Gynecomastia - What is it?

What exactly is gynecomastia? Gynecomastia (which is pronounced: GUY-nuh-ko-MASS-tee-uh) is a bona fide medical abnormality that causes the breast to become enlarged in some males. This abnormal enlargement can occur in either both breasts or just in one, and some of the times there can even be secretions of milk. Technically, the condition is caused by the development of abnormally large mammary glands, and is very often seen in elderly men and boys.

Normally the area where gynecomastia develops is approximately one and one-half inches wide and is located exactly below the nipple. Ofentimes, there's a little soreness in the area as well.

Gynecomastia is occasionally linked to obesity, however, this is not considered to be true Gynecomastia. Instead this condition is known as Pseudogynecomastia: a.k.a. False Gynecomastia.

True Gynecomastia is oftentimes caused by hormonal imbalances which occur with the commencement of puberty in young boys, and hormonal imbalances that can also occur in elderly men. Usually - with teenagers in particular - the issue tends to resolve itself within a few years, requiring no medical treatment.

Nobody really knows what specifically causes this disorder, but the general consensus is that it is believed to be caused due to a hormonal imbalance, or caused by the manner in which the tissue responds to those hormones. In addition, certain medications, especialy those that contain steroids and estrogens, can cause gynecomastia. In addition, certain types of medications have been found to cuase gynecomastia, including those medications that include or are comprised of steroids or estrogens; Cardiovascular drugs; hormone therapies; and recreational drugs such as marijuana and alcohol.

Gynecomastia is also known to be, a side effect of certain drugs prescribed for ulcer treatment such as Prilosec, Zantac, and Tagamet. If you discover this condition developing with the use of these or other similar prescription drugs such as the type mentioned above, you should probably make it a point to speak to your medical care professional about alternatives you can try.

More often than not, Gynecomastia will disappear on it's own in as little as a year, but in some cases, it can take up to three years. It can also be treated surgically though, if it hasn't gone away on its own and has become problematic for the man either cosmetically or psychologically.

Because Gynecomastia forms between the skin and muscle of a man's chest, trying to simply firm up the chest muscles will not usually resolve the problem. You can't simply get rid of Gynecomastia or Pseudogynecomastia just by building up your chest muscles though. In fact, you can make the problem more evident by building up the muscles. As a matter of fact, because the enlarged glands are between the skin and muscles of your chest, building those muscles will only cause the Gynecomastia to be more prominent and stand out more.

What to Do If You think You Have Gynecomastia

All men should see a medical professional if Gynecomastia develops, because in some rare cases it can be an early warning sign of other medical disorders that can be pretty serious such as tumors in the breasts, testical tumors, tumors in the breasts, lungs or other parts of the body, or liver problems like those seen with alcoholic cirrhosis.

If you are seeing signs of Gynecomastia which are causing you to worry, you should make it a point to speak to your doctor. Your doctor will interview you to find out more about your symptoms , and when the syptoms began. Your doctor will also question you about your personal and family medical history. You may also be required to disclose information about your alcohol and drug usage in full. At that point you may be advised to change some of your habits, change your medications if those could be the culprit, or your doctor may decide to schedule you to undergo furtherl testing before deciding on the best way to treat your gynecomastia.

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