Hi There are many reasons why you might have sharp pains under the left breast. They range from mild conditions to those that are severe. Here are some reasons why you might have this type of pain: Problems with Digestive System Excessive digestive gases. Your stomach is located on the left side of your abdomen and can be filled up with gas when you swallow. These trapped gases can trigger nerve pain in the stomach which is experienced as sharp pain under left breast. Heart burn. Heart burn is a common cause of chest pain, particularly beneath the left breast. It is caused by stomach acid that travels up the esophagus and irritates the esophageal mucosa. Hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia happens when there is a hole in the diaphragm that allows bowel or stomach contents to travel up inside the chest cavity. When you have this condition, you can experience symptoms of chest pain, bloating sensations after eating, heart burn, and difficulty breathing. Gastritis. Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining, which can be caused by infections you get from drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Because the stomach is found on the left side of the body, inflammation of the stomach lining can be experienced as left-sided chest wall pain. Other symptoms include nausea, indigestion, vomiting, and bloating. Problems with the Chest A chest cyst. You can develop a cyst on the chest wall that irritates the nerves of the muscles in the chest wall. You may or may not be able to feel the cyst yourself yet it can cause pain. Rib injuries or pain in the intercostal muscles. You can have inflammation and pain from trauma to the chest or just from an inflammatory response affecting the joint that connects the ribs to the sternum. This can lead to sharp pain called costochondritis. It can be very intense but does not represent anything serious. Injury to the chest wall. You can have a crushing injury to your chest wall from a motor vehicle accident or a fall. This can set up sharp pain under left breast that may mean you have fractured a rib or sprained the muscles of the chest wall itself. Chest wall inflammation. You can have inflammation of the musculoskeletal parts of your chest wall. This can lead to sharp pain. Precordial catch syndrome (PCS). This is an intense type of chest pain, usually occurring on the left side. It is worse when you take a deep breath and lasts just a few seconds. Pain from this condition can recur over a period of about 30 minutes. People who have this condition feel as though there is a “bubble” in their chest. When the “bubble” pops, the pain is relieved. This can happen repetitively, ranging from many times a day to every few years apart. Problems with Cardiovascular System Pericarditis. This is a more serious problem that can lead to left-sided chest pain. Pericarditis involves an inflammation of the pericardial sac that surrounds the heart. Other symptoms you may experience as a result of having pericarditis include palpitations of the heart, sharp chest pain on the left side, nausea or weakness, and fever. There can also be swelling of the abdomen or leg, shortness of breath or a harsh cough. Pain from pericarditis usually is worse when taking a deep breath, coughing, or lying down. The pain often travels from the chest to the left shoulder or neck. Heart conditions. When you have blocked arteries in your heart, you can experience angina, which is pain felt usually on the left side of the chest, although it can radiate to the left hand, shoulder, back, neck, or jaw. Other Factors Stress. Many people have chest pains when under a great deal of stress. There is nothing really wrong with the body but the stress causes nerve inflammation nevertheless. Chest pain from stress is usually sharp in nature and can be very painful. When you relax, the pain usually goes away. Problems with the lungs. The pleura is the lining of the lungs and its function is to allow smooth motions of the lungs when you breathe. Sometimes the pleura can become inflamed due to chemical exposure, trauma, or infection. This can cause sharp pain beneath left breast. A number of factors can play a role in weight gain. These include diet, lack of exercise, factors in a person’s environment, and genetics. Some of these factors are discussed briefly below. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers more information on the causes of overweight and obesity. Food and Activity People gain weight when they eat more calories than they burn through activity. This imbalance is the greatest contributor to weight gain. Environment The world around us influences our ability to maintain a healthy weight. For example: Not having area parks, sidewalks, and affordable gyms makes it hard for people to be physically active. Oversized food portions increase Americans’ calorie intake, making even more physical activity necessary to maintain a healthy weight. Some people don’t have access to supermarkets that sell affordable healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Food advertising encourages people to buy unhealthy foods, such as high-fat snacks and sugary drinks.1 Genetics Research shows that genetics plays a role in obesity. Genes can directly cause obesity in such disorders as Prader-Willi syndrome. Genes also