Discomfort in the area of the mammary glands often worries the fairer sex. This symptom usually occurs in women of reproductive age. During menopause, it usually does not occur. Unpleasant sensations affect both one mammary gland and both. Discomfort can be temporary or permanent. Often, he forces a woman to take analgesics for several weeks. Today, many are interested in the question of why the chest hurts on the side, and what measures should be taken when a symptom occurs.
Features of discomfort in the mammary glands
Discomfort is divided into two types. The first type is called cyclic. It is associated with critical days, appears shortly before them.
This discomfort has the following characteristics:
- It feels like an aching pain.
- Accompanied by inflammation process.
- In the areabreast seals are formed.
- Discomfort is felt not only in the chest, but also under the armpits.
- Localized in the area of both organs.
- Most often, patients between the ages of twenty and forty experience a similar phenomenon.
The non-cyclic type of discomfort has the following features:
- Does not depend on periods.
- Manifested by a feeling of squeezing and burning.
- Usually located in only one fragment of the gland (left or right).
- Often seen during menopause.
Often the reason that a woman has chest pain on the side is a change in the concentration of certain substances in the body. This is typical for the representatives of the weaker sex who are in reproductive age. As a rule, discomfort is associated with critical days or the period of gestation.
Pain of a cyclic type
This phenomenon is called "mastalgia". It occurs a few days before the onset of monthly bleeding. Such discomfort is not pronounced. It does not interfere with the usual way of life. In such a condition, the chest often hurts from the side, and there is a feeling of swelling, the sensitivity of the glands increases. Organ tissues become edematous. As a rule, everything goes away with the onset of monthly bleeding. In the case when discomfort is pronounced, does not disappear after the completion of critical days, a woman needs to pay attention to her state of he alth. This phenomenon may indicate the development of the disease.
Non-cyclic discomfort
Such unpleasant sensations occur irregularly. As a rule, they are associated with the presence of pathology. Often in such situations, the chest hurts on the side on one side. This type of discomfort includes discomfort that occurs during the period of gestation and lactation.
The reproductive system is undergoing major changes at this time. They affect the condition of the mammary glands. The chest begins to swell, its volume increases. The body is preparing to produce milk. Many women are concerned about the question of when the chest begins to hurt during pregnancy. After all, discomfort in the area of the mammary glands is one of the symptoms indicating the emergence of a new life.
Discomfort during gestation
After conception, a restructuring occurs in the girl's body, which consists in increasing the concentration of female hormones. These substances affect the mammary glands. As a result of such processes, breast tissues swell. Shortly before delivery, colostrum leakage is observed. When does the chest start to hurt during pregnancy? From the first day after conception, the sensitivity of the glands increases. The woman feels uncomfortable. In this regard, such sensations are considered likely symptoms of pregnancy. Moreover, discomfort can have a different intensity: from a slight burning sensation in the nipple area, to aching pains that radiate to the shoulder blades and lumbar spine. Usually, these phenomena disappear by the end of the first trimester.
From the twentieth week, the glands are preparing formilk production. The expectant mother feels discomfort again.
The breast increases in volume, there is tingling, swelling. Such pain should not be too strong. If there is severe discomfort, a woman should consult a specialist.
Discomfort with a negative pregnancy test
Pain does not always indicate conception. Sometimes discomfort in the mammary glands and a delay in critical days are observed even in the absence of pregnancy.
But even a negative test result does not guarantee that fertilization has not occurred. Indeed, sometimes the device may be of poor quality, or a woman uses it incorrectly. To make sure that conception has not occurred, you need to visit a doctor. If there was a delay, the chest hurts, the tests are negative, what pathologies does this phenomenon indicate? As probable reasons, experts call:
- PMS.
- Intrauterine death of the embryo.
- Tubal pregnancy.
- Increase in the concentration of prolactin.
Premenstrual syndrome
Women of reproductive age often confuse this phenomenon with early gestation. And this is not surprising. After all, the symptoms of PMS resemble the signs of conception. Discomfort in the area of the mammary glands during premenstrual syndrome is accompanied by other manifestations:
- breast enlargement;
- puffiness of tissues;
- discomfort of aching nature in the lower part of the peritoneum and in the lower back;
- nervousness;
- increased need for sleep;
- fluctuations in appetite;
- emotional lability.
What to do if your chest hurts during premenstrual syndrome? It is known that well-being during this period largely depends on the lifestyle of a woman. Often a good night's rest, regular walks and workouts, a balanced diet, and the rejection of addictions help reduce discomfort. In the absence of he alth problems, discomfort disappears after the end of critical days.
Mastopathy
This pathology is characterized by the appearance of fibrous neoplasms and cysts in the region of the mammary glands. Patients with such an ailment constantly have chest pains. Discomfort does not depend on the cycle of menstruation. Its cause is hormonal imbalance. Such a failure can occur against the background of adverse circumstances: artificial termination of the pregnancy process, infections or inflammation in the reproductive organs, disorders of the liver or thyroid gland.
Women who abruptly stop lactation or have irregular intimate contacts are often diagnosed with mastopathy. The disease develops over several years. It is accompanied not only by discomfort in the region of the mammary glands, but also by a feeling of nausea, dizziness, spasms in the peritoneum, and a decrease in appetite. And, although mastopathy is a benign neoplasm, it needs long-term therapy and doctor's supervision.
Infectiousprocesses
One of the common pathologies of this kind is mastitis. It occurs in women with poor immunity during lactation. Discomfort is accompanied by fever and weakness. At the same time, the chest hurts on the sides. Unpleasant sensations are localized not only in the mammary glands, but also in the area of the shoulder blades, peritoneum, armpits.
They have a piercing character. Pathology requires urgent treatment in a medical institution. Severe cases require surgery.
Malignant neoplasm
Cancer is a common disease characterized by the formation of abnormal cells in the area of the mammary glands. Often the first stages of the disease proceed unnoticed. And only in the later stages, a woman discovers a pronounced symptomatology of oncology. Therefore, any representative of the weaker sex should be attentive to any changes occurring in the mammary glands, and visit the doctor in time if there are concerns.
In the case of cancer, patients have chest pain on the side. The skin in the region of the organ begins to peel off, becoming like an orange peel. The shape of the nipple changes, and blood or a colorless liquid comes out of it. If such phenomena are not associated with the period of gestation, the woman should immediately consult a specialist.
Discomfort in the right chest area
In some cases, discomfort does not occur on both sides, but on one side. With what it can be connected? The reasons whyit hurts in the right side in the chest, often the following conditions are:
- Mechanical damage.
- Exacerbation of gastrointestinal ailments.
- Myocardial pathology.
With such diseases, patients feel discomfort in the cervical spine, in the right hand:
- Nervous disorders.
- Respiratory ailments.
- Pathologies of the right kidney.
It is possible to accurately determine the cause of a symptom only after an examination.
Other conditions that provoke discomfort
Uncomfortable sensations in the chest can occur under the influence of such factors:
- Artificial interruption of fetal life.
- Use of drugs containing hormones.
- Large volume of mammary glands.
- Wearing uncomfortable, tight underwear.
- Neuralgia and osteochondrosis. These diseases may be the reason why chest muscles hurt.
- Shingles type.
- Using drugs to prevent unwanted conception.
Necessary measures
So, what to do if your chest hurts? You need to see a doctor. The doctor will determine the cause of discomfort and select therapy. How to prevent discomfort and reduce their intensity? To do this, follow these tips:
- Avoid abortion.
- Have regular intimate contact.
- Do not refuse lactation.
- Wear comfortable underwear.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Eat right, give up bad habits.
- Get regular check-ups.
