatty and fried foods from the diet. It is possible to use vitamins A, B, C and E both with food and in the form of a medicinal supplement.
5. Phytotherapy. Alternative methods of treatment are aimed at calming the nervous system, relieving increased vascular tone. Tea and infusion based on mint, calendula, chamomile can reduce discomfort.
6. The patient should refrain from wearing compressive synthetic underwear, which further leads to swelling and pain. A bra should support, not compress, your breasts.
7. With severe pain, it is possible to take antispasmodics, painkillers.

How many days will the pain go away?

The time frame for the disappearance of discomfort is purely individual. In many ways, the duration depends on the level of hormones, the excitability of the receptors and the pain threshold of the patient. Usually pain accompanies a woman only during the "window of conception". This is the time interval of the hormonal surge of estrogen and LH, leading to ovulation, as well as the viability of the egg cell of 48 hours. If pregnancy does not occur, gradually the pain decreases, becomes rare and local.

Basically, discomfort during ovulation is minor, rarely leads to loss of performance. In some cases, PMS occurs on the eve of menstruation. During this period, there is a repeated increase in sensitivity and swelling of the mammary glands. When bleeding occurs, swelling and pain disappear. This is an absolutely natural process that does not need correction.

Is chest pain during ovulation always a normal variant?

In addition to physiological pain, the appearance of discomfort in the mammary glands may indicate the development of pathology.

1. Fibrocystic mastopathy is most often disguised as normal. In the chest there is an overgrowth of connective tissue. A characteristic feature of the pathology is the appearance of pain in the nipples during ovulation, with a peak before the onset of spotting. The gland swells, the sensitivity of the nipple increases. The appearance of secretions and nodes during palpation of the organ is possible.
2. There may be a hormonal imbalance in polycystic ovaries, thyroid pathology, endometriosis. Pathologies cause an increase in estrogen: the mammary gland increases, becomes sensitive. Endometriosis is characterized by discomfort in the nipple and areola area.
3. In addition, the appearance of a benign, malignant tumor of the breast tissue is possible. Beginning cancer is usually accompanied by a change in color, shape, size of the nipple or the gland itself. Characterized by exacerbation of sensitivity and unilateral lesion.
4. Mastitis. An inflammatory disease that occurs more often during lactation. A feature is the obvious signs of microbial damage: temperature, swelling, redness, soreness of the gland tissue.

To clarify the exact diagnosis, it is necessary to consult a specialist, conduct an additional examination.

When should you see a doctor?

It is quite difficult to draw a line between normal pain sensations and pathological ones. However, if certain signs appear that testify in favor of diseases of the reproductive system, it is recommended to consult a specialist. These symptoms include:

• severe, unbearable pain;
• damage to one mammary gland;
• discomfort does not go away 3-4 days after ovulation;
• the appearance of purulent, sanious discharge from the nipple;
• fever, redness, swelling;
• itching, burning;
• the occurrence of a rash;
• cracks, erosion of the nipples;
• compaction of the gland;
• causeless weight loss, weakness.

Early diagnosis can prevent serious consequences. The best prevention of the development of diseases is a regular annual visit to the gynecologist with an ultrasound of the pelvis and mammary glands. Additional consultations when symptoms appear or during pregnancy.

It is extremely important for a woman to know her menstrual cycle. It is better to keep a calendar, mark not only the end and beginning of menstruation, but also record all the sensations. Pain in the mammary glands during ovulation is physiological in nature. However, we should not forget that in some cases the pathology can be hidden behind minor ignored complaints. If necessary, do not delay going to the gynecologist. The reproductive well-being of a woman guarantees healthy offspring.

Many people associate chest pains with problems in the work of the heart, but in fact this characteristic symptom can indicate a variety of pathologies. Doctors differentiate chest pains not only by their nature, but also by the degree of danger to the health and life of the patient.

Causes of chest pain

Pain in the chest can appear absolutely suddenly, be sharp and stabbing or aching and cutting, in some cases, the pain syndrome is characterized by a cardiologist patient as a diffuse burning sensation behind the sternum. Doctors are well aware that, first of all, it is necessary to differentiate the symptom, which can be caused by the following reasons:

• cardiac pathologies - ischemic heart disease (angina pectoris and / or myocardial infarction), arrhythmia, myocarditis, pericarditis, aortic dissection, cardialgia, (congenital / acquired) and others;
• diseases occurring in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract - inflammatory processes in the stomach, esophagus and / or duodenum, an acute attack of inflammation of the pancreas, the presence of gallstones, gastroesophageal syndrome, rupture of the esophagus;
• pathological processes in the respiratory system - acute and chronic forms, obstructive bronchitis, inflammation of the small bronchi, pneumonia, pleurisy;
• systemic diseases - lupus erythematosus;
• inflammatory and infectious processes in the musculoskeletal system - arthrosis (joint pathology), neuropain, injuries of the spinal column.

