Is your bra making you ill?
Do you suffer from sore shoulders, a stiff neck or perhaps frequent headaches? Maybe upper back pain, indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome is the bane of your life?
If any of these ailments sounds all too familiar, you may be surprised to hear that the source of your niggling health problems and discomfort could be your bra.
According to recent research by bra manufacturer Triumph, 76 per cent of us are wearing the wrong size bra, despite being inundated with reminders from the clothing industry to get measured.
BRA TOO SMALL
Physiotherapist Sammy Margo, spokesperson for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, says: ‘I often find a direct link between my female patients’ back, neck and postural problems — and their bras.
‘If a bra is too tight, it can create pressure on the nerves, muscles and blood vessels around the shoulders, upper back and rib cage, leading to pain, headaches, and even constant pins and needles in the arms.’
Even more seriously, over time, too tight bra straps worn day in and day out can start to squash the acromioclavicular joint — which is at the top of the shoulder — affecting its range of movement and the function of the arm, along with constant pain.
BRA TOO BIG
But if you thought it was just too small bras that you have to worry about, think again. Bras that are too loose and cups that are too roomy can cause just as many problems.
‘Wearing a bra that doesn’t support the breasts efficiently can lead to postural problems, such as rounded or hunched shoulders, as the woman will naturally sit and stand awkwardly to compensate for her unsupportive, ill-fitting bra,’ says Sammy Margo.
‘If your cup size is a C or larger, the problems with wearing a loose, unsupportive bra can be even worse.
‘Larger, poorly supported breasts will sit on the rib cage, putting pressure on the diaphragm, which can cause you breathing problems.
‘The weight of the breasts combined with poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle can even exacerbate digestive problems, such as heartburn and IBS.’
Consultant plastic surgeon and breast specialist Ash Mosahebi, a spokesperson for the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), says: ‘Breasts don’t contain any muscle. They are made up of fat, glands and milk ducts, and are held in position by skin and a network of fine ligaments and connective tissue.
‘If you persistently wear a bra that is the wrong size and doesn’t support the breasts correctly, gravity, pregnancy, hormone and weight fluctuations and even exercise can stretch the skin, structure and supportive ligaments of the breasts more than usual.
‘The danger is that this can wreak havoc on the size, shape and appearance of your breasts.’
TIGHT BRA STRAPS
If a bra feels loose or unsupportive, many women will simply tighten the shoulder straps — often with painful results.
‘The most common misconception of all about bras is that the straps are there to hold up our breasts,’ says Marks & Spencer’s top bra fitting expert, Julia Mercer.
‘Very few women realise that they are actually the least important part of the bra.
‘In fact, nearly all the support a bra offers should come from the band that runs around the rib cage and the bra cups.
‘The straps are just there to hold everything else in position.’
Tight straps can place enormous pressure on the shoulders, cutting into the flesh and pulling the shoulders and spine forward, causing pressure on nerves and even affecting shoulder flexibility. Cervicogenic headaches — headaches linked to the neck muscles and joints — are common, too.
And women who constantly wear tight bra straps may also develop a permanent, unsightly groove in each shoulder.
TIPS TO FIND THE PERFECT FIT
The best advice is to get fitted professionally with a bra that works with your physique.Thanks to weight gain and loss, hormonal fluctuations and pregnancy, a woman can wear up to six bra sizes throughout her life — so experts suggest checking your bra size every year.
Most lingerie retailers offer free measuring services.
Julia Mercer, bra fit expert for Marks & Spencer, offers her top tips to buying bras:
The underband — the stretchy fabric that runs under your breasts and around your rib cage — is the most important part of the bra, as it supplies 80 per cent of the support for your breasts.
Check the underband fits firmly around your chest on the loosest row of hooks. It should not slide around as you move, nor should it pinch or affect your breathing.
You should be able to get two fingers under the band. You can check if it’s a good fit by sliding off the shoulder straps once you have the bra on. The underband and cups should stay in position and continue to support the breasts.
The front section of the bra, between your breasts, should not gape, but sit flat on the chest.
To check you have the right cup size, stand side on to a mirror. Your breasts should not be hanging over the top or sides of the cups, or escaping underneath.
The straps are the least important support element in the bra. They should not dig into your shoulders. If you have to tighten the straps to support your breasts, the underband is too loose and you need a smaller bra.
Read more: dailymail.co.uk
Source: DailyMail
