Experiencing pain under your right breast? Luckily, the Mayo Clinic says this pain is rarely a concern for breast cancer, nor is it closely associated with heart attacks because your heart is mainly on the left side of your chest. Everyone, not just women, can suffer from sharp pain under their right breast. It can be recurrent or pop up and a sign of multiple different concerns, ranging from mild to serious. Learn more about what may be causing it.
Cyclic vs. Non-Cyclic Breast Pain
Determining if your breast pain is cyclic or non-cyclic can help narrow down what’s causing it.
Cyclical means it occurs regularly. It’s often related to your menstrual cycle, happening within the two weeks leading up to your period. It then fades away when your period is over. Hormonal fluctuations from the menstrual cycle can cause it. Cyclical patients typically describe pain under the right breast as dull, heavy, or aching. You can also experience swelling of the breast, fullness, or lumpiness. It most commonly affects women between 20 and 40 years old and before menopause. Treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers. Drinking lots of water can also help reduce swelling, according to USA Fibroid Centers.
Non-cyclical breast pain is typically not related to your menstrual cycle. These patients commonly describe the pain as a tight, burning, stabbing, or aching sensation that’s constant or intermittent. It’s usually just in one breast in a specific area, but the pain can spread across the chest to the other breast. The Mayo Clinic says post-menopausal women are more likely to suffer from this type of pain.
Costochondritis
If you’re experiencing sharp pain under your right breast, you might have costochondritis. The Cleveland Clinic says 30% of people who go to the emergency room for chest pain are diagnosed with this harmless swelling of cartilage in the chest. The specific cartilage that swells connects your ribs to your breastbone or sternum and creates the costochondral joint.
The pain can be sharp and sudden or come on slowly. You may notice it becomes worse when something is pressing against your chest, like a seatbelt, breathing deeply, sneezing, coughing, exercising, or lying down. Doctors aren’t entirely sure what causes the condition but believe coughing too hard, illness or respiratory infection, exercising too much, using your arms too much, abnormally exerting yourself, or injuring your chest can trigger costochondritis.
Treatment consists of taking anti-inflammatories, avoiding stress on the chest area, and applying a heat pack.
Muscle Strains & Injury
Muscle strains can occur by overstretching the chest muscle and can cause pain in the breast. Throwing or lifting something heavy can also cause muscle strains.
Any injuries that result from a knock or blow to the chest area, falling, or severe coughing can create pain under the right breast area. Other symptoms include swelling, bruising, and possibly fractured ribs.
Treatment for muscle strains or injuries comprises rest, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, and icing the area.
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is inflammation of the lining of your chest on the outside of your lung. Symptoms of pleurisy include pain on the right side of your breast, general chest pain, and pain that worsens with deep breaths. Doctors recommend resting and over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications to treat the condition.
Other Conditions
If men experience breast pain, it’s typically from gynecomastia. That’s when there’s an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone hormones, and it causes an increase in breast gland tissue. It can affect both breasts, one breast, or an unequal amount. Transgender men can experience similar pain from remaining breast tissue after a mastectomy. Transgender women can experience breast pain after hormone therapy.
See a Provider If:
If you’re having severe chest pain and struggling with breathing, go to the emergency room. But if your pain worsens or doesn’t go away, don’t hesitate to see a doctor. If you’re busy or unsure when to make an appointment, let American Family Care help. We’re here to work with your schedule. Our urgent care clinics require no appointment and are open mornings, evenings, and weekends.
Additionally, for women, one of the best ways to catch any abnormalities in your breasts is through female physical exams. AFC also offers walk-in well-woman checks, so you have no excuse to keep your health in order!
