Breast pain alarms many women, who immediately think of cancer, but it is mostly an inconvenience that is not worrisome. The Mayo Clinic states that breast pain without other symptoms, such as lumps, does not usually indicate breast cancer, and that a large percentage of women experience breast pain, called mastalgia, from time to time. Relieving breast pain depends on the specific cause and can be done through self-care.
Instructions
1. Mark a calendar on the days you experience breast pain. Recording your pain for several months determines whether your breast pain is cyclic, connected to your menstrual cycle, or noncyclic. Some treatments to relieve cyclic breast pain will not alleviate noncyclic discomfort.
2. Apply warm or cold compresses to your breasts to relieve your pain. Using heat or cold will depend on your individual comfort. This remedy can treat both cyclic and noncyclic breast pain.
3. Take an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen to treat minor breast pain of any kind. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory that can calm irritated tissues. Your doctor may prescribe stronger medications like tamoxifen or birth control pills to eliminate cyclic pain not helped with OTC drugs.
4. Cut caffeine from your diet. The Mayo Clinic reports that while the link between caffeine and breast pain is not easily explained, many women find relief when they eliminate caffeine.
5. Consume a low-fat diet. Some breast pain is caused by an imbalance of fatty acids in the body. Reducing the total fat you eat to less than 20 percent of your daily calories can regulate the fatty acid count and relieve breast pain.
6. Wear a support bra that will keep your breasts from bobbing when you move. This is especially important for athletes whose workouts cause pain. Choose styles with adequate coverage to lend more support. Check that underwires are comfortable and not poking your skin.
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