may contribute to a person’s susceptibility to weight gain. Scientists believe that genes may increase a person’s likelihood of becoming obese but that outside factors, such as an abundant food supply or little physical activity, also may be required for a person to put on excess weight. Health Conditions and Medications Some hormone problems may cause overweight and obesity, such as underactive thyroid, Cushing syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Certain medicines also may cause weight gain, including some corticosteroids, antidepressants, and seizure medicines. Stress, Emotional Factors, and Poor Sleep Some people eat more than usual when they are bored, angry, upset, or stressed. Studies also have found that the less people sleep, the more likely they are to be overweight or obese. This is partly because hormones that are released during sleep control appetite and the body’s use of energy.1 Diagnosis If your BMI is in the obese range, your health care provider will typically review your health history in detail, perform a physical exam and recommend some tests. These exams and tests generally include: Taking your health history. Your doctor may review your weight history, weight-loss efforts, exercise habits, eating patterns, what other conditions you ve had, medications, stress levels and other issues about your health. Your doctor may also review your family s health history to see if you may be predisposed to certain conditions. A general physical exam. This includes also measuring your height; checking vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature; listening to your heart and lungs; and examining your abdomen. Calculating your BMI. Your doctor will check your body mass index (BMI) to determine your level of obesity. This should be done at least once a year. Your BMI also helps determine your overall health risk and what treatment may be appropriate. Measuring your waist circumference. Fat stored around your waist, sometimes called visceral fat or abdominal fat, may further increase your risk of diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Women with a waist measurement (circumference) of more than 35 inches (80 centimeters, or cm) and men with a waist measurement of more than 40 inches (102 cm) may have more health risks than do people with smaller waist measurements. Like the BMI measurement, your waist circumference should be checked at least once a year. Checking for other health problems. If you have known health problems, your doctor will evaluate them. Your doctor will also check for other possible health problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Blood tests. What tests you have depend on your health, risk factors and any current symptoms you may be having. Tests may include a cholesterol test, liver function tests, a fasting glucose, a thyroid test and others. Your doctor may also recommend certain heart tests, such as an electrocardiogram. Gathering all this information helps you and your doctor determine how much weight you need to lose and what health conditions or risks you already have. And this will guide treatment decisions. Treatment The goal of obesity treatment is to reach and stay at a healthy weight. You may need to work with a team of health professionals — including a dietitian, behavior counselor or an obesity specialist — to help you understand and make changes in your eating and activity habits. The initial treatment goal is usually a modest weight loss — 3 to 5 percent of your total weight. That means that if you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg) and are obese by BMI standards, you would need to lose only about 6 to 10 pounds (2.7 to 4.5 kg) for your health to begin to improve. However, the more weight you lose, the greater the benefits. All weight-loss programs require changes in your eating habits and increased physical activity. The treatment methods that are right for you depend on your level of obesity, your overall health and your willingness to participate in your weight-loss plan. Other treatment tools include: Dietary changes Exercise and activity Behavior change Prescription weight-loss medications Weight-loss surgery Dietary changes Reducing calories and practicing healthier eating habits are vital to overcoming obesity. Although you may lose weight quickly at first, slow and steady weight loss over the long term is considered the safest way to lose weight and the best way to keep it off permanently. Avoid drastic and unrealistic diet changes, such as crash diets, because they re unlikely to help you keep excess weight off for the long term. Plan to participate in a comprehensive weight-loss program for at least six months and in the maintenance phase of a program for at least a year to boost your odds of weight-loss success. There is no best weight-loss diet. Choose one that includes healthy foods that you feel will work for you. Dietary changes to treat obesity include: Cutting calories. The key to weight loss is reducing how many calories you take in. You and your health care providers can review your typical eating and drinking habits to see how many calories you normally consume and where you can cut back. You and your doctor can decide how many calories you need to take in each day to lose weight, but a typical amount is 