Fatty Acid Imbalances & Breast Pain

There are many reasons for a woman to get breast pain. Also called as Mastalgia, breast pain is quite common in women who are in their menstrual and menopausal stages. Certain conditions like cysts, wounds, lumps, trauma, medications or heaviness can also cause breast pain in women. However, a lesser known factor that has the potential to cause mastalgia in women is acid imbalances.
Fatty acid imbalances can create a series of health related issues in the body, breast pain being one of them. Accordingly, a fatty acid imbalance would affect the breast tissue sensitivity and make them more vulnerable to the circulating hormones which in turn would cause breast pain.
In this case, the woman in question would experience a sharp burning sensation in her breast coupled with tightness in the breast tissue. The pain arising from fatty acid imbalances can also be constant or occur occasionally when the imbalance is severe.


Relationship Between Fatty Acids And Breast Health
The natural balance of fatty acids in the body is denoted as 1 part of omega 3 fatty acids to 2 parts of omega 6 fatty acids. Both these fatty acids are essential for healthy growth and sustenance.
While Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in foods like salmon, tuna, flax seed oil, canola, walnuts and soy products etc., foods like safflower oils, seeds and corn contain high amounts of Omega 6 fatty acids.

The trouble arises when this 1:2 ratio is disturbed. A fatty acid imbalance can significantly alter the hormonal mechanisms in the body. This can affect the normal production of the hormones responsible for sex, thus causing your breasts to become more sensitive to circulating sex hormones.
High amounts of Omega 6 fatty acids in the body can increase the levels of arachnoidic acid (helps to promote blood clotting and immune system strength and functionality) which in turn causes inflammation throughout the body, a factor that can cause breast pain as well.

How To Treat Breast Pain Caused By Fatty Acid Imbalance
If you are suffering from breast pain and attribute the same to fatty acid imbalance, then here are some effective remedies for the same.
Dietary Considerations
If your breasts start to pain every time you have meal loaded with fat and calories, chances are you may be suffering from an imbalance of fatty acids that may be causing the pain
So make it a point to cut down on fatty foods and other sources of fat from your existing diet. Opting for a diet that contains 20% less fat and calories as your previous diet would help retain the fatty acid balance and prevent breast pain.
Supplements
In certain cases where the fatty acid imbalance is too severe to correct via dietary changes, doctors often prescribe supplements that restore the fatty acid balance in the body without too many complications.Accordingly, evening primrose and vitamin E supplements are frequently prescribed for fatty acid imbalances.
Evening primrose oil is more favored than vitamin E owing to the fact that it contains a substance called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which helps to both restore fatty acid balance in the body and prevent breast pain. The standard dosage is 1000 milligrams a day which however needs to be checked out by a qualified doctor first.
When To Visit The Doctor
Even though fatty acid imbalances and the breast pain arising from it can be taken care of by changes to the diet and regular nutritional supplements, there are some cases that would warrant a doctor’s advice.
Accordingly you would need to consult a doctor if the pain in the breast refuses to subside even after a few weeks or worsens or if the pain is prevalent in only one area of the breast.