Are there harmful side effects of wearing a bra? Is it bad to wear a bra all the time? Here’s everything you need to know about the effect of a bra.
When it comes to dressing even the bra you wear is important. Many women think that the tighter the bra, the better it is.
For most women, wearing a tight bra has become a habit; it is rarely identified as a problem. In fact, women aren’t even aware of the side effects of wearing a wrong-sized bra. So, it is high time that women educate themselves on the importance of getting the correct bra size. This seemingly minor change does wonders for a woman’s body in the long run.
Often, women end up wearing a bra that’s too tight because they don’t know what their correct size is! You could loosen the straps if your bra feels too tight, but knowing your fit is a must. Brands are tricky. And sizes of bras differ from brand to brand. So there is really no one size you can wear. Also, your boob size fluctuates too. So, there is no one way of knowing what bra suits you. Hence, it is important to measure yourself correctly and buy the perfect size to feel comfortable and confident.
Remember, there is a bra for every breast size. Even if your breasts are heavier, you do not need to fit them into a smaller bra to get the perfect coverage and support.
Tight bras give you a fuller and more enhanced bust and more importantly, gives support and shape. Some women are so used to wearing bras that they even wear one when they sleep!
There are a lot of misinformation and myths that tighter bras are better for breast shape and even health. By believing these notions, women are keeping the myth alive and suffering for it! It is time to debunk these myths and be more aware of what our bodies need. And that definitely doesn’t include tight bras.
80% of women wear the wrong size of bra – study reveals
A study was conducted by the University of Hospital of Wales where 100 pre-menopausal women were asked to go bra-less for three months and then wear a bra for another three months. This study found that health issues related to breasts and breast pain went up when the participants were wearing a bra. Although well-endowed women need bras to support their breasts, the straps of the bra can cause painful indentations and discomfort. And many women wear wrong-sized bras, which is worse.
According to a study, about 80% of women wear the wrong size bras. Many purchase the wrong sized bras because they do not find attractive ones in their size or they do not know how to measure the breasts or are just plain lazy to find the right one. Wearing a wrong-sized bra negatively affects your health, It can result in pinched nerves, skin rashes, sagging of breasts, neck pain, and stiff back. A study suggested that wearing the wrong size bra throughout the day can suppress the lymphatic system. Many women complain of several health issues due to wearing a bra that is not properly fitting.
Here are a few tight-bra problems that almost every woman has faced at some point. For some, these might even be everyday problems others too are utterly clueless about it.
1. Bras can cause chronic pain in your neck, shoulders and back
Busting the myth that the cups of your bra offer you support, it’s actually the straps and the back of your bra that take up the work. If the bra is ill-fitting, you may suffer from chronic back pain and a pinched nerve in the neck.
2. Poor blood circulation
This is an often-overlooked side effect of wearing a tight bra. If the fit is too snug and the shoulder straps dig into the skin, many women suffer extreme pain in the neck and shoulders. This pressure on the neck can cause stiffness, cervical pains, shoulder, and backaches, as well as headaches! Improper blood circulation in the chest region is another side effect. For all you know, your poor sleep quality at night might be a side effect of wearing tight bras.
3. Bras can affect the lymphatic system
In a study conducted at Bristol University, bras are seen to have affected the lymphatic nerve system which functions to take out the toxins in our body. The toxins if not thrown out, can lodge into the mammary glands, giving rise to cancer.
4. An ill-fitting bra puts stress on your bones and muscles causing breathing problems.
Oh. You have already experienced it. But know what? It can become chronic.
5. Tight fitting bras can affect digestion
Tight-fitting fashion bras put more pressure on the diaphragm which can affect the process of digestion.
6. Skin irritation and itching.
Have you noticed that by the end of the workday, you’re frequently adjusting your bra straps and band? This happens when the bra is too tight and causes itching around the breasts. Continued scratching irritates the soft and tender skin around the breasts. Eventually, the discomfort is so great that wearing a bra becomes a nightmare. That’s why you probably can’t wait to get home and rid yourself of that bra you have on.
