Different causes in men and women

In men and women, the causes of pulling in the left breast are distributed much differently. For example, in women, the breast tissue itself can often hurt and cause discomfort during the normal menstrual cycle. In addition to muscular tension, pulling in men (accompanied by other symptoms) can, however, indicate a heart attack. Interestingly, women are much less likely to suffer a heart attack, which is also indicated by other symptoms. You can read more information on this topic here: Heart attack in women and chest pain in men

Pulling in the chest in certain situations

After a persistent cold, many sufferers are initially relieved that the cold, sore throat and other complaints subside. If, however, after the cold, complaints such as “strange dragging in the left breast” or “persistent listlessness” are reported, an inflammation of the heart muscle may be behind it. In many cases, viruses, or more rarely bacteria, are responsible for the clinical picture.

Often slight pain, such as a pulling in the chest area and slightly reduced performance are the only symptoms. Often a slight heart muscle inflammation heals without consequences and independently. Long-lasting inflammations which destroy the heart muscle tissue and thus weaken the pumping capacity of the important organ are problematic.

Abstaining from sports, strict physical rest and medical observation are part of the therapy. You can read more information on this topic here: Inflammation of the heart muscle During sporting activities, the muscles, heart and lungs are challenged. So if there is a pulling in the left chest after exercise, there is no reason to panic at first.

This is because the unpleasant feeling is usually short-lived and merely an expression of the temporary strain on our bodies. One-sided or even wrong physical strain can also lead to muscle tension and cause discomfort. However, if the dragging continues or even worsens, you should seek medical help quickly, as it could be the cause of a heart attack, for example.

If you feel a pulling in your left breast when you breathe in, there can be various reasons for this. In most cases, the symptoms are due to tense muscles which are moved and irritated when breathing. Occasionally, air in the stomach can also lead to respiratory problems.

If other symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea or fatigue, occur in addition to the pulling, the following symptoms should be considered and a doctor should be consulted immediately:

Pulmonary Embolism
Pneumonia or pleurisy
Pneumothorax

Pulling in the left breast with radiation into the armpit can have different causes. More frequent than the often feared heart attack are muscular tensions. Depending on the location, the muscles in the armpit can also be affected.

If the axillary lymph nodes are swollen at the same time (palpable hardening), women should consult their gynecologist for clarification. If the pulling does not only radiate into the armpit, additional pain in the left arm may be a sign of a heart attack. During the menopause, a woman’s body undergoes hormonal changes and alterations.

In addition to the “classic” symptoms such as hot flashes or sweating, some women suffer from pain in the breast tissue. Pulling, pricking or pressing can occur on both sides, but also, for example, only in the left breast. The breast area can also be very sensitive to touch, so that e.g. close-fitting bras can be worn only very unwillingly.However, if the symptoms persist, affected women should consult their gynecologist.

In this way, other causes for the pulling can be excluded. There is also the possibility of hormone therapy to positively influence the hormonal imbalance during the menopause. Many women report feelings of tension, pulling or burning in the breast area during their pregnancy.

Especially in the beginning, a pulling in the breasts can be particularly persistent. Due to the hormonal changes, the breast tissue changes so that breast milk can be produced at the end of the pregnancy. Typically, this happens more or less symmetrically, so that complaints usually occur on both sides.

However, one-sided pulling, e.g. in the left breast, can also occur and initially offers no cause for concern. If the one-sided complaints increase, those affected should nevertheless consult a doctor. You can read more information on this topic here: Breast pain during pregnancy