Large breasts cause a host of health and posture issues and can cause numerous symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, neck pain, back pain and headaches. In fact, more than 1 million women in the US suffer from pain caused by large breasts. If you wear a bra with a D cup size or larger, you're at risk for spinal curvature and injury caused by heavy breasts.

Even if you don't have extreme symptoms now, your pain may continue to get worse over your lifetime if you don't take steps to take pressure off your upper torso now. Following are several ways you can alleviate discomfort caused by large breasts:

Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Care

As mentioned, large breasts can cause curvature of the spine in the upper back. They can cause other back injuries as well since many women tend to hold themselves at odd angles to compensate for their top heaviness.

Physical therapy, exercise and chiropractic care can align the spine and strengthen the muscles responsible for posture and carrying the weight of the upper torso. Exercises that strengthen the muscles found along the back of the ribs, across the chest and around the shoulder blades work best at alleviating symptoms. 

Medications and Surgery

If your symptoms are mild and intermittent, you can treat them with over-the-counter pain medications. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe an anti-inflammatory and pain medication to help you get through a particularly painful episode. However, medications are temporary solutions as they can be addictive and may lead to other health problems.

For this reason, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends breast reduction surgery as the only permanent solution to pain caused by large breasts. After surgery, approximately 90 percent of women get complete relief from their symptoms.

Behavior Modification and Clothing Options

You can also treat symptoms by changing the type of bra you wear and by paying attention to your posture. Always strive to keep your shoulders back, your spine straight and your head up. Additionally, consider wearing a sports bra or customized bra for additional support. If you've never been properly fitted for a bra, now is the time to do so as a proper fit can make a huge difference in the amount of pain you experience. 

Unfortunately, some women experience back pain their entire lives without realizing that their breasts are to blame and that there are treatment options available. If you experience back pain, talk to your chiropractor or doctor to see what options are available to you.

To learn more, contact a company like Vanderloo Chiropractic with any questions you have.

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