Breast Pain 101: Causes, Remedies, and Misconceptions
Breast pain is a common yet often misunderstood symptom
Breast Pain 101: Causes, Remedies, and Misconceptions
Breast pain is a common yet often misunderstood symptom
Breast pain is a common yet often misunderstood symptom during menopause and perimenopause. In the latest episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson dives into the root causes of breast discomfort, offering reassurance that pain is rarely linked to breast cancer. Instead, she explores everyday factors like poorly fitting bras, weight changes, caffeine intake, and hormonal fluctuations. Dr. Watson emphasizes the importance of properly fitting bras, noting that even minor weight changes can affect breast support and lead to discomfort. She also sheds light on the role of diet, highlighting the impact of caffeine and the benefits of fiber-rich foods like flaxseed in maintaining hormonal balance.
“Caffeine makes breast pain worse for a lot of women.”
This episode provides actionable solutions for relieving breast pain, from reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption to incorporating phytoestrogens like flaxseed and broccoli sprouts into the diet. Dr. Watson also warns against excessive iodine supplementation. For those experiencing persistent pain despite these adjustments, she explains how fluctuating estrogen levels during perimenopause can exacerbate symptoms and suggests anti-inflammatory supplements like borage oil. Above all, she stresses the importance of consulting a healthcare provider for any concerning changes in breast health. Listen to the full episode here to empower yourself with knowledge and practical tips for navigating this transitional phase.
Watch The Conversation!
Breast pain is a common yet often misunderstood symptom during menopause and perimenopause. In the latest episode of Menopause Rescue, Dr. Polly Watson dives into the root causes of breast discomfort, offering reassurance that pain is rarely linked to breast cancer. Instead, she explores everyday factors like poorly fitting bras, weight changes, caffeine intake, and hormonal fluctuations. Dr. Watson emphasizes the importance of properly fitting bras, noting that even minor weight changes can affect breast support and lead to discomfort. She also sheds light on the role of diet, highlighting the impact of caffeine and the benefits of fiber-rich foods like flaxseed in maintaining hormonal balance.
“Caffeine makes breast pain worse for a lot of women.”
This episode provides actionable solutions for relieving breast pain, from reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption to incorporating phytoestrogens like flaxseed and broccoli sprouts into the diet. Dr. Watson also warns against excessive iodine supplementation. For those experiencing persistent pain despite these adjustments, she explains how fluctuating estrogen levels during perimenopause can exacerbate symptoms and suggests anti-inflammatory supplements like borage oil. Above all, she stresses the importance of consulting a healthcare provider for any concerning changes in breast health. Listen to the full episode here to empower yourself with knowledge and practical tips for navigating this transitional phase.
Key Takeaways:
🌸 Breast pain during menopause and perimenopause is rarely linked to breast cancer but often caused by everyday factors like poorly fitting bras, weight changes, caffeine, and hormonal fluctuations.
🌸 Properly fitting bras are essential for breast support, especially as even minor weight changes can lead to discomfort.
🌸 Dietary changes, such as reducing caffeine and alcohol and incorporating fiber-rich foods like flaxseed, can help maintain hormonal balance and alleviate breast pain.
🌸 Anti-inflammatory supplements like borage oil can provide relief for breast pain caused by fluctuating estrogen levels during perimenopause.
🌸 Always consult a healthcare provider for persistent breast pain or any concerning changes in breast health.
Quotes:
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“Many women are wearing bra sizes that are not correct for them, and that’s a huge reason why they have breast pain.”
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“Caffeine makes breast pain worse for a lot of women, and it can take months for that caffeine effect to resolve.”
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“A plant-based estrogen or phytoestrogen is weaker than your body’s own estrogen and can help balance either too much or too little estrogen.”
Resources:
Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources
Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-disclaimer
Meet the host!
Dr. Polly Watson is a board certified OBGYN who has additional training in menopausal medicine, sexual medicine and functional medicine.
She looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you to help find a solution to address the imbalance in your system and restore your health.
In 2019 I left my job as an employed physician with a large organization and started Hormone Wellness MD. I started with no staff working out of a single room. Since then, my staff has grown to a team of 5 and we’ve helped over 1,100 people on their health journey.
Meet the host!
Dr. Polly Watson is a board certified OBGYN who has additional training in menopausal medicine, sexual medicine and functional medicine.
She looks forward to sharing her knowledge with you to help find a solution to address the imbalance in your system and restore your health.
In 2019 I left my job as an employed physician with a large organization and started Hormone Wellness MD. I started with no staff working out of a single room. Since then, my staff has grown to a team of 5 and we’ve helped over 1,100 people on their health journey.
