I've been feeling chest tightness lately. What's going on?

Breasts are a symbol of a woman's beauty and sexiness, and are also a part of her that needs to be cared for. Breasts are not only related to the perfect shape of women, but also have a great impact on women's health. However, breast problems always occur from time to time, and like some things, breast pain for women is really unbearable and is no less painful than menstrual cramps. Many female friends don't know much about the causes of breast swelling. So what is causing the chest pain?

What causes chest pain?

1. Breast pain during pregnancy

Some women experience breast pain around 40 days after pregnancy due to the placenta and villi secreting large amounts of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, which causes breast hyperplasia and breast enlargement. In severe cases, the pain may last throughout the pregnancy and no treatment is needed.

2. Breast pain after artificial abortion

After an abortion, some women complain of breast tenderness and a palpable lump. This is because the pregnancy is suddenly interrupted, and the hormone levels in the body drop sharply, causing the newly developed mammary glands to suddenly stop growing, resulting in breast lumps and breast pain.

3. Breast pain during puberty

One reason for breast pain is development. Girls between the ages of 9 and 13 begin to develop their bodies, and the growth of their breasts can be painful. First the nipple bulges, then a lump appears in the breast tissue, and there will be a slight feeling of distension and pain. Later, as the breasts mature, this feeling of distension and pain will disappear.

4. Postpartum breast pain

Breast swelling, hardening and pain often occur 3 to 7 days after delivery. This is mainly caused by breast lymph retention, venous congestion, interstitial edema and obstruction of mammary ducts. Mothers should breastfeed as early as possible. If there is a lump, you can apply hot compress and massage the lump before breastfeeding; you can also use a breast pump to draw out milk to promote patency of the mammary ducts.

5. Premenstrual breast pain

Most female friends will experience breast pain before menstruation, and the pain will be more severe when there is a collision or other squeezing pain. In fact, it is because menstruation causes an increase in estrogen in the body and edema caused by breast hyperplasia, which causes a feeling of swelling and pain. This feeling will disappear after your period starts.

What to do if you have chest pain

1. Gently massage the breasts to return excess body fluids to the lymphatic system. When massaging, first apply soapy liquid to the breast, and rotate your fingers along the surface of the breast in a circle about the size of a coin. Then use your hands to press the breasts in and bounce them up, which is extremely helpful in preventing breast discomfort.

2. Women usually wear bras, which not only prevent breast sagging, but also protect the breasts from external pressure and damage to the breast nerves. So we should pay attention to choosing the right bra to protect our breasts.

3. High-salt foods can easily cause breast enlargement. Such foods should be avoided especially 7 to 10 days before menstruation.

4. Hot compress is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that can relieve breast pain by using hot compress bags, hot water bottles or hot baths. If you use alternating cold and hot compresses, the effect of eliminating breast discomfort will be better.

5. Drop castor oil on the cotton cloth folded into four layers. Make sure it is fully soaked with castor oil, but not too wet to avoid dripping. Apply the cloth to your breasts, cover with a layer of plastic wrap, and then place a hot compress bag on top. Adjust the heat pack to a temperature you can tolerate and leave it on for an hour.

6. Keep your emotions stable and reduce mental stimulation. According to statistics, 85% of patients have negative mood changes before becoming ill. Mental stimulation can lead to increased estrogen levels in the body and endocrine disorders.

7. Adhering to breastfeeding can reduce the incidence of disease, because breastfeeding can reduce the incidence of breast hyperplasia, reduce the number of miscarriages, and also reduce the incidence of disease.