All about breasts
BREASTS come in different shapes and sizes, but there are certain things that are standard for all women, and others that affect just a few.
Regardless of your cup size, breast health should remain a top priority. Below we answer a few questions you may have about your breasts.
Why do they feel sore?
When breasts become tender or swollen it could be that you are pregnant, ovulating, experiencing PMS symptoms, are on your period or close to it, or have fibrocystic breast disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, fibrocystic breast changes lead to the development of fluid-filled round or oval sacs and more prominent scar-like (fibrous) tissue, which can make breasts feel tender, lumpy or ropy. If the tenderness worsens over the course of several weeks and the affected breast becomes discoloured, giving the breast a red, purple, pink or bruised appearance, then it might be cancer.
My breasts leak and I’m not nursing. What’s happening?
Non-pregnancy-related discharge can occur in breasts from stimulation, whether squeezing or sucking. According to laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon Dr Alfred Dawes, depending on whether the issue is in one breast or two, the diagnosis is different. “If it occurs in the two breasts you have to worry about pituitary problems, hormonal problems. If it is one, it could be a growth in one of the tubes in the breast, or a widening of the area of the tubes (ductal ectasia) or the growth could be benign papilloma. An ultrasound has to be done as well as pituitary tests,” he said. If you’re not pregnant, see a doctor.
Can I lift my breasts naturally?
As women age, what was once firm and plump breasts may begin to sag. According to Rohan Gordon, personal trainer at Eden Gardens, there are various exercises that can be done to have firmer breasts. Simple push-ups can help. “These are very effective and are key to improving your chest and back. Doing four sets every other day should be good. Doing push-ups will work the pectoralis major and minor muscles, which will give you the lift,” he said.
Can I lose weight from my breasts?
While breasts are made up of mainly fat, Dr Jomo James, internist, said weight can be lost from breasts, particularly if you’re overweight. “The breast can have a lot of adipose (fat) tissue that can be reduced just like fat in any other areas with diet and exercise,” Dr James said. He added that particular chest exercises like the bench press will make you more muscular but will reduce fat in the breast or chest area. Dr James also said that mammoplasty or breast reduction surgery can reduce breast size.
What does an inverted nipple mean?
Dr James said nipple inversion can be congenital (born with) or acquired. “Underlying tissue damage, fibrosis from infection, inflammation or worse, cancer, can cause nipple inversion,” he said. But he maintained that once a distortion in the breast nipple occurs, it should be investigated.
Is it normal for one of my breasts to be larger than the other?
Dr James said this is called breast asymmetry and more than often it is normal.
“Up to 25 per cent of women have asymmetric breasts, which is likely due to limitation of growth during puberty or from trauma, infection or surgery,” he said. But, he explained that if such discrepancy is large, then it could be a disease in the larger breast such as cancer, mass, cyst or abscess.
–Kimberley Hibbert
