Relationships May 11, 2017
Having sore breasts could mean a number of harmless things, but we often instead jump to conclusions … like having cancer or being pregnant.
But don’t panic just yet!
There are at least five other reasons your breasts may be tender. ENTITY’s broken them down for you here.
For all our Starbucks lovers out there, you may want to put the caramel macchiato down.
In a recent study by the Duke University Medical Center, 61 percent of women experienced a decrease in breast tenderness after cutting caffeine from their diet. And while the study wasn’t completely conclusive, cutting down on coffee isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
But outside of that, cyclic breast pain – pain related to the menstrual cycle – can also be made worse by certain things we consume. And as you’ve probably guessed, caffeine is on that list.
Sixty-four percent of women are wearing the wrong bra, according to a Women’s Wear Daily survey of over 10,000 women. And although it doesn’t seem like a big deal, an improperly fitted bra can cause a fair amount of breast pain.
Poorly fitted bras don’t provide adequate support and they just end up pinching or poking you. OB/GYN Dr. Diana Ramos tells Readers Digest that bad bras, abrasive fabrics and shabby underwires are all common causes of breast pain. So, instead of spending all day torturing your girls, get measured at your local bra-specialty store and pay the extra money to get a well-fitting bra.
If you’ve started a new weight-lifting routine or are just doing more pushups than usual, then your chest may just be recovering. It only seems like breast pain because the muscles that actually hurt are right underneath your breasts (also known as pectoral muscles).
And the tenderness you feel is coming from your pectoral muscles tightening and relaxing. To relieve this pain, just apply some heating pads or take a pain reliever as directed.
If your workouts aren’t intensifying, then your sports bra may be the culprit. It’s incredibly important to have proper support while exercising, especially if you’re blessed with larger breasts.
Sports bras keep your girls from bouncing around and pulling on breast tissue while exercising. So get fitted for a proper sports bra and make sure nothing is spilling over while you’re jumping around.
Any medication that changes your hormones can potentially cause breast pain. For women, birth control pills that increase estrogen levels are the most common cause of sensitivity in that area. And while this side effect diminishes over time, it wouldn’t hurt to ask your doctor about it.
And at the end of the day, you know your body best. If you feel like your soreness is completely abnormal, then make a trip to your OB/GYN anyway.
Just, you know, try not to panic too much.
