In conjunction with October being the Breast Cancer Awareness month, I have decided to join the Pink for October campaign and have gone PINK (look around).
So here is a blog post dedicated to the cause - 10 things I bet many of us didn’t know about breasts (and exercise):
1. A recent study found that 56 percent of women experience breast discomfort while exercising
2. In the 1980s, women were officially banned from competitive boxing in Ontario
Boxing executives argued that if a woman got hit in the breast, it would cause breast cancer.
3. Men and women actually have the same basic breast structure
It’s just that for women, breasts are more developed and substantial as a result of hormones released during puberty.
4. Some women will have larger breasts even if they have lower bodyfat, and other women will have relatively smaller breasts at any level of bodyfat
So, while losing bodyfat is a pretty reliable way to shrink your breasts, genetics will determine just how much you lose.
5. Most swimsuit and fitness models have implants
It is quite rare to have large breasts at a low level of bodyfat.
6. Women who run a lot, and/or those with larger breasts may also experience pain in their upper/mid back and neck as the weight of the breasts pulls their spine forward
A good sports bra can help counteract this.
7. Breasts sit on top of the pectoral (chest) muscles, and exercise can only develop the underlying pectoral muscles, not the breasts themselves
8. Many women can benefit from doing more pulling/mid-back exercises such as rows, in order to help counteract the forward pull from their breasts
9. Obesity produces a hormonal environment that is conducive to cancer growth
Now that’s another reason to lose that weight.
And last, but certainly not the least…
10. Men can also suffer from breast cancer
Did that one catch you by surprise? Well, it’s true.
Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer death. Breast cancer is a potentially curable disease if detected early, and with appropriate treatment, cure rates are high.
Regular exercise, weight loss, and avoidance of stressors, toxic chemicals and environmental pollutants are all helpful measures in the prevention of breast cancer. Dietary inclusion of dried beans, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower), and whole grains have also proven to be beneficial.
For more information and resources on Breast Cancer (Screening, Understanding Breast Cancer, Treatment Options, Discussion boards, etc) visit http://www.breastcancer.org/.
My references:
*World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer (June 2003). “World Cancer Report”.
*Merck Manual Online, Breast Cancer
Read also:
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
‘It is quite rare to have large breasts at a low level of bodyfat.’ Doesn’t this contradict fact No. 4?
Nevertheless, it’s definitely awesome to know we are extraordinary ;) then.
In light,
Birthday girl.
Sigh… being naturally tiny (read: low bodyfat), I guess I have to live with the fact that there’s no way I’m gonna have cleavage without resorting to implants. Oh well, I guess I’ll concentrate more on the glutes instead :P
In response to #3, I once read that we, men, at one point of gestation in our mother’s womb, were once females and hence the breast structure.
And btw, the only things which have not gone pink are your links… ;)
response to no.9, sadly very true, I personally have seen quiet a number of patients, it is normally due to high fat diet too…
hope all women out there are aware of this.
interesting info :p
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