Soreness in women's breasts is not necessarily an indication of a serious malady. In fact, many women experience breast tenderness from time to time. The type and level of intensity of breast discomfort varies, but could range from mild to severe in intensity, and sharp or tingling sensations. Breast soreness can be divided into cyclical and non-cyclical causes. Cyclical causes tend to relate to hormonal changes in a woman's body, while non-cyclical causes relate to factors other than hormonal. Consult a physician for persistent pain, if it is localized to a particular area, or pain that doesn't appear to be cyclical.
Statistics
According to the California Pacific Medical Center, between 50 percent and 70 percent of women experience some degree of breast soreness.
Hormonal Changes
Cyclical causes are the most common reasons women experience breast soreness. A woman's menstrual cycle can often cause changes in her breasts. The tenderness may vary between months, but is normally stronger before menstruation, and decreases afterward. A woman's hormonal cycle can be affected by her stress level, which can cause breast tenderness. A woman may experience a change in her breasts a couple of years before menopause occurs. Also, during the first months of pregnancy, a woman will commonly feel breast tenderness. In fact, breast tenderness is often one of the first symptoms a woman notices during pregnancy.
Costochondritis
Costochondritis is a non-cyclic cause for breast pain. The burning sensation discomfort does not actually come from the breast, but actually radiates from the location where the ribs and the breast bone meet. The aging process and poor posture may create this pain.
Caffeine
Foods and beverages made with caffeine may cause breast tenderness. Included in this list are coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeinated soda and painkilling medication. This is because caffeine causes blood vessels to dilate, which produces swelling and breast distention, and possibly pain. When a woman has breast tenderness, she should first cut back on the amount of caffeine she intakes each day. If that doesn't work, then she should eliminate all forms of caffeine to determine if that is the source of the discomfort.
Medications
Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy can contribute to breast tenderness because of the hormones found in them. The amount of progesterone or estrogen used may not be suitable for all women. Also, some psychiatric medications or antidepressants, and even some medications to lower cholesterol or to treat heart ailments could increase breast soreness.
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