What causes breast pain in girls?

There are many reasons for breast pain in girls. It may be caused by breast development during puberty, breast disease, or taking too many sex hormones. Therefore, when girls experience breast pain, they should distinguish whether it is due to menstruation or pathological reasons. If it is caused by menstruation, women only need to massage their breasts properly and choose suitable underwear to relieve the symptoms, but pathological conditions require timely treatment.

1. Chest pain in adolescence

Around the age of 9 to 13, girls' breasts begin to develop and grow slowly. As the nipples slowly rise, they will feel a slight distension and pain in their chests, and this distension and pain may continue until after the first menstruation. As hormone secretion gradually stabilizes, the chest pain problem will disappear on its own.

2. Breast pain during pregnancy

Some women experience breast tenderness and pain around day 40 of pregnancy due to the large amount of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin secreted by the placenta and villi, which causes the mammary glands to enlarge. In severe cases, the pain may last throughout the pregnancy and no treatment is required.

3. Premenstrual breast pain

Many women experience breast fullness, hardness, and tenderness before menstruation. In severe cases, the breasts will swell and hurt with the slightest vibration or collision. After menstruation, the above changes may disappear.

4. Postpartum breast pain

About 3 to 7 days after delivery, many women will experience breast pain due to problems such as blocked mammary ducts, venous congestion, and mammary lymph retention. In addition, many women will experience breast hyperplasia after childbirth, which can also cause chest pain and discomfort.

5. Caused by disease

If the symptoms are severe or irregular, and there are local breast lumps, etc., they are pathological and require diagnosis and treatment by going to the hospital's surgery or breast specialist department for B-ultrasound and mammography examinations.

How to check for chest pain in women

1. Myocardial injury markers

Traditional myocardial injury markers include cTn, CK-MB, myoglobin and other biological molecules that reflect myocardial cell necrosis. In recent years, a variety of new biomarkers such as ischemia-modified protein and heart-type fatty acid binding protein have gradually been used in clinical practice.

2. D-Dimer

D-dimer is a soluble degradation product of cross-linked fibrin produced by the fibrinolytic system. It is a specific marker of the fibrinolytic process and can be used as a screening indicator for acute pulmonary embolism. D-dimer <500ug/L can basically rule out acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

3. Electrocardiogram

All patients who seek medical attention for chest pain are required to undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG), and the first ECG should be completed within 10 minutes of seeing the patient. Electrocardiogram is an important means of diagnosing ischemic chest pain.

4. Echocardiography

Echocardiography is also an important non-invasive examination for diagnosing patients with chest pain. If new paradoxical ventricular wall motion, free intimal valves in the aorta, right heart dilation and leftward shift of the ventricular septum in a "D" shape are found, it can help diagnose acute myocardial infarction, aortic dissection and acute pulmonary embolism. For other non-fatal chest pain, such as stress cardiomyopathy and pericardial effusion, echocardiography also has important diagnostic value.

5. Chest X-ray

Chest X-ray is suitable for screening patients with chest pain of respiratory origin. Diseases that can be detected include pneumonia, mediastinal and lung tumors, lung abscess, pneumothorax, thoracic vertebrae and rib fractures, etc. Changes in the contours of the heart and great blood vessels can sometimes indicate diseases such as aortic dissection and pericardial effusion, but they lack specificity.

What to do if women have chest pain

1. Hot compress. Hot compress has a great effect on women's breasts. Hot compress is a direct and effective relief method. When you feel breast pain, you can wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and apply it to your chest. If the effect is not ideal, you can also prepare a basin of cold water, soak a towel in it, and apply it alternately with hot and cold water. Alternatively, you can also use castor oil for hot compresses. Because castor oil contains substances that enhance the function of lymphocytes.

2. Well-fitting bras. Women should pay special attention to the size of their bras, because if the bra is too small, it will compress the breasts, causing poor blood circulation and thus causing swelling and pain. If the bra is too big, the breasts cannot be fixed and may be injured during exercise.

3. Isolate caffeine. Scientific research has found that quitting the habit of drinking coffee every day will significantly improve breast pain. Of course, it's not just coffee, you should also stay away from caffeinated chocolate, cola, tea, and even caffeinated painkillers to relieve pain.

4. Breast massage can relieve pain. Women should massage their breasts regularly to stimulate the area around the breasts, which can promote blood and lymphatic circulation. Massage every night 7-10 days before menstruation can also relieve swelling and pain. First, use the palms of both hands to gently wrap one breast from both sides. Then tighten your hands and use your thumbs at the base of the breasts to push the breasts upward from the bottom. Repeat 10 times on each side. Note that when your breasts are swollen and painful, it is best not to massage them to avoid excessive stimulation to the breasts.