Man Boobs: A Guy’s Worst Nightmare at He's Fit

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Man Boobs: A Guy’s Worst Nightmare

Posted February 5, 2008 at 02:00 PM by Denise Musumeci

Section: In The News, His Fitness, Injuries & Rehab, Alt. Therapies, His Health, Lifestyle Health

manboobs As we get older, our concerns go from losing our hair and going gray to forgetting things and becoming hard of hearing. But there is one universal thing men of all ages dread as they gain pounds: man boobs. As silly as it sounds, almost half of all men have to deal with woman-like breasts at some point in their lives—either as they hit puberty or as they age.

Gynecomastia, or “Man Boob Syndrome,” is the official term used for the condition where a man has growth in one or both of his breasts. Although it has no negative health affects, it can be quite embarrassing. Some young men get it when they hit puberty and experience teasing or bullying as children, often leading to social depression or anxiety. Some contributing factors can be genetics, excess fat, hormone medicines, or excess marijuana use.

The embarrassment caused by gynecomastia has many men considering breast reduction surgery. A doctor will examine the breasts to check for any excess glandular tissue, flesh, or fat. If the doctor finds excess fat, he may not recommend surgery and might insist that you spend extra time at the gym to burn off the fat.

But if you do need surgery, it usually takes only one day and you get to go home and sleep in your own bed. If it is serious, you may have to spend one night at the hospital. Afterward, the doctor gives you a pressure garment so the breasts do not swell up and will set follow-up appointments to check your condition after the surgery. The pressure garment is only worn for a week or two. Afterward, men usually feel confident enough to walk around without their shirts on the beach and can do the things they want before their man breats ran their lives.

If you have gynecomastia and fell embarrassed because of excess fat or tissue in your breasts, join your local gym or spend more time there if you already go to one. Or, if you’re in good shape and you still have the man boobs, talk to your doctor to determine if surgery is right for you.

Research sources and for more information: [Physicalfitness.net]; [picture]