1,200 to 1,500 calories for women and 1,500 to 1,800 for men. Feeling full on less. The concept of energy density can help you satisfy your hunger with fewer calories. All foods have a certain number of calories within a given amount (volume). Some foods — such as desserts, candies, fats and processed foods — are high in energy density. This means that a small volume of that food has a large number of calories. In contrast, other foods, such as fruits and vegetables, have lower energy density. These foods provide a larger portion size with a fewer number of calories. By eating larger portions of foods that have fewer calories, you reduce hunger pangs, take in fewer calories and feel better about your meal, which contributes to how satisfied you feel overall. Making healthier choices. To make your overall diet healthier, eat more plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole-grain carbohydrates. Also emphasize lean sources of protein — such as beans, lentils and soy — and lean meats. If you like fish, try to include fish twice a week. Limit salt and added sugar. Stick with low-fat dairy products. Eat small amounts of fats, and make sure they come from heart-healthy sources, such as olive, canola and nut oils. Restricting certain foods. Certain diets limit the amount of a particular food group, such as high-carbohydrate or full-fat foods. Ask your doctor which diet plans have been found effective and which might be helpful for you. Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is a sure way to consume more calories than you intended, and limiting these drinks or eliminating them altogether is a good place to start cutting calories. Meal replacements. These plans suggest that you replace one or two meals with their products — such as low-calorie shakes or meal bars — and eat healthy snacks and a healthy, balanced third meal that s low in fat and calories. In the short term, this type of diet can help you lose weight. Keep in mind that these diets likely won t teach you how to change your overall lifestyle, though, so you may have to keep this up if you want to keep your weight off. Be wary of quick fixes. You may be tempted by fad diets that promise fast and easy weight loss. The reality, however, is that there are no magic foods or quick fixes. Fad diets may help in the short term, but the long-term results don t appear to be any better than other diets. Similarly, you may lose weight on a crash diet, but you re likely to regain it when you stop the diet. To lose weight — and keep it off — you have to adopt healthy-eating habits that you can maintain over time. Exercise and activity Increased physical activity or exercise is an essential part of obesity treatment. Most people who are able to maintain their weight loss for more than a year get regular exercise, even simply walking. To boost your activity level: Exercise. People who are overweight or obese need to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity to prevent further weight gain or to maintain the loss of a modest amount of weight. To achieve more-significant weight loss, you may need to exercise 300 minutes or more a week. You probably will need to gradually increase the amount you exercise as your endurance and fitness improve. Keep moving. Even though regular aerobic exercise is the most efficient way to burn calories and shed excess weight, any extra movement helps burn calories. Making simple changes throughout your day can add up to big benefits. Park farther from store entrances, rev up your household chores, garden, get up and move around periodically, and wear a pedometer to track how many steps you actually take over the course of a day. Behavior changes A behavior modification program can help you make lifestyle changes and lose weight and keep it off. Steps to take include examining your current habits to find out what factors, stresses or situations may have contributed to your obesity. Everyone is different and has different obstacles to managing weight, such as a lack of time to exercise or late-night eating. Tailor your behavior changes to address your individual concerns. Behavior modification, sometimes called behavior therapy, can include: Counseling. Therapy or interventions with trained mental health or other professionals can help you address emotional and behavioral issues related to eating. Therapy can help you understand why you overeat and learn healthy ways to cope with anxiety. You can also learn how to monitor your diet and activity, understand eating triggers, and cope with food cravings. Therapy can take place on both an individual and group basis. More-intensive programs — those that include 12 to 26 sessions a year — may be more helpful in achieving your weight-loss goals. Support groups. You can find camaraderie and understanding in support groups where others share similar challenges with obesity. Check with your doctor, local hospitals or commercial weight-loss programs for support groups in your area, such as Weight Watchers. Prescription weight-loss medication Losing weight requires a healthy diet and regular exercise. But in certain situations, prescription weight-loss medication may help. Keep in mind, though, that weight-loss medication is meant to be used along with diet, exercise and behavior changes, not instead of them. If