A. Several common physiological breast swelling pain
1, pubertal distension: the earliest breast pain in adolescent girls, generally occurring at the age of 9-13. At this time, the girl’s breasts begin to develop, first the nipple bulge, the breast tissue under the nipple appears about pea to broad bean large mound-shaped hard nodules, there is a slight swelling and pain. After menarche, with the maturation of youthful breast development will disappear on its own
2, premenstrual breast pain: more than half of the women, before the onset of menstruation, there is breast swelling, hardness, pressure pain; heavy breasts by a slight shock or collision can swell pain, the original granular or nodular feeling more obvious. This is due to the increase of estrogen level in the body before menstruation, breast enlargement and edema of the inter-mammary tissue. After the onset of menstruation, the above changes can disappear.
3.Pregnancy swelling and pain: Some women have breast swelling and pain about 40 days after pregnancy due to placenta and villi secretion of a large amount of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin, which causes breast hyperplasia and breast enlargement, which can last for the whole pregnancy in heavy cases and does not require treatment.
4, postpartum swelling and pain: 3-7 days after childbirth can often appear both breasts swollen, hard and painful. This is mainly due to lymphatic retention in the breast, venous filling and interstitial edema and poor breast ducts. Prevention and treatment: breastfeeding as early as possible. If there are hard knots, you can apply hot compresses and massage the hard knots before breastfeeding, or use a breast pump to attract milk to promote the smooth flow of the milk ducts.
5, after abortion: after abortion, some women complain of breast pain and swelling, and can touch the lump. This is due to the sudden interruption of pregnancy and the sudden drop of hormone level in the body, which makes the newly developed breast suddenly stop growing, causing breast lumps and breast pain.
II. Types
Many women often feel breast swelling and pain. After a long period of observation and research, medical practitioners found that there are six main types of breast swelling and pain in women.
1, adolescent breast swelling and pain: usually occurs at the age of 9 to 13, after the first period, the swelling and pain will disappear on its own.
2, premenstrual breast pain: there are many women who have breast swelling, hardness and pressure pain before the onset of menstruation; heavy breasts will be swollen and uncomfortable by a slight shock or collision. This is due to the increase of estrogen level in the body before menstruation, breast enlargement and edema of inter-breast tissue. After the onset of menstruation, the above changes can disappear.
3, breast pain during pregnancy: some women in about 40 days of pregnancy, due to the placenta, villi secretion of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, resulting in the enlargement of the mammary glands, and breast pain, heavy can last throughout pregnancy, without treatment.
4, postpartum breast swelling and pain: 3 days to 7 days after childbirth often appear double breast swelling, hard nodes, pain. This is mainly due to lymphatic retention in the breast, venous filling and interstitial edema and breast duct irregularities.
5, breast swelling and pain after abortion: these are due to the sudden interruption of pregnancy, the body’s hormone levels suddenly drop, so that the newly developed breast suddenly stop growing, resulting in breast blocks and breast pain.
6, breast pain after sex: this is related to the physiological changes in the breast during sex. Sexual indifference or sexual disharmony, because of the failure to achieve sexual satisfaction, breast congestion, swelling is not easy to subside, or subside incomplete, persistent congestion will make the breast swelling pain.
Women do not need to worry about this, but for the swelling and pain for a long period of time is not relieved, or even more and more serious, or when touching the breast, found uneven, unclear edge, poor mobility of the lump, then you should go to the hospital early examination and treatment.
Three, the following is more common premenstrual breast pain
Many women have the experience of breast pain before menstruation, but often tolerate this affliction not to go to the doctor, because they think it is a minor problem, do not pay attention to, and the result is that the condition is wrong again and again. Experts say that breast pain occurs too early before menstruation, after menstruation or after ovulation, and when you wear underwear or touch it, it is a pathological condition that can easily lead to gynecological diseases such as infertility and breast tumors. Premenstrual breast tenderness is an early and important sign of gynecological disease. Strictly speaking, the female breast is part of the reproductive system and is greatly influenced by estrogen and progesterone. If the endocrine system or ovarian function of the body is disturbed at some stage, it will have an impact on the menstrual cycle and breast tissue, resulting in a series of pathologies, the most common and mildest symptom being premenstrual breast distention. If the necessary regulation or treatment is not given, more discomfort will occur, such as: premenstrual headache, irritability, insomnia, or even premenstrual peripheral pain, mild swelling, etc. These symptoms gradually disappear after menstruation, once a month, repeatedly, and are medically called premenstrual tension syndrome. This can lead to breast disease, most commonly mastopathy, and menstrual disorders, menstrual disorders or amenorrhea, which can lead to infertility.
