Breast Pain

Breast pain ( mastalgia) is one of the commonest issues in women of all ages. It can happen to anyone and at any age. It may orrnmay not be associated with breast tenderness: mastodynia ( pain on touching or palpating the breast).rnBoth these terms (mastalgia and mastodynia) are different, but they address the same problem. Breast pain may or may not bernassociated with a lump as well. It is important to note that breast pain is not commonly associated with breast cancer.rnIf you have breast pain, a complete history and a thorough clinical examination are important in diagnosing the cause andrnprescribing the correct treatment.rnYour doctor may want to know many details, which you may feel awkward or unnecessary, but these are important nonetheless.rnBreast pain is commonly seen in women aged 20-40 years, but as I stated before, no age is exempt. The pain may be cyclical, (rnwaxing and waning in relation to the menstrual cycle) or non cyclical. There may also be associated tenderness and heaviness,rnespecially with cyclical mastalgia. You may be asked to maintain a breast pain diary, to record the intensity of the pain, your levels ofrnstress and your periods. This diary helps in analysing the pain better. Apart from this, a mammogram and ultrasound of the breastrnmay also be advised as part of the evaluation. Treatment: The most important bit: treatment of breast pain is entirely released to understanding the cause of the pain.rnMost women will have normal examination and mammogram findings. In such women, breast pain is commonly attributed to these rncauses:rnStressrnIll fitting brasrnInadequate water intakernEssential fatty acid deficiency rnImportant fact: breasts have a lot of sensory nerve endings, hence they respond to stress… rnStress often triggers and worsens breast pain.rnStress is the most common underlying factor in most women complaining of breast pain.rnMeditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga are very helpful in this regard.rnIll fitting bras are something a lot of women tend to neglect.rnA well fitting bra or a sports bra will often give dramatic relief.rnPlenty of oral fluids are recommended, as we do not realise our dehydrated status because of working in closed environments.rnSome women also benefit from intake of evening primrose oil, which contains Gamma linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid. rnBottomline:rnMost women with breast pain do not have cancer. But, a thorough evaluation is required to rule out the possibly.rnMost often, reassurance, a few lifestyle changes and very rarely medicines are all that are required to treat the niggling problem.rnDisclaimer: This post is purely meant to create awareness and cannot be considered as an alternative to a conventionalrnmedical consultation. The drugs discussed above are not to be taken without medical consultation or supervision