you don t make these other changes in your life, medication is unlikely to work. Your doctor may recommend weight-loss medication if other methods of weight loss haven t worked for you and you meet one of the following criteria: Your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater Your BMI is greater than 27, and you also have medical complications of obesity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea Before selecting a medication for you, your doctor will consider your health history, as well as possible side effects. Some weight-loss medications can t be used by women who are pregnant, or people who take certain medications or have chronic health conditions. Commonly prescribed weight-loss medications include orlistat (Xenical), lorcaserin (Belviq), phentermine and topiramate (Qsymia), buproprion and naltrexone (Contrave), and liraglutide (Saxenda). You will need close medical monitoring while taking a prescription weight-loss medication. Also, keep in mind that a weight-loss medication may not work for everyone, and the effects may wane over time. When you stop taking a weight-loss medication, you may regain much or all of the weight you lost. Weight-loss surgery In some cases, weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, is an option. Weight-loss surgery limits the amount of food you re able to comfortably eat or decreases the absorption of food and calories or both. While weight-loss surgery offers the best chance of losing the most weight, it can pose serious risks. Weight-loss surgery for obesity may be considered if you have tried other methods to lose weight that haven t worked and: You have extreme obesity (BMI of 40 or higher) Your BMI is 35 to 39.9, and you also have a serious weight-related health problem, such as diabetes or high blood pressure You re committed to making the lifestyle changes that are necessary for surgery to work It doesn t guarantee that you ll lose all of your excess weight or that you ll keep it off long term. Weight-loss success after surgery depends on your commitment to making lifelong changes in your eating and exercise habits. It doesn t guarantee that you ll lose all of your excess weight or that you ll keep it off long term. Weight-loss success after surgery depends on your commitment to making lifelong changes in your eating and exercise habits. Common weight-loss surgeries include: Gastric bypass surgery. In gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass), the surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of your stomach. The small intestine is then cut a short distance below the main stomach and connected to the new pouch. Food and liquid flow directly from the pouch into this part of the intestine, bypassing most of your stomach. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). In this procedure, your stomach is separated into two pouches with an inflatable band. Pulling the band tight, like a belt, the surgeon creates a tiny channel between the two pouches. The band keeps the opening from expanding and is generally designed to stay in place permanently. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. This procedure begins with the surgeon removing a large part of the stomach. The surgeon leaves the valve that releases food to the small intestine and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Then the surgeon closes off the middle section of the intestine and attaches the last part directly to the duodenum. The separated section of the intestine is reattached to the end of the intestine to allow bile and digestive juices to flow into this part of the intestine. Gastric sleeve. In this procedure, part of the stomach is removed, creating a smaller reservoir for food. It s a less complicated surgery than gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. Other treatments Vagal nerve blockade is another treatment for obesity. It involves implanting a device under the skin of the abdomen that sends intermittent electrical pulses to the abdominal vagus nerve, which tells the brain when the stomach feels empty or full. This new technology received FDA approval in 2014 for use by adults who have not been able to lose weight with a weight-loss program and who have a BMI of 35 to 45 with at least one obesity-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes. Preventing weight regain after obesity treatment Unfortunately, it s common to regain weight no matter what obesity treatment methods you try. If you take weight-loss medications, you ll probably regain weight when you stop taking them. You might even regain weight after weight-loss surgery if you continue to overeat or overindulge in high-calorie foods. But that doesn t mean your weight-loss efforts are futile. One of the best ways to prevent regaining the weight you ve lost is to get regular physical activity. Aim for 60 minutes a day. Keep track of your physical activity if it helps you stay motivated and on course. As you lose weight and gain better health, talk to your doctor about what additional activities you might be able to do and, if appropriate, how to give your activity and exercise a boost. You may always have to remain vigilant about your weight. Combining a healthier diet and more activity in a practical and sustainable manner are the best ways to keep the