Chinese medicine has long been aware of this disease, and believes that women with breast pain before menstruation are related to liver and kidney disorders, blood stagnation and other factors, Chinese medicine believes that the breasts are governed by the stomach meridian and the nipples are governed by the liver meridian. Therefore, all breast diseases or dysplasia or breast atrophy are treated from the liver and stomach. According to different conditions, the right medicine will often get good results.
IV. Treatment classification
Most women in this category have a history of emotional disorders or excessive stress in their lives. In addition to untouchable nipple swelling and pain in the breasts, they also suffer from irritability, chest tightness, painful rib cage, irritability, regurgitation, swelling and pain in the lower abdomen, black menstrual clots, uncoordinated sex life, and dark spots on the face. Treatment is appropriate to regulate the liver, Qi and stomach, commonly used drugs are: Wu Yao, Yu Jin, Buddha’s hand, white peony, green peel, white atractylodes, wheat sprouts, Lutong, etc.
1, liver and spleen dampness: common symptoms are premenstrual breast pain, tenderness, lower abdominal distension with a feeling of falling, poor appetite, weakness of the limbs, easy diarrhea, usually leucorrhea, menstrual volume and color, etc., treatment to strengthen the spleen and dampness, commonly used drugs are Poria, Atractylodes, Coix seeds, thick park, neem, Hepatitis, etc.
2, liver and kidney yin deficiency: this type of women in addition to breast pain often irritable heat, sleep restlessness, headache dizziness, hand and foot fever, red lips, lips and tongue prone to ulceration, thin body eating fat, waist acidity, knee weakness, etc.. Treatment should nourish the kidney and liver, commonly used drugs are: sage, maitong, raw earth, neem, aromatic herb, white peony, salvia, zelen, etc.
3, relief methods.
(1) Diet: In terms of diet is to pay attention to, no matter what the situation is, the diet is very important. So the need for a balanced diet, eat more low-fat, high-fiber diet. Eat more grains and cereals, fresh vegetables and fruits, etc. There is also the need to eat some legumes and stay away from coffee. Because there is no solid evidence that caffeine causes or exacerbates breast pain, but clinical observations have shown that many women with symptoms of breast swelling and pain or other related benign symptoms have experienced significant improvement in their symptoms after reducing their caffeine intake. Not only for coffee only, all sodas, chocolate, ice cream, tea and caffeine-containing painkillers containing caffeine are best avoided. Cabbage (cabbage) leaf dressing breast to take a grinding disc type cabbage, each leaf will be peeled off completely, along the armpit, pectoralis major muscle, the entire breast, the leaves will be covered, another bra slightly pressed, so that the leaves and the skin in full contact, lasting 24 h that is removed.
Cabbage is the stem and leaves of the cruciferous plant kale, alias blue cabbage, cabbage, cabbage. It is flat in nature, sweet in taste, enters the spleen and stomach meridian, tonifies the bone marrow, benefits the heart, strengthens the muscles and bones, benefits the organs, clears heat and relieves pain. Cabbage applied externally to the breast has the effect of entering the blood and softening the firmness, passing through and dispersing evil, expanding the mammary ducts, improving local blood circulation, promoting metabolism, allowing the smooth discharge of stagnant milk, making the lumps disappear, helping to relieve breast pain and reducing complications. [1]
(2) hot compress: hot compress is a more traditional Chinese medicine treatment method, you can use some hot water bags or hot water bottles and other ways to relieve some of the breast swelling and pain, etc. If you take cold therapy, you need to alternate hot and cold to eliminate breast swelling and pain, the effect of doing so is much better, we need to remind you that hot compress can only temporarily relieve the symptoms, and there is no therapeutic effect.
(3) Diuretics: Diuretics can help people discharge body fluids in the body, which can also reduce the swelling of the breast. However, if the pain is eliminated immediately, there is a price to pay. If you use diuretics excessively, it will lead to loss of potassium in the body, which will disrupt the electrolyte balance of the body and most importantly, affect the formation of glucose.
(4) Bras: If you don’t wear a bra, it will make your breasts sag, so you need to choose to take a good bra before you go out during the day. Because the bra can prevent sagging, there is also to prevent the nerves of the compressed breasts continue to be compressed, so it can also reduce some of the discomfort of the breasts. The bra is a woman’s personal belongings, in addition to preventing breast sagging, but also to prevent further compression of the nerves of the breast, thus eliminating discomfort.
(5) Diet: Adopt a low-fat, high-fiber diet, consume whole grains, vegetables, and fiber from legumes.
(6) Massage: Gently massage your breasts to bring excess body fluid back into the lymphatic system and also to prevent breast disease.
(7) Quit coffee: Whether caffeine causes breast discomfort has not been proven so far, but according to medical research, many women with breast pain and other benign symptoms have shown significant improvement after quitting caffeine. Therefore, for the sake of breast health, you have to give up the habit of drinking coffee.