In addition, often chest pains are caused by hormonal disorders and problems in the mammary gland - for example, with the development of mastopathy.

With angina pectoris, chest pain is short-term, recedes after 15-20 minutes, the condition stabilizes even faster after the use of drugs with a vasodilating effect (for example, nitroglycerin). Myocardial infarction is differentiated according to the following features:

The nature of chest pain

Each bout of chest pain can have different characteristics. Doctors classify them according to the following criteria:

1. Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction(cardiac ischemia). In this case, the pain will have a pulling and at the same time burning character, many patients describe ischemic pain as "pressing from the inside." Pain in angina pectoris and myocardial infarction does not have a clear localization, it can be given to the left arm, the left side of the neck. There is a pain syndrome in the considered pathologies only under certain conditions:
   • immediately after taking a large amount of heavy food;
   • after suffering nervous breakdowns and negative psycho-emotional outbursts;
   • with a sudden increase in blood pressure.
2. Pericarditis. In this case, chest pain will be localized below and to the left, the syndrome has a pronounced changeable character, the intensity of the pain is variable. The patient experiences a clear increase in chest pain in the supine position, the syndrome is least intense in the sitting position with the torso and head tilted forward and down.
3. Aortic dissection. Chest pain in this pathology is concentrated in the center, may have a clear localization, but in some cases they radiate to the left shoulder blade and even the lower back. note: chest pain during aortic dissection always occurs suddenly, differs in strength and severity - the patient may even lose consciousness.
4. Neuroboli. There are complaints of pressing sensations in the entire chest, the patient cannot indicate a clear localization of the pain syndrome. Neurobolic pains are always acute and increase only with a deep breath.
5. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. They are almost always burning in nature - some patients indicate that they experience both heartburn and a severe attack of burning pain at the same time. The localization of the syndrome is not determined - the chest, shoulder blades, and neck are covered with pain.

note: in diseases of the respiratory system (bronchitis, pleurisy), chest pain will be strong, constant, aggravated when you try to take a deep, full breath.

Pain in the chest can be spasmodic in nature - in this case, it can be assumed that there is some kind of obstacle in the esophagus for the passage of food. Such pain passes quickly enough, as soon as the cause is eliminated.

How to recognize a dangerous condition and the "golden hour" - in the video review:

How to find out why the chest hurts?

To differentiate chest pain and make an accurate diagnosis, doctors conduct a full examination of the patient:

• ultrasound examination of the chest and abdominal cavity;
• x-ray examination;
• electrocardiogram;
• monitoring the work of the heart at rest and during physical exertion;
• CT scan.

Be sure to conduct a survey of the patient - in the anamnesis, previously diagnosed diseases of the cardiovascular system and organs of the gastrointestinal tract can be detected.

Chest pain - when should you see a doctor?

Of course, the best option is to immediately contact specialists after the first attack of chest pain. But in medicine, it is customary to differentiate conditions in which emergency professional help may be needed. What characteristics of chest pain should be a signal for immediate referral to specialists:

1. Chest pain is combined with an acceleration (up to 90 beats per minute) or a slowdown (up to 50 beats per minute) of the pulse.
2. Sudden decrease or increase in blood pressure due to chest pain.
3. A powerful attack of acute pain directly in the region of the heart.
4. Appeared shortness of breath on the background of pain in the chest.
5. Deep breathing and coughing provokes an increase in the intensity of pain.
6. The syndrome under consideration is accompanied by high body temperature, chills, severe dizziness.
7. The pain is accompanied by a sharp weakness in the arm / leg or a pronounced asymmetry of the face.

note: The above characteristics of chest pain may indicate a life-threatening condition for the patient. You should not take any action on your own, you need to call an ambulance and wait for the arrival of specialists.

You can undergo a routine examination by doctors in polyclinics with the following chest pains:

• irregular, having a weak intensity;
• appearing only under certain conditions - after physical exertion, after stress;
• stopped after the use of vasodilator drugs.

If the pain syndrome in the chest appears periodically, then before visiting the doctor, you can keep a kind of diary of monitoring your own health:

• What time of day does the pain appear?
• whether they are associated with eating;
• how long the attack lasts;
• Do pains bother you at rest, during sleep;
• in what position is it easiest to endure an attack;
• Whether vasodilators or analgesics help relieve chest pain.

Such monitoring of the state of health and the course of the pain syndrome will help the doctor in diagnosing.

