Keeping abreast of man boobs: When you should see a doctor or hit the gym
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Keeping abreast of man boobs: When y'all should come across a medico or hit the gym
While weight gain is a mutual cause, there are other medical weather condition that tin can cause men to develop breasts, as well.
(Screen grab: Fight Club)
17 April 2022 06:30AM (Updated: xiv Aug 2022 02:05PM)
If you've caught the motion picture Fight Club, you might recall the ex-wrestler and bodybuilder (recollect the rallying call, "His name was Robert Paulson"?) who adult breasts caused by steroid abuse and testicular cancer.
But unlike Paulson's pendulous pair, most cases of gynaecomastia or enlarged chest tissues in boys or men are "a rubbery or firm mass that starts from underneath the nipple and so spreads outwards over the chest surface area", according to the Singapore General Infirmary (SGH) website.
And there may be accompanying discomfort or tenderness.
Although man boobs may feel different from women'southward, all breasts consist of fat, connective tissue, glands and ducts, said Dr Mok Shao Feng, consultant endocrinologist with the National University Infirmary (NUH).
"In men, the excessive growth of the same glandular tissue (that is, the glands and ducts) results in the enlargement of the breasts, giving ascent to gynaecomastia," he said.
Hormonal disruption tin can be one of the causes of male breasts – and it needn't be caused past substance abuse, similar Paulson.
"Medications, organ damage (for case, kidney or liver failure) or some rare forms of cancers may lower the levels or activity of the male person hormone testosterone.
Or they may elevate levels of the female hormone oestrogen in the male person patient," said Dr Mok.
Weight gain is the virtually mutual reason why men grow boobs. But it isn't only considering of the increased fat; there'due south likewise a hormonal link.
Existence overweight may increment a human's levels of oestrogen, which can crusade chest tissue to grow, noted the UK wellness website NHS.com.
Nonetheless, Dr Mok termed such weight-related cases as pseudo or imitation gynaecomastia.
"The distinction tin simply be made by a doc via physical test of the breast. Sometimes, an ultrasound browse may exist necessary to ostend the diagnosis," he said.
And aye, information technology can exist "breast" every bit gynaecomastia may bear on only i instead of both sides of the chest, according to NHS.com.
Fifty-fifty Male person NEWBORNS Tin can Become BOOBS
Males of whatever age tin can develop man boobs, even newborns, according to the SGH website.
Male person babies may accept high oestrogen levels at birth as the hormone passes through the placenta from their mothers to them.
Nevertheless, this is temporary and will disappear a few weeks after the baby'south commitment, noted the website.
By and large, the majority of patients tend to be boys "at near 18 to 21 years former" and "almost all are puberty and obesity related," said Professor Lee Kok Onn, senior consultant at NUH'southward Division of Endocrinology.
Dr Mok added that for these adolescents, the boobs are caused by puberty's fluctuating testosterone and oestrogen levels, and "usually resolve spontaneously within six to 12 months".
Usually, teenage homo boobs clear up on their own after the hormonal levels stabilise. They are uncommon across the age of 17 years, as mentioned on the SGH website.
Just the risks of developing male breasts aren't express to this stage in life. "All races and all lifestyles tin can be afflicted, and the main factor is the excess fat tissue in the chest," said Prof Lee.
"It tin be from the fat redistribution that happens with ageing and a decrease in activity. This can happen as early equally sixty years old."
The most extreme case that Prof Lee has encountered is a male patient with loving cup D-sized breasts. And if you're wondering, man boobs aren't measured in terms of bra sizes. At least not medically.
Fatty redistribution aside, men as well produce less testosterone with age.
This, coupled with more oestrogen from the accumulated torso fat, means some other round of hormonal upheaval that can cause excess breast tissue growth, according to the NHS website.
WHEN SHOULD Yous Meet A Medico?
Man boobs are less reason to be concerned with if they occur during belatedly puberty or in someone in his 70s who used to be overweight, said Prof Lee.
Having said that, it is not usual for males to develop gynaecomastia, he added.
"It is e'er good to run into a family unit doctor if a human is worried, no matter his age."
If no medical condition is backside the breast development and the patient isn't too bothered by their appearance, the dr. may advise to leave them be, said Dr Mok.
"There is currently no evidence to suggest that gynaecomastia alone raises the run a risk of chest cancer.
"Breast cancer is generally rare in men and accounts for less than i per cent of all chest cancer worldwide."
However, there is cause for concern if in that location are symptoms such as hurting and/or rapid breast enlargement with "singled-out and hard lumps which may suggest underlying cancer disease", said Dr Mok, who urged them to seek early medical attending.
The treatment depends on what the medical cause is, continued Dr Mok, who explained that surgery is normally the last resort.
"For example, men found to accept inadequate testosterone levels may receive testosterone replacement.
"If excessive oestrogens are found to be contributing to the problem, the patient may be prescribed oral tamoxifen to block the effects of the hormone.
"Tamoxifen is the same medication used in some female patients in the treatment of oestrogen-sensitive breast cancer."
According to the SGH website, upwards to 50 to 80 per cent of patients accept managed to partially reduce their chest size with such medications.
The website also mentioned that when surgery is used, the chest is either partially or completely removed while preserving the nipple and the overlying skin.
Liposuction may or may not exist used.
"Since many men present with pseudo gynaecomastia related to obesity, the all-time prevention is weight direction with regular physical activities and a balanced diet that provides calories to match the patient'southward daily requirements," said Dr Mok.
Still, Prof Lee warned that if the diagnosis is truthful gynaecomastia, surgery may exist the simply viable way as there isn't much that weight loss and medicines tin can do.
"Gynecomastia normally consists of a mixture of fibrous tissue, fatty tissue, and some glandular tissue, and so exercise will not help."
And gents, similar women's breasts, man boobs can also worsen with fourth dimension and gravity, said Prof Lee.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/man-boobs-when-you-should-see-a-doctor-or-go-to-gym-249866
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