V. Related diseases
1, breast enlargement: its cause is mainly endocrine hormone imbalance. The breast tissue is very sensitive to hormonal responses, and breast swelling and pain is often the initial symptom of breast enlargement patients visiting the clinic. Breast enlargement is often accompanied by breast lumps, menstrual disorders (delayed, low volume, pale color), nipple overflow, and changes in mood and emotion (poor temper, irritability, and nervousness). Therefore, normal breast swelling and pain should be distinguished from mastopexy to avoid delaying treatment.
2, mastitis: mastitis is an acute inflammation of the breast caused by bacterial infection, and there will be typical local manifestations of redness, swelling, heat and pain. The whole body may show symptoms such as chills, fever, lethargy and poor appetite. Ultrasonography has a fluid level segment, and puncture may extract pus. Mastitis mostly occurs in breastfeeding women, especially in first-time mothers, so it is still easy to identify the breast swelling and pain caused by mastitis.
3.Breast cancer: Breast cancer mostly occurs in women between 40-60 years old, and the incidence is higher in women before and after menopause. Some studies show that the detection rate of breast cancer will be higher in post-menopausal women who have breast pain and glandular thickening. Of course, tumors with inflammation can also have painful swelling or pressure. In advanced stage, if the tumor invades the nerve or the axillary lymph nodes are enlarged and compress or invade the brachial plexus nerve, there may be swelling and pain in the shoulder. Breast cancer is also associated with breast lumps, nipple discharge, nipple changes, skin changes, and enlarged axillary lymph nodes. Early stage breast cancer is often painless, but painful breast cancer is mostly advanced.
4. Premenstrual swelling and pain: Women often experience breast swelling and pain a few days before their menstruation, which will disappear naturally after their menstruation. Many women think that this is a normal phenomenon before menstruation and do not treat it, but as a result, they are prone to serious gynecological diseases such as uterine fibroids, breast enlargement and even gynecological tumors when they are older.
What is the inevitable connection between premenstrual breast pain and uterine fibroids, mastopexy and gynecological tumors?
According to Chinese medicine meridian theory, female breasts are part of the foot Turk’s Yin liver meridian, which is connected to the uterus through the Chong, Ren and Du veins. Therefore, if there is a problem with the liver meridian, it will be reflected in the above areas.
The most common cause of liver stagnation in women is liver depression and qi stagnation. The specific manifestations of liver stagnation include irritability, depression, fullness in the two sides, etc. If the stagnation turns into heat, it will lead to irritability, irritability, dry mouth, headache, etc. If the liver meridian is depressed for too long, it will easily cause pathological changes in the parts of the liver meridian. As a result, breast enlargement and uterine fibroids will arise. In layman’s terms, this means that liver depression and qi stagnation can easily lead to breast pain, uterine fibroids and breast enlargement. The breast pain is often the first symptom to appear, and if left untreated, serious gynecological diseases such as uterine fibroids, breast enlargement and gynecological tumors are likely to occur in the future, and at that time, it will be more difficult to treat.
Through the above introduction, we understand the potential dangers of breast pain, so how should we avoid and treat breast pain? There is an old saying in Chinese medicine that “medicine is better than food, and food is better than God”. This phrase emphasizes the importance of regulating the mind. In other words, in daily life to maintain a cheerful and optimistic state of mind, not angry, not anxious, not on fire, calmly deal with things, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of liver depression and qi stagnation, and also prevent the occurrence of breast pain. Once the breast swelling and pain has occurred, it is necessary to correct it with medication if the adjustment of God is not effective. If the symptoms are mild and accompanied by emotional depression, chest or less abdominal distension and scurrying pain, you can treat it with Plus Flavor Progressive Pill. The dosage is taken daily for 7 days before menstruation. If the symptoms are still not relieved after treating two menstrual cycles, you should go to the hospital and let the Chinese doctor carry out targeted individualized treatment. If the medicine and evidence match, the symptoms will disappear soon. By treating the breast swelling and pain caused by liver depression and qi stagnation, you will also avoid the occurrence of uterine fibroids, breast enlargement and gynecological tumors caused by liver depression and qi stagnation.
Of course, prevention is better than cure, not only from the regulation of the spirit to avoid liver depression and qi stagnation, but also diet, living and other aspects should pay extra attention. It is advisable to have a light diet and a regular life, and avoid bad habits such as staying up late. After giving birth, women should breastfeed their babies as early as possible, if the baby is unable to suck up all the milk, you can use a breast pump to suck up all the milk; there is also a must to avoid abortion, abortion is a common cause of breast swelling and pain, because the sudden interruption of pregnancy will lead to a rapid decline in hormone levels, laying the hidden danger of breast swelling and pain. Starting from many aspects to pinch off the source of liver depression and qi stagnation, women can enjoy the good times in peace.