How to recognize "false pains" in the heart - in the video review:

Treatment

Treatment of chest pain should be carried out only by a specialist - it is necessary to identify the true cause of the appearance of the syndrome in question. Typically, treatment regimens are built according to the following principles:

1. For cardiac causes of chest pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vasodilators, and analgesics are prescribed. If a patient is diagnosed with a myocardial infarction or aortic dissection, then he is shown immediate hospitalization and emergency measures of assistance, up to mechanical ventilation.
2. If the cause of chest pain is the pathology of the stomach, duodenum or pancreas / gallbladder, then complex treatment is used:
   • anti-inflammatory drugs;
   • agents with antibacterial action;
   • drugs that stabilize the production of gastric enzymes.
3. In the case of diagnosing diseases of the respiratory system, specific therapy will be prescribed to get rid of the inflammatory process.
   What to do before visiting a doctor:
   • calm down and take a comfortable position - even with an acute attack of chest pain, there should be no panic;
   • to stabilize breathing, even if shortness of breath appears - you need to breathe deeply and evenly;
   • take a pill with an analgesic effect - Tempalgin, Analgin and others.

note: if the above measures do not help and the pain does not go away within 20 minutes, but becomes more intense, then you need to call a doctor - there may be a myocardial infarction and other serious cardiac problems.

Preventive measures

Prevention of chest pain does not have clear positions - too many pathological conditions can provoke this syndrome. But doctors recommend:

• timely treat diseases of the stomach, duodenum, gallbladder;
• when the first signs of pathologies of the respiratory system appear, undergo an examination and receive prescriptions from a doctor;
• in the case of previously occurring heart attacks, always have Nitroglycerin, Validol, Corvalol in the medicine cabinet - these drugs will help to quickly relieve the pain of angina pectoris.

More details about preventive measures tells the specialist:

note: if there were previously attacks of chest pain after physical exertion, then training / classes should be adjusted, and if the syndrome in question appears after eating a large amount of food, then the help of a nutritionist will be needed. Compliance with the recommendations of the attending physician will help to minimize the number of seizures.

Familiar to many women. Such pain is the most famous complaint of women during the menstrual cycle. Pain can be seen both in one mammary gland and in two. Sometimes the pain goes away for a few months and then comes back again. Why does the chest ache, what are the reasons for this phenomenon?

Types of pain in the chest

In many cases, pain occurs for some time before menstruation. However, there are reasons for which pain in the mammary glands is completely unrelated to critical days.

Chest pain can be classified into 2 types:

• Cyclic pain sensations that are completely interconnected with critical days. Usually, aching chest pain can occur in the second half of the cycle, and a few days before menstruation, these sensations can only intensify.
• Non-cyclical is not associated with critical days, but has completely different reasons.

According to statistics, two out of three women suffer from pain, which are associated with the ongoing processes in the body of a woman during menstruation. And only in one it is the result of the influence of other diseases, injuries, etc.

Cyclic pain

This manifestation of pain is most often observed in women aged thirty to fifty years. Cyclic pain sensations are not fixed in women who are in the period of menopause, when menstruation stops.

Manifestations of pain in the form of minor discomfort some time before critical days are considered normal. Only in some cases, the process is accompanied by a sharp pain that lasts about 7-14 days. The most difficult moment is the period a few days before the onset of menstruation. At this time, a woman may feel her chest aches before menstruation, and sometimes it swells. With the onset of menstruation, the woman's condition returns to normal.

The main cause of pain is hormonal changes, to which the mammary glands are very sensitive. Cyclic pain is not associated with any disease, so they do not require special care. In the event of acute pain, symptoms can be reduced with the help of painkillers (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol) or ointments with an analgesic effect.

Taking contraceptives containing non-natural hormones can aggravate a woman's condition and increase such pain. Some types of drugs to lower blood pressure have a similar effect.

In the case when conventional drugs do not help in reducing pain, the doctor may prescribe special drugs that counteract the release of hormones (Danazol, Tamoxifen). Such treatment can reduce the level of the hormone estrogen, so it should be permanent. Drugs can cause many side effects, and a doctor may prescribe them for acute pain as a last resort.

Non-cyclic types of pain

Pain of this nature can occur constantly or periodically. Pain of this type is not associated with hormonal changes, and most often occurs in women over the age of forty. When a woman’s chest aches, the factors causing this condition may be the following:

• mastopathy;
• inflammatory processes, infections;
• breast cancer;
• possible structural disorders of the chest;
• stretching of the chest muscles.

Before the appointment of treatment, a woman undergoes an examination that helps to identify the exact cause of the pain.

