Table of contents:
- Big-chested men are caused by an imbalance in sex hormones
- What causes a man with a big chest?
- 1. Side effects of drugs
- 2. Certain diseases
- What can be done to treat this condition?
Most men would answer "breasts" as one - or two - of their favorite objects. Until one day they found a pair of new breasts growing on their chest.
Big-chested men generally don't have to worry about anything. This condition is also not eternal. This is what you should know about big breasts in men.
Big-chested men are caused by an imbalance in sex hormones
Some men have enlarged breast tissue. In the medical world, this condition is called gynecomastia. Maybe you've heard people call it "man boobs". Gynecomastia is a benign growth of tissue as a result of an imbalance of sex hormones: estrogen and testosterone.
Men have a small amount of the hormone estrogen in their bodies, just like women who have a small ration of testosterone in their bodies. However, when the amount of estrogen in a man's body jumps up compared to his testosterone level, this condition can cause breast tissue to swell.
Seventy percent of boys have this condition during puberty, according to WebMD. Although usually harmless, gynecomastia can be associated with psychological problems (shame and decreased self-esteem) to several health conditions, including substance abuse, certain illnesses, and the use of some medications.
In addition to boys of puberty age, gynecomastia is also seen in newborn boys (due to the effects of their mother's estrogen) and is common among men older than 50, according to Live Science. This condition can be seen in one or both breasts, and tissue growth often occurs unevenly.
When gynecomastia develops, it may be painful, or may be accompanied by tenderness in the breast area, soreness or discharge from one or both nipples. In most cases, this breast enlargement will go away on its own after a few weeks or months, although treatment can be used for gynecomastia conditions that last longer.
What causes a man with a big chest?
Gynecomastia is not caused by extra fat deposits from being overweight. This is caused by additional breast tissue. There is another condition, called pseudogynecomastia, in which fat builds up in the chest, which is sometimes associated with being overweight or obese. Men who are very obese (obese) can have increased levels of estrogen, which can cause breast tissue to grow. You won't be able to feel dense tissue, only fat. The main feature is that both sides of a man's breast are equally affected and sway with your movements when you are walking or running.
Middle-aged and older men can also have enlarged breast tissue, which can be caused by aging (shifting hormone levels) or for other reasons, including:
1. Side effects of drugs
A report from the journal Expert Opinion on Drug Safety estimates that drugs - prescription, recreational, and illegal - such as antibiotics, heart drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, AIDS treatments, tricyclic antidepressants, chemotherapy, and drugs that treat stomach acid cause at least 25 percent of cases of gynecomastia. This is because the ingredients in certain drugs can upset your hormonal balance enough to fill your breasts.
Marijuana, heroin, and alcohol have also been linked to the incidence of large-breasted men. Use of anabolic steroids (common among bodybuilders) is the one most commonly associated with gynecomastia.
Other drugs that have been cited as triggers for gynecomastia include anti-androgens used to treat prostate cancer, calcium channel blockers, and ulcer drugs such as cimetidine.
Herbal products containing tea tree oil or lavender oil can also increase breast size. That's because they have natural estrogens which can interfere with your body's normal hormone levels.
2. Certain diseases
Sometimes, large breasts in men can be a side effect of other health problems besides obesity, such as hyperactive thyroid disorder (hyperthyroidism), kidney disease, or a tumor in one of the glands that control your hormones.
Gynecomastia has been linked to conditions that mess up the body's hormone production such as Klinefelter's syndrome, liver disease, and pituitary insufficiency. Testicular tumors and trauma or infection to the testicles can cause large chested men, as can radiation therapy to the testicles. Cirrhosis of the liver - often seen among people who abuse alcohol - can change hormone levels and cause gynecomastia.
The causes of gynecomastia are not always clear. So, it is always better to have a checkup with a regular doctor or an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in hormonal imbalances.
What can be done to treat this condition?
The doctor will try to rule out other causes of male breast enlargement, such as:
- Cyst
- Lipoma - a benign tumor of body fat
- Mastitis - inflammation of breast tissue
- Breast cancer - gynecomastia is rarely caused by breast cancer
- Hematoma - swelling of blood that clots
- Metastasis - cancer that has spread
- Fat necrosis - lumps resulting from damage to the fatty tissue of the breast
- Hamartoma - a benign tumor-like growth of tissue
If gynecomastia appears to be caused by medication, your doctor may recommend switching to a different medication, stopping the dose, or continuing to use it. If the dose of the drug is not long, this condition will be temporary.
In almost every case of gynecomastia, the tissue swelling will subside on its own without any treatment as hormone levels return to normal. It is very important for doctors to explain this to their patients. Teens who have this condition for no apparent reason will be advised to make regular appointments to see if the breast enlargement subsides on its own.
If the condition doesn't go away in a few years, causing embarrassment, pain and / or pain, treatment may be needed. Treatment for gynecomastia is rare, and may involve one of two options: medications such as hormone therapy to block the effects of estrogen, or breast reduction and liposuction surgery. Tissue removal surgery is intended to provide permanent results, so you need to keep a healthy lifestyle to keep your new body shape in top shape. Drastic weight gain, taking steroids, or taking drugs that affect your testosterone levels can cause the large-chested male to recur.
