How to Find your Perfect Bra Size

You may have noticed that your bra doesn’t fit properly, and this causes some discomfort. So you feel some squeezing around your chest and digging into your back. These are signs of an ill-fitting bra. A tight bra can limit your movement, cause pain, and wear out quickly.

You’ll know that your bra is too small if your breasts are not fitting comfortably in the cups or underwire. You also know that your bra is loose if your breasts slip out of the cups in the front or on the sides. Let`s look at a few more ways to know if your bra is too tight.

8 Signs that your Bra Is Too Tight

Your Skin Is Exasperated or Chafing

Skin issues like folliculitis, hives, heat rash, and dermatitis can occur as a result of the tight bra that you wear. You can develop hives on your body after much physical pressure on the skin. You may also have heat rashes when your sweat ducts are blocked.

Body Ache

When the cup is too small and the band is too loose, your bra may just be uncomfortable, and this may cause back and shoulder pain.

Acid Reflux

Tight clothing on the abdomen can increase intra-abdominal pressure and cause acid reflux due to the pressure on the body. This pressure causes the acid to move from the stomach into the lower esophagus.

Shortness of Breath

Tight bras can cause shortness of breath, as they reduce chest movement and the effectiveness of your breathing.

Overheating and Sweaty

This could be due to a tight band that restricts breathing, or some other fit issue. If your bra makes your body overheated and sweaty, then be sure it`s not the perfect size for you.

Neck Pain

If your bra isn’t doing the work, you may find that the rest of your body is supporting your chest. This extra support may cause your neck muscles to hurt, thereby causing neck pain.

Dangers for the Lymphatic System

Bras affect the lymphatic nerve system which is supposed to take toxins out of the body. Failure to eliminate the toxins causes them to stay in the mammary glands, posing the risk of cancer.

Pain or Irritation under your Breasts

If you have a red, itchy, or irritated line under your boobs, then the underwire of your bra may not be the best for you. The bra may be old, or the fabric overlying the underwire has worn thin, causing that sensitive area of skin to be exposed to the underwire

How to Fix Tight Bras

Move up a Notch

Try using a bra extender if your tight bras are on the last sets of hooks and you`re not ready to get a new one. If you’re on the first sets of hooks, moving to the next sets will give you more breathing room.

Adjust your Straps

Making your bra straps longer will prevent band or straps from digging into your skin. Remember that most of a bra’s support comes from the band, not the straps or cups.

Wear Different Sizes

Age, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, among other factors are responsible for various bra sizes. You may try out two or more different bra sizes, and decide on the one that fits best.

Some Breast Health Tips

Beyond wearing the right bra, these breast health tips will do your breasts some good. Let`s explore them.

A Lump May Not Be as Bad as you Think

What we hear about lumps makes us freak out when we find them during a breast examination. Rest assured that four out of five lumps you feel in your breast are benign. It is important to always see a doctor whenever you feel a lump.

Get Enough Sleep

Staying up more than normal exposes you to more light, thereby stifling your melatonin levels. You`re advised to get about eight hours of sleep every night for your breast health and overall health.

Know How your Body Works

It`s advisable you do periodic self-examinations. This helps you to get familiar with how your breast looks and feels. That way, you can easily detect if there are changes. The best time to do self-examination is when your breasts are neither tender nor swollen. So before or during your period may not be a great time for this self-check.

Take Some Folic Acid

Consuming enough folate is great at repairing DNA. Folate is commonly found in folic acid. Did you know that damaged DNA is linked to an increased risk of cancer? Foods like cereal, grains, spinach, and black-eyed peas are rich in folate. You should have up to to 400 micrograms daily if you`re opting for folic acid.

Reduce Stress

Mental and physical stress can increase your risk of cancer. Also, alcohol intake, overeating, and some other unhealthy habits people turn to when they`re stressed are detrimental to breast and overall health. You`re advised to get enough rest and avoid stressors as much as you can.

Some Breast Facts you Should Know

• Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer for women, coming after lung cancer.
• Breast cancer is not restricted to women; men can get breast cancer too.
• Women can reduce their risk of breast cancer by limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking, watching their weight,  and exercising regularly.
• Massachusetts has the highest number of breast cancer cases in the United States.
• The average woman in the United States wears a size 40 D bra. This is equivalent to about 3 lbs total or 1.5 lbs per breast.
• One breast size is usually about one fifth larger than the other. The left breast is usually slightly larger than the right.
• Breasts usually grow for about two to four years after a girl`s first period.
• Each woman has an equal chance of inheriting her chest size from either parent.
• Your boobs are a complex system of ducts and glands, which also includes your nipple.
• Underneath each breast, you have a muscle and a fibrous tissue that separate it from your ribs.
• After a certain age, your breasts turn into fat, mostly.
• Weight gain can make your boobs larger. If you lose weight, your breasts might shrink, however, this isn’t the same for every woman because some women have denser breasts with less fatty tissue.
• Pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills, breast-feeding,  and even sex can make your breasts swell. They could also grow as much as a full cup size while you`re menstruating.
• Except you undergo corrective surgery, your breasts will sag as you age. Smoking and stomach sleeping are some other factors that may change the shape of your breasts.
• About 6% of women have a third nipple with extra breast tissue. These extra breasts can lactate and become sensitive during menstruation.
• Humans are the only primates with permanent breasts. We grow breasts before puberty, and they continue to grow and change throughout our lives. They increase in size, especially during menstruation and pregnancy, however, other primates’ breasts grow only when they’re breastfeeding.
• There are four types of nipples: protruding, flat, puffy, and inverted; and these are all normal.
• The average breast weighs between one and two pounds.
• The first breast augmentation surgery took place in 1962. It’s currently the most popular kind of plastic surgery in the United States.