Gynecomastia is not the same compared to regular chest fat, and you cannot change it via normal lifestyle changes such as exercise or diet. Gynecomastia is caused due to the unusual increase of glandular tissue and is also related to a hormonal imbalance.
So, before you opt for a treatment, know that it is common for men with excess breast tissue to be concerned about getting rid of it. There are many men who want a sleek, muscular pectoral or flat chest. In this guide, you will learn more about the difference between chest fat and gynecomastia.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition that leads to swollen male breast tissue. Lesser number of male hormones can be a common cause of this type of condition but other than this; there are different reasons too. Based on the root cause, some of the common symptoms of male gynecomastia are as follows:
● Swelling
● Discomfort in the chest
● Obesity/overweight
● Tenderness
● Feeling lumps in your chest
● Enlargement of the breast tissue.
To get your diagnosis done, you must reach out to Max Healthcare.
Differences Between Gynecomastia and Chest Fat
You can differentiate between gynecomastia and chest fat by looking at the texture of your chest. Chest fat is soft and is not different from the body fat in your abdomen, arms, or other places in your body. But in the case of gynecomastia, it is harder, and in some cases, you may feel that there is a hard lump beneath your skin.
Gynecomastia is known to occur in people of all ages, and though some types can go away with time, there are those that stick around. To solve this problem, you must undergo proper gynecomastia treatment.
What Leads to Gynecomastia?
One of the reasons people suffer from gynecomastia is due to hormonal imbalance or related illness. The illness can occur due to the consumption of specific medicines. Some of the main causes of gynecomastia are as follows:
● Hormonal imbalance
It is one of the common causes of gynecomastia, and hormone balance can occur in males at any age. Newborn babies can also experience this issue as they often get excess estrogen from their mothers. When this condition is present in newborn babies, it is referred to as ‘breast buds’. Though the breast buds can go away some months after birth, they can sometimes last longer. Boys who are yet to be teenagers can also undergo puberty, and gynecomastia is also common in young men undergoing puberty.
● Medications
There are specific medicines that cause gynecomastia, too, and these are usually the medicines that have greater levels of substances, such as prolactin. These substances can increase the estrogen level in the body; other than that, there are medications that can block androgens. Some of the common types of androgens are DHT and testosterone; they not only work on their own but also block the effects of estrogen.
Some examples of medications that might lead to gynecomastia as a side effect are the following:
1. Epilepsy medications
2. Antidepressant medications
3. Specific drugs that are used to treat heart conditions, like anti-androgen drugs
4. Specific drugs that are used in chemotherapy, especially alkylating agents. These agents are mostly used to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and also interfere with cell DNA
5. Specific medications that are used to treat ulcers
● Medical conditions/ illnesses
As mentioned above, specific medical conditions and illnesses related to hormones can lead to gynecomastia. This also includes cancer of the pituitary gland, cancer of the adrenal glands, and testicular cancer. This condition can also be caused due to an overactive thyroid or even lung cancer.
What Are the Symptoms?
During the first consultation, your plastic surgeon will look at your chest to understand the cause of the overdeveloped chest. But after assessing the following symptoms, it can be indicated that you have this condition. The symptoms are as follows:
● There is pain and softness in the chest region
When there are hormonal imbalances in an individual, it can lead to the swelling of the breast tissue. This can lead to pain and a feeling of softness in the chest. But chest pain in men can also be due to various reasons like muscle pain and cysts.
● What does your chest look like?
If the reason for chest swell is due to excess fat, you will have saggy skin and lack definition in that area. Swelling from this condition is due to firmer chest tissue; the chest will be rounder and defined, similar to female breasts. Men suffering from this condition will also have puffy nipples due to more estrogen levels.
Final Words
As mentioned above, there are differences between chest fat and gynecomastia. If you feel that you are suffering from gynecomastia and need immediate treatment, you can contact the reputed doctors of Max Healthcare or visit their hospital to undergo a gynecomastia treatment.
Read more health blogs about:
What is Gynecomastia (Enlarged Breasts in Men)?
