Man Boobs (Gynecomastia)
What is gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is the term given to what is commonly referred to as “man boobs”. Most common in men and boys, gynecomastia is state where the breasts or areas particularly around the nipple swell and become abnormally large. It's important to note that it is completely normal for both men and women to have breast glands, however the enlarged male breast is more common during puberty for boys, or in older men that have a lower level of testosterone.
What are the symptoms of gynecomastia?
It is very easy to see or feel if gynecomastia is present. There will usually be a cluster of firm, almost rubbery mass underneath the nipple. Although size of this mass can fluctuate, it will usually be less than a half an inch in diameter. You can feel this out by gently using your thumb and index finger to lightly squeeze around the nipple. Be aware that this could be tender, and if it is you may want to get this examined by a medical professional.
5 things to Avoid
What is the cause of gynecomastia?
There exist a number of reasons that can be attributed to developing gynecomastia. Most commonly it will occur with wither a hormonal imbalance, or carrying excess weight, or a combination of both. Low testosterone production can place the male body into a state of producing more estrogen, which is the female hormone responsible for breast development. Carrying too much weight may also lead to clusters of fat accumulating under the breasts also. There are other factors that may be increasing the likelihood of gynecomastia developing too such as beer drinking, cigarette smoking, taking some prescription medications, or crash dieting.
How to get rid of gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is very common, and it actually happens to every male in some degree, as a natural part of growing older due to diminishing levels of testosterone. The good news is in most cases you can get rid of it fairly easy with a few lifestyle adjustments, and without the need for costly surgery.
Here are a few ways to get rid of gynecomastia
Go to the gym regularly:- Testosterone levels will respond to the need to develop more muscle. Try adding some form of resistance weight training to your regime to build your muscles, and raise your testosterone level requirements over time.
Pay more attention to your diet:- Try to eliminate processed foods, high sugar foods, and high soy based foods. Instead, as much as you can, replace these with higher good fat foods such as lean red meat, avocado, fish oil, and nuts.
Get a better sleep:- There is significant evidence to correlate bad sleep patterns with lower testosterone levels. If you can, try schedule your sleeping patterns to consistently get 6-8 hours of sleep per night.
