Mayo Clinic Health Manager
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By Mayo Clinic staffEven though there is little formal research to show the efficacy of these self-care remedies, they help many women manage their breast pain. Some may be worth a try:
- Use hot or cold compresses on your breasts.
- Wear a firm support bra, fitted by a professional if possible.
- Wear a sports bra during exercise and while sleeping, especially when your breasts may be more sensitive.
- Experiment with relaxation therapy, which can help control the high levels of anxiety associated with severe breast pain.
- Limit or eliminate caffeine, a dietary change many women swear by, although medical studies of caffeine's effect on breast pain and other premenstrual symptoms have been inconclusive.
- Decrease the fat in your diet to less than 20 percent of total calories, which may improve breast pain by altering the fatty acid balance.
- Use a pain reliever (analgesic), such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), to alleviate breast pain.
- Keep a journal noting when you experience breast pain and other symptoms, to determine if your pain is cyclic or noncyclic.