Breast pain is a common symptom many people experience in their lives. Although most forms of breast pain are harmless and nothing to worry about, it may be an indicator of a serious health problem. Understanding the potential risks and reasons behind breast pain will enable us to seek professional help promptly and avoid any future complications.
What Is Breast Pain?
Breast pain means the pain that originates in or around the breasts. Breast pain may be dull, throbbing, or sharp/stabbing in nature. It is also referred to as Mastalgia.
Many people around the world suffer from breast pain on and off. Most of the time, it is a harmless symptom that resolves itself. Consistent breast pain that impacts daily life requires a physician consultation to rule out any serious health issues that may require immediate intervention.
How Common Is Breast Pain?
Breast pain is a common symptom for both women and men. Most females who experience breast pain are premenopausal. The symptom may be unilateral (felt in one breast) or bilateral (felt in both breasts).
The incidence of breast pain is higher in the West, as according to one study, almost 70% of females in the US reported experiencing breast pain, out of which 30% sought professional help. Mastalgia is more common in females than in males. The cause is usually cyclical (associated with the menstrual cycle).
What Are the Types and Causes of Breast Pain?
Breast pain is a frequently encountered symptom in both men and women. Usually, the cause of breast pain is related to the menstrual cycle or the local structures around the breast (muscles, chest wall); in some cases, there may be no identifiable trigger for mastalgia.
Breast Pain in Women
Breast pain, or mastalgia, is divided into two categories in women: cyclic and non-cyclic.
Cyclic Breast Pain
Cyclic breast pain is related to the normal menstrual cycle in females. It begins 7 days before menstruation and resolves on its own once the cycle starts. The pain comes back before the next menstrual cycle. The cause is likely hormonal.
Non-cyclic Breast Pain
Non-cyclic breast pain is due to any cause other than menstruation.
Structural: Breast pain may be due to cysts, trauma, or lumps in the breast tissue.
Hormone Therapy: Hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy, and menopause may all cause breast pain.
Lifestyle-related: High-impact workouts, excess caffeine intake, and stress lead to mastalgia.
Medications: The use of HRT or some antidepressants may lead to breast pain.
Infections: Mastitis, breast abscess.
Malignancies: Breast cancer.
Extramammary Pain
The pain that starts in the structures around the breast like the chest wall, muscles, organs (heart, lungs, esophagus), or joints is known as extramammary breast pain. It is essentially “referred pain,” meaning that the pain originates in a structure other than the breast but is felt in the breast tissue due to a common nerve supply. For example, breast pain under the left breast may be related to a cardiac event.
Breast Pain in Men
Breast pain is not exclusive to females, some common causes of breast pain in men are as follows:
Hormonal: Gynecomastia, puberty
Infections and Inflammations: Mastitis, Abscess
Medications: Anabolic steroids, Hormone therapy for prostate cancer
Extramammary Pain: Pulled muscles, Costochondritis
Trauma: Injury, surgery
Malignancy: Breast cancer
Is Unilateral (one-sided) Breast Pain Normal?
For the most part, pain in one breast is either infectious, traumatic, or related to the surrounding structures of the breast. If one-sided breast pain is relentless and doesn’t resolve on its own, a doctor’s visit is advised.
Left-side Pain
Pain felt below the left breast may be innocuous or a predictor of a more serious underlying issue. Pain from fibrocystic changes, malignancy, mastitis, costochondritis, trauma, muscle strain, hiatal hernia, etc, may be localized to the left breast.
Left-sided underbreast pain is also associated with cardiac events. Pain from angina (decreased blood flow to the heart) or a cardiac arrest may be felt in this area.
Right-sided Pain
Right-sided breast pain may be due to trauma, infection, inflammations, pulled muscles, or even issues related to the gastrointestinal system.
How to Treat Breast Pain?
Addressing the underlying cause is critical for treating breast pain. For the most part, the treatment is of two types: lifestyle adjustments and medications.
Lifestyle changes include managing stress levels, wearing proper support (correct bra fit), and a healthy diet. Medications include OTCs, hormones, antibiotics, etc., depending on the underlying cause.
In conclusion, it is imperative to listen to your body. While most forms of breast pain are harmless and self-limiting, it is essential to seek professional help if you have any concerns.
