Causes of Sharp Pain Under Left Breast that Comes and Goes

Left breast pain may be caused by injury, infection, or hormones. The heart, lungs, stomach, pancreas, and spleen can also cause left breast pain. Sudden sharp pain under left breast that comes and goes may indicate a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or cancer. Thus, before considering other causes of breast pain, consult a doctor. 

What is Left Breast Pain?  

Left breast pain can be caused by anything from gas to a heart attack. It can be hard to pinpoint the cause of chest or upper abdominal pain. The type of pain under your left breast can indicate the cause of upper abdominal pain. Stress, gastritis, heartburn, or too much gas can cause sharp, stabbing pains under your left breast. Gastritis can cause dull, throbbing breast pain that feels like something is gnawing at you. Brief, sharp lower chest pains are also possible. Never ignore chest-pushing pains—they’re usually heart-related. Addressing the cause usually relieves chest or upper abdominal pain. However, cardiac pain under your left breast needs medical attention.

Which Organs Are Under Your Left Breast?

The left side under the breast has many vital organs. Left lung, spleen, pancreas, left kidney, stomach, intestines, and colon are located to the left of your breastbone, as is your heart. 

Causes of Left Breast Pain 

Multiple organs or body systems can cause left breast pain. It usually affects the stomach, heart, lungs, pancreas, and spleen in the upper left side. Heart, digestive, or breast issues are usually the causes. Following are the causes of left side breast pain:

Heart-Related Causes 

The heart is left and center in the chest, a heart attack can cause left-sided breast pain.

  • Pericarditis: inflammation of the thin, two-layered membrane around the heart. The irritated membrane rubbing against the heart causes pain. 
  • Precordial catch syndrome: chest wall nerves are pinched or irritated. A sudden stabbing pain around the left breast can mimic a heart attack but resolves on its own. 
  • Angina: The heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen from the coronary artery, causing pain below the left breast. 

Digestion Causes 

  • Gastritis: This inflammation affects the upper left stomach lining. 
  • Pancreatitis: pancreatic inflammation. It develops on the left side of the abdomen and may be felt near the breast.
  • Heartburn: Digestive acids erode the esophagus (windpipe), causing throat burning. Some may feel it behind the left breastbone and think it’s a heart attack.

Breast-Related Causes 

  • Problem with your left milk duct: This includes mastitis, clogged milk ducts, and breast abscesses. 
  • Breast cancer:  Symptoms include lumps and chest pain on the affected side and it can cause sharp pain under left breast that comes and goes
  • Injury to breast: Pain and bruising can result from left chest trauma.

Other Causes 

  • Pleurisy: The membrane surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity becomes inflamed. It causes breast-area chest pain when breathing. 
  • Costochondritis: rib-breastbone cartilage inflammation. It may impact both sides of the chest near the breasts. 
  • Damage to the spleen, which filters blood to the left of the stomach. Spleen injuries or ruptures can irritate the abdominal cavity by leaking blood. The spleen and stomach are on the left, so upper-left breast pain is possible. 
  • Hiatal hernia: digestive acid flows back into the esophagus when the stomach pushes through the diaphragm and into the chest. This often causes upper left-body pain that radiates to the breasts. 
  • Pregnancy: The baby’s growth can press against the lungs and chest, causing breast pressure and heartburn. 

When To Visit a Doctor 

Left-sided breast pain has many causes. Some are more serious. The only way to find out what’s causing your pain is to see pain management in Dallas. If you have breast pain, call your doctor:

  • Longer than two weeks.  
  • It worsens. 
  • Your activity is limited. 
  • A painful lump persists after your period.
  • Breasts are red or swollen. 
  • You have nipple or pus drainage.
  • Your body alerts you to problems with pain. Do not ignore or dismiss it.

Ask your doctor over and over again what’s causing your pain. If the pain doesn’t go away, get a second opinion. Pain in the left breast can have more than one cause. Your chest may hurt, and there may be a lump in your breast.

How Long Pain Under My Left Breast Stays?  

Cause determines left breast pain relief time. Heartburn can last a few hours after a meal or go away with dietary changes like limiting spicy foods. Injury-related pain can last weeks to heal. Treatment is required for some left breast pain causes. If you have heart attack pain, it will likely last until you see a doctor.

How to Cure Left Breast Pain? 

Treatment for left breast pain depends on the cause. Most left breast pain requires medical attention. Antacids and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) treat heartburn and hiatal hernia pain. If you’re not sure if the pain is related to antacids or PPIs, over-the-counter ones won’t help. Pain relievers can help with injury, costochondritis, and surgery pain. You may need time to recover.

Conclusion

Seek medical attention for sharp pain under left breast that comes and goes, as it may indicate a heart attack. Injury or disease of the breast tissue and milk ducts can cause left breast pain. Breast cancer is rarely painful early on. Inflammatory breast cancer can make the breasts turn red and swell. The chest muscles, lungs, or esophagus close by may hurt the left breast. Pain in the nerves can be caused by fibromyalgia or shingles. Talk to pain physicians in Dallas about how to diagnose and treat left breast pain.

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