Symptoms of mastitis

Breast disease in most patients occurs without clinical symptoms. This can be a diagnostic discovery during the next routine inspection. Symptoms of mastitis are ongoing or have a close interconnection with the menstrual cycle of women. Clinical diagnosis can only be confirmed based on the results of lab tests.

The difference between the various forms of mastitis

Symptoms of the disease have their own distinctive features, depending on the clinical form of mastitis. There are the following forms:

• diffuse
• nodal
• mixed

In diffuse lesions of breast tissue can detect multiple seals, which have a characteristic structure and are painless. In some cases there is sensitivity or discomfort when objective examination. Its characteristic features of the disease has a nodular form. At a certain section of the prostate palpable seal assembly or a cyst that is unilateral or bilateral education with precise contours and homogeneous structure. This education is not soldered to the underlying tissues, the skin on the surface does not change, there is no temperature reaction. It is necessary to conduct a detailed examination of the formation of a single, get the contents of the cyst cavity by the method of biopsy.

In the initial stages of the disease process in the mammary gland occurs without the characteristic manifestations. Great importance is attached not only to routine inspections, and self-examination. If you find any education gland should consult a doctor mammalogy. Despite the benign nature of the changes, there is a certain degree of risk of malignant breast disease.

There is a correlation of symptoms with the menstrual cycle. It may be noted that the pain or discomfort in the breast amplified before menstruation or in the first days of its start. In the future, soreness become less pronounced. Resize seals or education throughout the menstrual cycle, so when viewed from a woman should take into account that, on any day of the cycle is carried out the survey. The reason for these changes is hormonal influences, which is subject to the mammary gland, as it is the target organ for the action of hormones. In assessing the signs of mastitis in women it is important to detect the presence of changes in the menstrual cycle.

The main sign of mastitis - chest pain Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases   or a feeling of discomfort, but often occurs mastopathy in women without any symptoms. Discomfort in the chest, accompanying mastopathy - is, first of all, stupid, "nagging" pain in the chest, which can sometimes be accompanied by other signs of mastitis - breast tenderness, itching sensation in the nipple, feeling of "fullness" in the chest. These signs of mastitis can be both permanent and episodic - for example, to appear immediately before the menstrual period and disappear immediately after the next menstruation.

Symptoms of mastitis in most cases, are exacerbated and become more distinct just before the onset of menstruation and are or become less distinct after the start of the menstrual period. The main signs of mastitis taken include:

• Chest pain (episodic or constant observed during the menstrual cycle).
• Swelling of the breasts, a feeling of heaviness in the breast, breast tenderness (pain with touch, especially in the peripapillary region).
• The advent of solid structures, detected by direct examination (palpation) of mammary glands. Typically, such formations increase in size either after ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible? Or before the beginning of the next menstrual period and become smaller with the end of menstruation. Education is considered the main sign of mastitis, are mobile - they change the layout when pressed.
• In rare cases, there are other signs of mastitis - for example, discharge from the nipples. When released from the nipple fluid is clear, reddish or bloody, it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately.

Discharge from the nipple when mastitis

One of the frequent complaints of patients to medical treatment is the appearance of discharge from the nipple. This feature refers to the clinical symptoms of mastitis Breast - Symptoms: When should I see a doctor? . Attention is drawn to the character of discharge, as they may be different (serous discharge, clear or by type of colostrum). Breast is not the only disease which is characterized by the appearance of discharge from the nipple. Be sure to eliminate the cause of the hormone, to determine the content in the blood levels of the hormone prolactin Prolactin - effect on the body is not fully known . This is especially shown when the discharge have the form of colostrum.

When the pathological process in the mammary gland is a legitimate reaction to regional lymph nodes, which are located in the underarm area. Status of lymph nodes is an important diagnostic sign, so their inspection should be mandatory. What matters is the presence of symptoms of inflammatory changes in the nodes, the connection with the underlying tissues, changing their structure, since the appearance of one of the pathological symptoms may indicate the development of malignancy in the mammary gland.

When mastitis isolation appear alone or only with pressure on the nipple area. Even a small amount of bleeding should be the reason for the survey. The most unfavorable sign of mastitis during a bloody nature of the discharge, as this may be the first clinical sign of malignancy.

When to see a doctor

In most cases, the changes are absolutely normal mammary glands, and, because of the connection with fluctuations in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, short - i.e. disappear after a menstrual period. However, you must consult your doctor, if education in the breast tissue does not disappear on their own, and gradually increasing in size - in this case may require analysis of these tumors to malignancy.

Causes of mastitis

By the nature of the pathological changes in the mammary gland refers to benign breast disease processes. At the same time there is a certain unfavorable background for the development of malignancies, especially in nodular form. In this regard, you should know the nature of the causal factors that can cause characteristic symptoms of the disease. Causes of mastitis are varied, which means carrying out a comprehensive survey to clarify the diagnosis. There is a certain percentage of unknown causes of disease, when it is not possible to accurately determine the cause of development.

