is your bra making you ill?
Headaches, painful joints and even tummy troubles . . .
DO YOU suffer from sore shoulders, a stiff neck or perhaps frequent headaches? Maybe upper back pai n, indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome is the bane of your life?
If any of these ailments sound all too familiar, you may be surprised to hear t hat t he 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.
The majority of women they surveyed said they had never been fitted for a bra. Others admitted they had bought the wrong size because they wanted a particular style or colour and their size was out of stock.
Some even deliberately bought bras in the wrong size in the hope it would boost or minimise their cleavage. But this habit can have some serious health consequences, say experts.
From straps that slice i nto your shoulders to loose bra cups, Life & Style examines the surprising health problems of a badly fitted 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.
Several studies have also concluded that bras that are too tight can cause lumps or lesions on the skin. These are caused by the hooks on the back of bras digging into the skin.
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 l oose, 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 i nto the flesh and pulling the shoulders and spine f orward, 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.
ILL-FITTING UNDERWIRING
UnderwIreS that dig into your skin or chafe can rub skin raw and even compromise delicate breast implants and recent breast surgery, says ash Mosahebi.
‘Underwiring can dig into the ribs, t oo, causing discomfort and bruising,’ adds Sammy Margo.
Underwires should sit firmly on the rib cage at the front and sides, cupping the breasts.
They should nOT sit on or dig into your breast tissue.
To check your underwires are the correct size for you, put the bra on and press on the wires.
If they spring back, they are sitting on the breast tissue and you need a bigger cup size.
never continue wearing a bra in which the underwire has started to work free as these are sharp and can easily cut you.
THE WRONG SHAPE
dIfferenT styles of bra flatter and give more support to various silhouettes, according to Julia Mercer. Choosing the right one can only help with self- confidence, comfort and fighting the damage that gravity can cause.
If you have broad shoulders and a gap between your breasts, a balconette bra — one that lifts the breasts upwards from underneath — will be best.
If you have narrow shoulders and very little gap between your breasts, a plunge bra — one that pushes the breasts together — is a better option.
Very large, heavy breasts will benefit from the firm support of bras with multi-part cups — made from two or more pieces of fabric seamed together.
Padded bras are great for giving women with small breasts a bit of ‘va-va-voom’ — and, if the pads are removable, can be really helpful for balancing uneven breast sizes.
don’t be tempted to wear a firmfitting sports bra constantly— it can cause breathing problems if worn when you are not exercising.
These are designed to hold the breasts in place during a gym class or while jogging, but should not be over-used because they are much more constrictive than ordinary bras.
GOING WITHOUT A SPORTS BRA
reSearCh from the University of Portsmouth suggests breasts move an astonishing average of 10cm to 15cm in three or more directions when we exercise, so a supportive sports bra is a must if you want to avoid breast pain.
There are various types of sports bra: some compress the breasts closer to the chest to stop them moving, which are great if you have a larger bust; others that lift, separate and hold the breasts firmly in position are more suited to smaller busts.
To find the right sports bra for you, Professor Joanna Scurr at the University’s research group in breast health suggests trying on several, then jumping up and down and stretching to see which bra offers the best support.
don’t forget that sports bras — as with all bras — will lose their elasticity over time.