Breast health is every woman’s responsibility.
Breast health begins with a sense of what’s normal for your breasts (breast awareness). To promote breast health, consider doing regular breast self-exams. With practice, you’ll discover how your breasts vary in sensitivity and texture at different times during your menstrual cycle.
For many women, breast health includes concerns about breast lumps, breast pain or nipple discharge. Know what’s normal — and when to consult your doctor. It’s also important to understand common screening and diagnostic tests for breast health, such as clinical breast exams, mammograms and breast ultrasounds.
If you’re thinking about breast augmentation or breast reduction, understand the surgical process — including who’s a candidate for surgery, what to expect from the procedure and possible complications.
No matter your age, to keep your breasts healthy it helps to learn what’s normal and what’s not. It will put you on the lookout for changes that could be signs of trouble. Just like any part of your body, find out what to expect at different stages of life.
What’s Normal, What’s Not
You may sometimes worry that your breasts don’t look “right.” But most of the things women are concerned about are not actually that unusual. For example, it’s completely normal if:
- Your breasts are slightly different sizes.
- One breast hangs slightly lower than the other.
- You have hair around your nipples.
- Your breasts hurt or feel tender before and during your period.
Tell your doctor if you see any unusual changes, though. For example, make an appointment if you notice:
- A firm lump you’ve never felt before
- Swelling around your breast, collarbone, or armpit
- Dry, cracked, red, or thickened skin (like an orange peel) around your nipple
- Blood or fluid (besides milk) leaking from your nipples
- Warmth or itching in your breasts
These symptoms don’t always mean something’s wrong, but it’s important to get checked out by a doctor. They may be harmless changes, or they may be caused by an irritation or infection that can be easily treated. Rarely, they can be signs of cancer.
Okay back to positive vibes.
If you always thought there were only two kinds of boobs—big or small—your mind is about to be blown. women have one of nine different sets of boobs.
While all types of boobs are perfectly normal and beautifully imperfect, knowing your boob shape can help you get the best bra fit. Having amazing breasts is something all women would love, regardless of their shape and size, and there are a few tricks we have up our sleeves to have them look gorgeous.
Asymmetric: One breast is larger than the other; ranges from minor (barely noticeable) to more pronounced (as above)
Tip: Bras with removable pads, so you can wear a pad (or two) on the smaller side to even our your look.
Bell Shape: Generally heavier breasts: narrower at the top, then drastically fuller toward the bottom.
Tip: Full coverage styles. Because the boobs are heavier, they can drag down the shoulders, causing the straps to slip and reduce support.
East West: A gentle slope from top to bottom, but out to the sides; nipples point in opposite directions.
Tip: Push-uo or Tshirt styles, which flatter your natural shape while comfortably bringing your boobs closer together.
Side Set: A wide space in between the two breasts; nipples point a little more forward than East West.
Tip: Balconette styles, which have more fabric above the cups to disguise a larger gap between breasts.
Slender: A little wider at the top, narrower at the bottom; generally skinny without a lot of breast tissue.
Tip: Plunge styles, with or without push-up material. The plunge helps pull the boobs toward the middle to create a bit of cleavage.
Tear Drop: Similar to Bell Shape but with a much gentler slope; easily identifiable from the side.
Tip: Plunge styles, with or without push-up material. The deeper neckline and cups create lift, which help fill in the shallower top of the breasts.
Athletic: Wider and more muscular with less tissue.
Tip: A classic push-up bra is the best choice to create the illusion of curves.
Relaxed: Nipples that point downwards. The tissue in the breast fells quite lax.
Tip: Push-up bra to lift the breast and give some confidence boosting shape.
Round: Lucky you! Equally full on top and bottom; often surgically enhanced, but not always.
Tip: Balconette styles, which show off your perky shape. Consider Round boobs to bras as the oval face to haircut. They can pull off anything.
Like many women, you may not have stopped to think about your breast health until you had reason to, such as noticing a breast change that concerned you.
Knowing about your breasts and how they function can help you understand the normal changes that may occur during your lifetime. This could help you pinpoint any unusual breast changes and know when it’s time to discuss changes with a health care provider.
Tips for better breast health
- Maintain a healthy body weight
Maintain a BMI less than 23 throughout your life. Weight gain and obesity may increase your risk of breast cancer. - Make time for regular exercise
Adopt an active lifestyle. Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate aerobic activity at least five days per week. - Minimise or avoid alcohol
Alcohol is one of the most well established dietary risk factor for breast cancer. Women who consume more than two glasses of alcohol a day are at higher risk. - Quit smoking
The risk of many cancers, including breast cancer, and other health problems increases if you smoke. - Eat more veggies
Consume more cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), dark leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, citrus fruits, pomegranate, berries and cherries. - Target motherhood
Target to have your first child before 30. Mothers who breastfeed their babies for six months or longer may have a slightly lower risk of developing breast cancer.
Ways to maintain breast shape
- Sleep on your back.
Try to sleep as often as you can on your back at night to avoid developing wrinkles on your breasts. Sleeping on them will get your wrinkles over there and that’s the last thing you need.
- Massages aren’t weird!
Massaging your breasts regularly helps enhance their shape, size and overall attractiveness. Don’t be shy and give it a try! We recommend you massage your breasts right after having a shower, it’ll do wonders.
- Use moisturizer.
Applying moisturizer to your breast regularly, whether it’s after you’ve had a shower or on a daily basis will help keeping them soft and your skin glowing.
- A healthy blood circulation.
The best way to keep your breasts firm and amazing is to apply hot and then cold water while you’re having a shower.
- The right one?
Women out there, listen up! Most of us are wearing the wrong bra and that only results in having your breasts look awkward or not at their best. Make sure you try on different bras at home to know which one works best for you. It has to be the right mix of comfortable and giving your breasts the perfect shape. We’ll talk about that in more details later on.
- Keep it straight!
We’ve noticed that most women out there don’t keep their back straight, which results in not only a terrible posture but also not so amazing breasts. Keep it straight and be proud!
- Are you working out?
There are tons of workouts out there that help keep your breasts firm and in great shape. Make sure you include them in your daily or even weekly workout routine and you’ll notice the difference with time.
- C’s and D’s
If your cup size if more than a B, meaning C or D, then it’s recommended to wear a sports-bra or soft-bra at home whenever you can to avoid saggy breasts. Yet it’s preferable that you take it off while sleeping.