Influence of hormonal dysfunction

The mammary gland is an important organ of the reproductive system. From the viewpoint of the hormonal effects of iron is influenced by hormones, however it considered a target organ for their action. When violations in the production of natural hormones is the development of pathological processes in the breast tissue.

The exact cause of mastitis is unknown, but symptoms and signs of this condition are directly related to hormonal fluctuations in women. Hormones - chemicals produced by the body and affect the work of all its organs. Sometimes, changes in the level of hormones in the body can cause swelling of the breasts and the formation of benign tumors, leading to mastitis.

Hormonal changes can be caused by a variety of factors - it is puberty Puberty child - stages of a complex path And the menstrual cycle, during which the level of hormones naturally varies and menopause, during which the production of hormones in the body decelerates. In addition, the indirect causes of mastitis are oral contraceptives that contain a synthetic version of the "female" hormone, or hormone replacement therapy, used during menopause.

Sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) vary over the cycle, each of them has a certain impact on breast tissue. Under the influence of estrogen in the first phase of the cycle is the development of prostate tubules extend the lobules. Progesterone contributes to formation of a large number of small slices, so the second phase of the cycle increases the volume of the mammary gland, it appears as premenstrual tension, which passes after the end of menstruation.

Hormonal disorders, which are characterized by the absence of cyclic production of sex hormones, are the cause of mastitis. Such a natural connection can be traced in many endocrine syndromes, so it is obligatory survey of breast cancer during the initial examination of the patient. The metabolism of sex hormones in the liver, so the cause of violations of hormone production may become a disease of the liver. The direct influence as thyroid, assessment of its functions should be included in a comprehensive examination during mastitis. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland, are involved in many metabolic, metabolic processes. The excess or deficiency of their products have a damaging effect on breast tissue.

Monthly increase in the level of estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health   progesterone and breast tissue responds to fluctuations in hormone levels. Before menstruation and during menstruation, with increased levels of hormones, blood vessels in the mammary glands dilate slightly swollen breasts, increasing in size, increasing the size of the alveoli become faster cell growth. After menstruation, all these processes with a gradual decline in hormone levels are on the decline. Years of such cyclic fluctuations ultimately lead to the formation of seals in the breast tissue. Usually symptoms of mastitis - the appearance of solid breast nodules and chest pain Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases   - More common in women between the ages of thirty and older.

"Culprits" of mastitis can be not only "female" hormones estrogen and progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology But also a number of other hormones - for example, prolactin, growth hormones (steroid hormones), insulin and a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. While these hormones are produced by other bodies, not breasts, they have a significant impact on the health of the breast. Furthermore, both breasts (more precisely, the glandular cells and adipose tissue) develop hormones, which enhance the effect of the actions of estrogen and progesterone.

In fact, the same hormones that "prepare" glandular breast tissue to the possibility of lactation (milk production), and regulate menstrual periods. The effect of these hormones on the breast and uterus, however, are quite different. If the uterus growth hormones provoke endometrium (mucous membrane "lining" inside the uterus) which is peeled during menstruation, the breast these hormones stimulate the growth of the glandular breast tissue and increase the activity of the blood vessels, accelerating the metabolism of the cell. All this leads to significant swelling of breasts, increasing its sensitivity, which is often observed before the onset of menstruation. After closure of the menstrual cycle new mammary cells, in contrast to the cells of the endometrium can not simply flake off and disappear. Instead, it is apoptosis - the process of "programmed" cell death.

Apoptosis is the self-destruction of cells - a process that can lead to scarring (fibrosis), damaging the glandular breast tissue and thus cause mastopathy. Since the process of apoptosis occurs individually in each case, in benign breast tissue can be formed in different areas of the breast and be quite different in size. The most common disease of the breast occurs in women between the ages of thirty and older - the cause in such cases, presumably, it becomes a kind of cumulative effect, "accumulation" of changes in the breast tissue, caused by the constant fluctuation of hormones. For this reason, post-menopausal breast - very rare.

What could be the starting point

In women, the breast plays an important role in the period after childbirth. It is proved that breastfeeding is a protective mechanism to preserve the breast tissue. If a woman does not breastfeed, then later it can cause mastitis, due to the absence of the characteristic changes associated with feeding. During pregnancy, every woman should be held explanatory talks about the benefits of breastfeeding, that should not abandon it just because of cosmetic problems do not exist. Intuitively, this can be demonstrated during a visit to the school the mothers, who are organized in terms of women's consultations.

The negative impact could have brought suit. The most severe consequences can be observed in purulent form of the disease, since then remain tough structural changes in the form of scars, knots. These changes are unfavorable background for the development of mastitis. In this regard, attention should be paid to the need for treatment of mastitis and its complications under supervision of mammalogy.

Any traumatic effects should be considered as a precipitating factor. These risk factors for mastitis include:

• blow
• drop
• transferred cosmetic surgery to change the shape or size of the breast

Care should be taken to protect the mammary gland from any traumatic impact. At the time of a fall or injury need to try to close the breasts with her hands as far as possible. Recently, due to the increase in the number of cosmetic operations have been carried out studies and proved that the operation is also a kind of a traumatic moment, so you should weigh the risks before making a decision to carry out correction of the chest.