Painful and sore breasts during pregnancy

The main cause of pain in the mammary glands during pregnancy is an increase in the volume of glandular cells that will perform the functions of secreting milk.

From the first days of pregnancy, a woman's breasts become sensitive, and in some cases painful. The appearance of pain in the chest and an increase in its size is one of the signs of pregnancy.

All changes that occur in the mammary glands require activation of the blood circulation process. The chest fills with blood, and the tendency to accumulate fluid in the body during pregnancy causes swelling and pain, respectively.

During pregnancy, a common occurrence is chest pain. The mammary gland usually aches for everyone, but these sensations disappear by the end of the first trimester (10-12 weeks). A significant increase and a tingling sensation in the chest of a woman is felt at the 20th week of pregnancy. This is due to the preparation of the mammary glands for the birth of a child and the upcoming lactation. The ongoing processes do not cause severe pain. In the event of such sensations in one breast, a woman should definitely seek help from her gynecologist to exclude processes not related to pregnancy.

What symptoms should a woman see a doctor for?

A woman should make an appointment with a doctor if the following symptoms are present:

• the feeling that the chest aches persists even after the onset of menstruation;
• pain in the form of burning and squeezing;
• pain is localized in one part of the chest;
• pain does not stop, but intensifies over time;
• in the chest, in addition to pain, knots or its deformation, redness of the mammary glands, the occurrence of fever are felt;
• pain in a woman is observed constantly for two weeks;
• pain interferes with her daily activities, causes insomnia and irritation.

At the doctor

You should consult a doctor in case of persistent pain in the mammary glands. If the doctor does not find any seals, then further examination may not be necessary. For women over 40 years of age, a specialist usually recommends a mammogram. If seals are found during the examination, then in this case a biopsy is performed (study of tissue particles under a microscope).

Treatment will depend entirely on the causes that caused this pain, and the result of the examination. When the chest hurts and aches, such sensations can cause various diseases, one of which is mastopathy.

What it is?

Mastopathy is a disease in which fibrocystic growths form in the breast. According to statistics, about 75-80% of women under the age of 40 have diseases of the mammary glands, united by the common name "mastopathy".

The disease is widespread. In women with mastopathy, the risk of breast cancer increases by 3-5 times.

Causes

Hormonal disorders in a woman can occur for the following reasons:

• disorders in the liver;
• cessation of feeding the baby with sufficient lactation;
• irregular sexual relations;
• ovarian diseases;
• thyroid disease;
• stressful situations;
• pathological condition of the pituitary gland.

All these reasons affect the hormonal background of a woman, which leads to the occurrence of mastopathy. There is no genetic predisposition to it.

An imbalance of hormones is manifested by changes in the level of estrogen and progesterone.

Such an imbalance occurs in all women who have given birth little or not at all. Mastopathy does not appear suddenly, within a few years in the chest, in violation of physiological processes, foci of epithelial tissues arise and grow. They compress the ducts, interfere with the normal outflow of secretion into them and deform the lobules of the mammary glands.

With mastopathy in women, there is a feeling that the chest aches, as well as a feeling of fullness and squeezing in the mammary gland. In addition, nausea, lack of appetite, and abdominal pain may be present. The disease requires constant monitoring by a doctor and systematic treatment.

Why chest aches and how to help yourself?

When the problem occurs constantly before the start of the cycle, then nothing can be done here. You can prepare and purchase underwear, the size of which is designed for an increased breast size. This must be done without fail, because squeezing negatively affects the mammary glands.

If there are suspicions of pregnancy, a woman must definitely contact a gynecologist to refute or confirm her assumptions.

Women should constantly examine their breasts to detect the appearance of lumps or nodules. In case of detection of possible pathologies, it is better to make an appointment with a doctor in order to exclude oncology.

Medicines for such a symptom are not prescribed, so a woman needs to learn to live with it.

All medications should be prescribed by a specialist after examining a woman's breasts and taking into account her condition.

Although most women are accustomed to having painful sensations in their mammary glands once a month, sometimes breast pain in women can cause concern: is it cancer? Especially often such thoughts appear in those who are over 40.

All female chest pains (mastalgia) can be divided into two types: cyclic and non-cyclic. Having figured out what kind of problem your problem belongs to, you can understand how terrible it is. It also depends on what methods it needs to be “treated”.

• Cyclic pain is associated with the menstrual cycle. Their occurrence in his second half is a natural phenomenon. A few days before the onset of menstruation, they can intensify. For some women, the pain is so strong that it interferes with normal life and causes anxiety. In this case, it makes sense to consult a doctor who will recommend an adequate remedy for pain.
• Non-cyclic pains have nothing to do with the menstrual cycle and, accordingly, are caused by other causes: diseases, injuries, or something else.