7. Body marks, lesions and rashes on your skin
Tight bras leave unwanted marks on the body. These are usually at the breast line, shoulders and back. When the bra is too small, it digs into the skin, leaving you restless and uncomfortable. Over time, these marks darken, and removing them becomes a challenge. That’s why you need to throw away those painfully tight bras and wear ones your body can breathe in.
Also, it gives rise to fungal infections if you’re into wearing your bras for the larger part of your day.
8. They can cause mammary gland tissue damage due to constant push of the bra towards inside
Due to being constantly pushed towards the rib cage, the breasts can be internally injured.
What you can do is reduce how many hours you wear your bra.
9. Bras can cause heartburns.
Tight bras yo. Specifically, if they are underwired. They’ll take this revenge on you. So, choose your size wisely.
10. The longer you wear them, the higher are the odds of breast cancer.
In recent years, we have seen an unexpected rise in the rate of breast cancer in India. A French study says that wearing bras for too long (most of us wear them all round the clock) can increase the odds of breast cancer.
11. Sleeping while wearing bras does not keep your boobs in shape.
Well, it doesn’t. On the contrary, it’s highly advised that you sleep without your undergarments on. Let them free yo!
If you are habitual and still feel weird not wearing a bra while sleeping, you can go for a bralette which is not exactly a bra but gives you enough feeling of not being too free.
12. Bras can actually make your breast sag.
Well, there’s no specific proof, but experts say that they affect the way your boobs are, conditioning them to require support all the time. They say it’s better you don’t wear bras longer than 12 hours.
The other negative side effects of wearing a bra are:
Unsightly Spillage
Another tight-bra problem women seem oblivious to is spillage when the breasts pop out above the bra cup. Women mistakenly wear a smaller cup size to make their breasts look smaller. All that does is make the breasts spill out from the tops and sides. Moreover, a cup size too small can tamper with the natural shape of the breasts, and not in an appealing way.
Bad Posture
A good posture speaks volumes about a person, especially for first impressions. If you have a perpetual slouch or hunch your shoulders too often, it may be because of tiredness or a side effect of wearing tight bras. And so, a tight bra might indirectly be robbing you of your energy, alertness, and happiness as it puts unnecessary pressure on your already stressed shoulders.
Style Killer
Women often take too long to dress because their breasts don’t look that great in certain outfits. They start blaming the clothes, not realizing their bras are the culprits. Tight bras can ruin a dress by making the breasts look weird and unshapely. This problem can be fixed by replacing the bra and not the outfit!
Is braless better?
There’s a growing trend, particularly among younger women, to turn to non-wired soft-cup bras, fabric ‘bralettes’, or not wearing a bra. Bralettes in particular have taken the lingerie market by storm with the number of styles of bralettes on the market seeing a 123% increase between 2016 and 2018.
Can bra give you backache?
Wearing a bra doesn’t cause backache but wearing a wrong sized bra can cause many problems. If you are wearing a bra that is too tight, it will restrict your upper body movement and cause stiffness in the back. The place around the bra strap often has stiffness and this can lead to backache. The neck and the shoulders are connected by the muscle called trapezius and an ill-fitted bra does not provide sufficient support. This leads to tightening of the trapezium muscle as it supports the weight of the breasts. This can result in neck, shoulder, and back pain. The tight strap will compress the shoulder nerves, which will lead to tingling of fingers and numbness.
How to find your perfect bra
Every woman will have different criteria for their bra, including style, support, and comfort. The Research Group in Breast Health advocates a ‘best-fit’ approach to finding the right bra, using five key criteria:
- Underband should fit firmly, pulling away about one inch, and be level all around the torso.
- Underwire should follow the breast crease and not sit on any breast tissue.
- Cups should fully encase the breast tissue without bulging or gaping.
- Straps should sit comfortably on the shoulders, pulling away about one inch.
- Centre-front should sit flat against the body.
Conclusion
It is advised that ladies should take good care of themselves and not forget one important and attractive part of their body, the breast. Every good thing has more or a few drawbacks. Just as tight bras can keep your boobs firm for an occasion, it is not also advisable to wear them as they can lead to the aforementioned health issues. Be aware ladies. Take care of yourself. Visit your doctor and talk about it before it’s too late.
