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Lifestyle and home remedies
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.
References
- Smith RL, et al. Evaluation and management of breast pain. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2004;79:353.
- Miltenburg DM, et al. Benign breast disease. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2008;35:285.
- Richardson J. Breast signs and symptoms: Breast pain. In: Adams Hillard PJ. The 5-Minute Obstetrics and Gynecology Consult. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:22.
- Golshan M, et al. Breast pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 1, 2010.
- Millet AV, et al. Clinical management of breast pain: A review. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 2002;57:451.
- Pruthi S, et al. Vitamin E and evening primrose oil for management of cyclical mastalgia: A randomized pilot study. Alternative Medicine Review. 2010;15:59.
- Rodden AM. Common breast concerns. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2009;36:103.
- Parsay S, et al. Therapeutic effects of vitamin E on cyclic mastalgia. The Breast Journal. 2009;15:510.
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