Why Does My Chest Hurt When Touched?

The main causes of pain upon touching the chest are chest wall trauma, acute mastitis, and cystic hyperplasia of the breast. If the chest wall is injured, there is usually a clear history of trauma, and in addition to pain, the chest may also be accompanied by fever, redness, and swelling. If it is acute mastitis, the pain is generally more severe, and obvious masses may also appear. Cystic hyperplasia of the breast is usually more common among women of reproductive age. There are three main considerations for chest pain upon touching: 1. Pain upon touching the chest may be due to chest wall trauma, which often has a clear history of trauma, manifesting as redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the chest wall tissue, with obvious pain upon touching. 2. Pain upon touching the chest may be due to acute mastitis, which is an acute suppurative infection of the breast tissue, manifesting as breast congestion, edema, and severe pain. In severe cases, palpable masses may be felt in the breast, and the pain may be significantly aggravated when pressing the breast. 3. Pain upon touching the chest may be due to cystic hyperplasia of the breast, which is more common among women aged 30-50 years old during the reproductive period. The clinical manifestations are breast tenderness, which is more common on both sides but can also be seen on one side. The tenderness tends to increase before menstruation and subside significantly after menstruation. When the pain is severe, touching the breast can further aggravate the pain. If chest pain occurs upon pressing, it is recommended to promptly visit the breast surgery department of a reputable hospital for breast ultrasound examination to determine the cause of the pain and actively cooperate with specialist physicians for treatment.