Women experience breast pain at some point in their lives. Sometimes it can interfere with daily activities and cause great fear and anxiety in the person suffering from it. So it is important to know some home remedies that can be used as basic management. If the given advice does not help, then you should consult a doctor.
Some popular and tried and tested home remedies and tips to deal with breast pain will be discussed.
Tips for breast pain –
- Wear a supportive bra. it’s important to find the right size and fit and use a sports bra when working out.
- Consume less salt, especially just before periods.
- Apply local heat to the painful area. At the peak of pain, alternating hot and cold packs can help.
- Avoiding caffeine has been shown to significantly reduce breast pain in women who experience it frequently.
- Taking fish oil/omega-3 supplements has been found to be beneficial. Natural food sources include dark green leafy vegetables, ocean-raised (“wild”) cold-water fish, flaxseeds, walnuts, and sesame seeds. Omega-3 supplements are also available by prescription and over the counter.
- Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce breast pain and so a short course after consulting your doctor may be helpful.
- Evening primrose oil is now widely recommended for treating breast pain.
- Dietary changes, such as eating a low-fat diet, are really helpful.
- If you are taking birth control pills and seem to be experiencing an increase in breast pain or tenderness, it is recommended that you talk to your doctor about it and find suitable alternatives.
- If you are overweight, losing that extra weight with regular exercise and a healthy diet can really help reduce breast pain episodes.
- Lowering your stress levels through stress management techniques like yoga, deep breathing exercises, etc. have been shown to reduce chest pain.
- Smoking can make breast pain worse, it’s high time to quit if you have breast pain.
- After consulting with your doctor, if you have very severe episodes of breast pain, get some pain relievers.
- Gentle massage can help improve circulation and reduce inflammation and pain.
- Estrogen predominance causes breast tenderness and pain in some women. Eat plenty of fiber to help your body flush out excess estrogen. You can get fiber from kale, broccoli, sprouts, legumes, and whole grains.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush toxins from your body.
- Reduce your intake of hydrogenated oils, which are found in margarine, packaged baked goods and snacks.
In addition to the above tips, it is vital for all women to examine their breasts every 2-3 months, and if you notice any difference in the size or shape of your breasts, it is important to consult a doctor.
Written by Dr. Afroz Fatima
Links-
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20350423
https://www.cbhs.com.au/health-well-being-blog/blog-article/2017/08/31/breast-pain-explained
https://www.webmd.com/baby/breast-tenderness
https://www.webmd.com/women/normal-vs-abnormal-breasts#1
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/mastalgia-breast-pain
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15469-breast-pain-mastalgia/management-and-treatment