Breast pain is common during PMS

In most cases (two out of three), the resulting pain in the mammary glands is explained by hormonal causes and is caused by the restructuring of the body during menstruation. Non-cyclic pains are quite rare, but how dangerous they are - read on.

Chest pain in women: causes

But first, let's dot the i's with menstrual cramps. Here, everything is absolutely clear with the reasons: hormones live by their own rules, and the fact that they cause inconvenience to us does not bother them. So if the discomfort has intensified, you should not worry - this is not a disease at all, but you just need to deal with it somehow. Manage pain in the usual way - with paracetamol or ibuprofen. You can also use an ointment for external use with an analgesic effect.

If these over-the-counter remedies don't help, see your doctor. He will recommend special drugs that reduce the level of estrogen (female sex hormone) in the blood - tamoxifen, danazol, bromocreptine or others. They need to be taken on an ongoing basis, and not just when pain occurs.

Taking oral contraceptives, antidepressants, or blood pressure medications can make chest pain worse before your period. A gynecologist will help regulate their effect on the body.

Pregnancy, according to doctors, is the most common cause of discomfort. Take the test before visiting the doctor!

But the causes of non-cyclic pain are more diverse, and are not connected with hormonal phenomena on the eve of menstruation. Most often, women complain about them after 40 years. They can be called:

• Mastopathy (the formation of benign tumors in the tissues of the female breast is a consequence of hormonal changes).
• Infection, inflammatory processes (in particular, mastitis).
• Shingles.
• Rare structural changes in the chest.
• Stretching of the chest muscles.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Retention of fluid in the body, especially during menstruation.
• breast cancer.

Note: the worst thing - breast cancer - is in last place on this list. Cases where it is accompanied by pain are very, very rare. It can appear already in its later stages, but it begins generally painlessly.

As for mastopathy, its main symptom is chest tightness, not pain. Sometimes the overgrown tissue blocks the ducts in the mammary glands and disrupts the lymph flow, which also causes mastalgia.

In any case, when the slightest anxiety appears, it is better not to think and guess, but to visit a female doctor. After forty - no options at all. The inspection and examination carried out will show exactly whether something superfluous has started in this part of the body.

At the doctor

Going to the doctor, be prepared for the fact that he will ask you the following questions:

• When was the last menstruation?
• Are there cycle breaks?
• How long ago did the chest pain start?
• What area of ​​your chest hurts the most?
• Pain in one breast or both?
• Is there any discharge from the nipples?
• What medications are you currently taking?

After that, the gynecologist will conduct a manual examination of the mammary glands and lymph nodes in the armpits. If it doesn't find anything, its next steps depend on your age. He will send women over 40 years of age additionally for mammograms. If it shows the presence of neoplasms, it will be necessary to undergo a biopsy to determine the nature of the tumor - malignant or benign.

Manual inspection is the first and important method of checking

The most reliable diagnostic method that will give accurate advice is mammography.

Further treatment depends entirely on the cause of the pain. The doctor's prescription may be nothing more than a recommendation to wear a more comfortable bra, not the one that caused your chest compression - and subsequent pain.

He will recommend eating less salt if you have excess fluid in your body. Taking vitamins E or B6 will help correct the neuro-emotional background - and thereby eliminate the effects of stress experienced when your chest took a hit.

It happens that the pain appears only in the right or only the left breast. It is not a symptom of any particular disease. In such a selective way, for example, premenstrual mastalgia can manifest itself - and this is normal. It can also be the result of squeezing the pectoral muscle with a heavy bag that you always carry on your right (or left) shoulder.

Pain can occur only in a certain area of ​​​​the mammary glands.

Stop doing that and everything will be back to normal. And one of the mammary glands (as well as both at once) can get sick when breastfeeding. Bacteria from the baby's mouth or the environment enter through the nipple and cause inflammation - mastitis. It is accompanied by fever and redness of the skin.

If your left and right breasts are different sizes, it is possible that mastalgia is caused by the fact that one of them (the one that is larger) started a protest against discrimination from the bra. Her "partner" is in comfortable conditions, and he shamelessly puts pressure on her. Choose a bra in a larger size or a different model (very good - with wide straps).

During a visit to the doctor, it may also become clear (or confirmed) that you are in an interesting position. And chest pain often appears during pregnancy (also the “merit” of hormones).

Forgetting about chest pains will help not only treatment, but also prevention: an active sex life, a normal mode of work and rest, wearing comfortable underwear, constant monitoring of the state of your body and regular monitoring by a gynecologist.