How does fibrocystic breast disease develop?
The cause of fibrocystic changes is related to the way breast tissue responds to monthly changes in the levels of estrogen and progesterone, female hormones produced by the ovaries during a woman’s reproductive years. Each month during a menstrual cycle, the breast tissue swells and returns to normal. Hormonal stimulation of the breast tissue causes the milk glands and ducts to enlarge and the breasts to retain water. Dietary factors, including consumption of caffeine, excessive saturated fats and salts, also may increase the risk of developing fibrocystic breast disease. In addition, with female-related conditions, an estradiol excess (which can occur by taking oral contraceptives or other synthetic forms of estrogen) often is found to be part of the patient’s physiology. Knowing that the development of the disease may be closely linked to this factor, natural medicine practioners always address this excess in treating fibrocystic breast disease. What are the symptoms of fibrocystic b
