Taking care of your breasts is just as important as taking care of your body or face. Respect for this area involves wearing the right underwear, UV protection, balanced nutrition and regular check-ups by a specialist. However, even with the most careful implementation of each item from this list, the breast can undergo visible changes, which are extremely important to pay attention to in a timely manner. Together with the oncologist at the Clinic of Academician Roitberg, member of the Russian Society of Mammologists Elena Nikolaevna Zhukova, we understand the most common breast transformations that should not go unnoticed.
Many moles
Moles on the skin of the breast are no more dangerous than their presence on any other part of the body. But if the mole begins to change shape or color, it is better to be examined by a dermatologist who will conduct a dermatoscopy to determine the degree of changes in the nevus and determine how to proceed in the situation that has arisen.
Breasts change size during menstruation
Changes in the shape and density of the breast during menstruation is normal from a physiological point of view, but these sensations should be painless or cause minimal discomfort. If your period is accompanied by chest pain or a feeling of heaviness, you need to urgently consult with a mammologist.
One breast is larger than the other
Every person has physiological asymmetry. For example, in a right-handed person, the right hand is slightly larger than the left, and the right lung is larger than the left. The same story is with the mammary glands, only in her case it all depends on the amount of glandular tissue in the breast. Slight asymmetry can be corrected by choosing the right underwear, but pronounced asymmetry should be discussed with your doctor.
You have implants
If you have implants, you can no longer have a mammogram, which is the main method of screening for breast cancer. But he has a replacement - ultrasound. Breasts with implants must be diagnosed every year by a mammologist with an ultrasound examination. Magnetic resonance imaging is often prescribed for a deeper check in the presence of implants in the breast.
Cyst in the chest
The presence of a cyst in the mammary gland indicates the presence of mastopathy, and here it is definitely impossible to do without the intervention of a specialist. Only a doctor will be able to determine the severity of mastopathy and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Bumps on the nipples
Lactation tubercles are the exit points of the ducts of the mammary glands, which every woman has. But the presence of secretions from them is already a pathology that requires consultation with a mammologist.
Chest hair
Soft vellus hair around the areola is an absolute norm for the female body. If the hair suddenly began to actively grow for a short time or changed color and stiffness, this may signal the presence of hormonal imbalances (see also: "Hormonal imbalance: how to recognize and prevent it").
Breast trauma
The mammary gland is a delicate organ that needs careful handling. For example, trauma to the breast with the formation of a hematoma can cause fibrosis, which is often the cause of the development of cancer.
Dangerous signals
Any changes in the breast and on its surface are dangerous. Immediate medical attention requires breast formation, redness and retraction of the skin, pain and discharge from the nipples.
About linen and nutrition
Incorrectly shaped underwear can cause discomfort and pain, as well as problems with the muscle corset due to improper chest position. However, as a rule, wearing an uncomfortable bra cannot cause the development of dangerous breast diseases (see also: "How to choose a bra").
The need for underwear during sports is influenced by the size of the breast, its shape and tissue sensitivity. It is important to know that regular exercise is the prevention of mastopathy and, accordingly, breast tumors.
As for nutrition, we hasten to disappoint you: there is no food that affects breast augmentation. Of course, the shape and size of your breasts can change if you eat a lot of sweets and starchy foods. But at the same time, both body weight and the amount of adipose tissue in the mammary gland will increase, which will change the breast, but not for the better.
About the expert:
Elena Nikolaevna Zhukova
Photo: Getty Images
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