Breasts Feel Full
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Your breasts can feel full or tight for many reasons usually involving changes in your hormonal status. If your breasts feel full or tight with your menstrual cycles this is very normal and does not require evaluation by a physician. Also during pregnancy it is normal for your breasts to fell full and/or tight. Weight gain will also cause these symptoms. However, if one side feels fuller and tighter over a short period of time this is not normal and a physician evaluation and possibly some imaging such as mammogram or ultrasound will be advised depending on other factors.

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Headache

Generally, Breasts feel full can be related to:

• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

  PMS refers to physical or mood changes that occur shortly before menstruation and typically resolve a few days after. PMS symptoms generally recur with each menstrual cycle and can negatively affect the women's normal life. PMS consists of both mental and physical symptoms, occurring 3-10 days before menstruation. Symptoms start to improve once menstruation begins. The cause of PMS is poorly understood, but is related to fluctuations in levels of female hormones. PMS can worsen underlying mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

• Gynecomastia

  A condition in which abnormal hormone levels cause males to develop female characteristics, such as breast enlargement. Common causes include medications and brain tumors.

• Migraine

  A type of headache that typically presents as throbbing, pulsating pain on one side of the head, sometimes with associated nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Sometimes, sensory disturbances, such as vision changes (seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines), can occur before the headache. The pain may worsen on exposure to bright lights or loud noise. Triggers for migraine include stress, poor sleep, caffeine, and hormonal changes in women.