Pain Under Right Breast

Even though pain in the upper right abdominal quadrant does not signal an emergency, it definitely sends a message. Sharp pain under right breast could be telling you to make a change in your lifestyle or to fix an appointment with your doctor. Consider it as a blessing in disguise. Have you ever attempted to find out what message your body is trying to send? Here's a list of causes which might help you break the code. Remember, this is just for providing you guidelines. In any case, you should consult your doctor, as thorough examination is required for perfect diagnosis.

These days, many people complain about upper abdominal pain along with ribs pain or lower abdominal pain, a dull ache and a burning sensation in the abdomen. People just take it for granted that abdominal pain arises due to disturbed stomach, but 'stomach' is only one potential trouble spot. The organs lying in your midsection such as appendix, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys and intestines can cause pain, if any one of them is not working well. You should not ignore the pain under right breast. By consulting a doctor for the early symptoms, you can avoid a medical emergency.

Causes of Pain in the Upper Right Abdominal Quadrant

• Pancreatitis: One of the possible causes of pain under right rib cage is pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis can result in shock, which may prove fatal if not treated quickly. Sharp pain that emerges from the upper abdomen and often spreads to the sides and the back is the main symptom of pancreatitis. Nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowish skin and a racing heartbeat are some other symptoms observed. A heavy meal or excessive alcohol can cause shooting pain.
• Gallstones: Formation of gallstones is another important cause of rib pain in the right side. Symptoms of gallstones include right-side rib cage pain, pain in the right side of abdomen, pain spreading to right upper back, chest, or right shoulder, nausea, gases and vomiting, etc. Infection of the gallbladder can also cause such pain. Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) results in pain and discomfort.
• Costochondritis: Costochondritis is the term used to describe inflammation of the muscles of the rib cage. Due to such type of inflammation, the person may experience pain in the area where the breastbone is connected to the rib cage. Excessive coughing is a common causes of costochondritis, because coughing poses undue stress on the rib bones. Viral respiratory infections can also lead to costochondritis.
• Mononucleosis: Infectious mononucleosis can lead to chronic abdominal pain in the upper right quadrant, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and extreme fatigue. It is an acute disease characterized by abnormally high number of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the blood.
• Liver Damage: Infections in the liver can cause pain in the upper right abdominal quadrant. Liver diseases lead to serious conditions and need to be treated as early as possible. So such pain should never be overlooked.
• Inflammation of Cartilage: Inflammation of the cartilage present between the breastbone and the ribs can create a lot of discomfort and pain. The pain may last for a short period or longer period.
• Injury: Ribs, the delicate bony structures are quite prone to fractures and injuries. Fractures can be detected with the help of X-rays. A minor hair crack in the bone can also lead to severe pain.
• Kidney Stones: Pain due to kidney stones can be experienced in the lower back and it may spread under the rib cage, around the front and into the groin.

This was a list of common causes of upper right abdominal pain. The list of causes does not end here. There exist so many other causes of pain under right breast. For example, inflammation of the appendix, ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy, sore muscle, obstructed hernia, digestive system problems like constipation, food poisoning, Crohn's disease, inflammation of the lower end of the esophagus, etc.

The important thing to remember is that one should not ignore chest or abdominal pain of any type; as it can be a sign of a serious underlying disease. Early detection of a problem helps avoid complications.