weight you lost off for the long term. Take your weight loss and weight maintenance one day at a time and surround yourself with supportive resources to help ensure your success. Find a healthier way of living that you can stick with for the long term. Lifestyle and home remedies Your effort to overcome obesity is more likely to be successful if you follow strategies at home in addition to your formal treatment plan. These can include: Education about obesity can help you learn more about why you became obese and what you can do about it. You may feel more empowered to take control and stick to your treatment plan. Read reputable self-help books and consider talking about them with your doctor or therapist. Setting realistic goals. When you have to lose a significant amount of weight, you may set goals that are unrealistic, such as trying to lose too much too fast. Don t set yourself up for failure. Set daily or weekly goals for exercise and weight loss. Make small changes in your diet instead of attempting drastic changes that you re not likely to stick with for the long haul. Sticking to your treatment plan. Changing a lifestyle you may have lived with for many years can be difficult. Be honest with your doctor, therapist or other health care providers if you find your activity or eating goals slipping. You can work together to come up with new ideas or new approaches. Enlisting support. Get your family and friends on board with your weight-loss goals. Surround yourself with people who will support you and help you, not sabotage your efforts. Make sure they understand how important weight loss is to your health. You might also want to join a weight-loss support group. Keeping a record. Keep a food and activity log. This record can help you remain accountable for your eating and exercise habits. You can discover behavior that may be holding you back and, conversely, what works well for you. You can also use your log to track other important health parameters such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels and overall fitness. Identifying and avoiding food triggers. Distract yourself from your desire to eat with something positive, such as calling a friend. Practice saying no to unhealthy foods and big portions. Eat when you re actually hungry — not simply when the clock says it s time to eat. Taking your medications as directed. If you take weight-loss medications or medications to treat obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, take them exactly as prescribed. If you have a problem sticking with your medication regimen or have unpleasant side effects, talk to your doctor. Alternative medicine Numerous dietary supplements that promise to help you shed weight quickly are available. The effectiveness, particularly the long-term effectiveness, and safety of these products are often questionable. Herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals, all considered dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration, don t have the same rigorous testing and labeling process as over-the-counter and prescription medications do. Yet some of these substances, including products labeled as natural, have drug-like effects that can be dangerous. Even some vitamins and minerals can cause problems when taken in excessive amounts. Ingredients may not be standard, and they can cause unpredictable and harmful side effects. Dietary supplements also can cause dangerous interactions with prescription medications you take. Talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplements. Mind-body therapies — such as acupuncture, mindfulness meditation and yoga — may complement other obesity treatments. However, these therapies generally haven t been well-studied in the treatment of weight loss. Talk to your doctor if you re interested in adding a mind-body therapy to your treatment. Coping and support Talk to your doctor or therapist about improving your coping skills and consider these tips to cope with obesity and your weight-loss efforts: Journal. Write in a journal to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions. Connect. Don t become isolated. Try to participate in regular activities and get together with family or friends periodically. Join. Join a support group so that you can connect with others facing similar challenges. Focus. Stay focused on your goals. Overcoming obesity is an ongoing process. Stay motivated by keeping your goals in mind. Remind yourself that you re responsible for managing your condition and working toward your goals. Relax. Learn relaxation and stress management. Learning to recognize stress and developing stress management and relaxation skills can help you gain control of unhealthy eating habits. Preparing for your appointment Talking to your health care provider openly and honestly about your weight concerns is one of the best things you can do for your health. In some cases, you may be referred to an obesity specialist — if one is available in your area. You may also be referred to a behavioral counselor, dietitian or nutrition specialist. Being an active participant in your care is important. One way to do this is by preparing for your appointment. Think about your needs and goals for treatment. Also, write down a list of questions to ask. These questions may include Regards DR DE