GYNECOMASTIA FULL INFORMATION

               GYNECOMASTIA

Meaning : enlargement of a man's breasts, usually due to hormone imbalance or hormone therapy.

WHAT IS GYNCOMASTIA ?

Gynecomastia is enlargement of the gland tissue of the male breast. During infancy, puberty, and in middle-aged to older men, gynecomastia can be common. Gynecomastia must be distinguished from pseudogynecomastia or lipomastia, which refers to the presence of fat deposits in the breast area of obese men. True gynecomastia results from growth of the glandular, or breast tissue, which is present in very small amounts in men. The condition is the most common reason for medical evaluation of the male breast.

SYMPTOMS OF GYNECOMASTIA 

Signs and symptoms of gynecomastia include:

• Swollen breast gland tissue
• Breast tenderness  

Usually you not need a physical examination by a doctor for checking that you have gynecomastia .You can check by yourself . Just take your shirt off and press the niple area and if you feel a lump then you have gynecomastia .

You can can also got to a General Physicist for examination of gynecomastia.

But it sometimes becomes important to see a doctor if you are Experiencing any of the following factors :

• Swelling
• Pain
• Tenderness
• Nipple discharge in one or both breasts

CAUSE OF GYNECOMASTIA 

1.Natural Hormonal Changes

a.Gynecomastia in infants - More than half of male infants are born with enlarged breasts due to the effects of their mother's estrogen. Generally, the swollen breast tissue goes away within two to three weeks after birth.

b.Gynecomastia during puberty - Gynecomastia caused by hormone changes during puberty is relatively common. In most cases, the swollen breast tissue will go away without treatment within six months to two years.

c.Gynecomastia in men - The prevalence of gynecomastia peaks again between the ages of 50 and 69. Because with increasing age testosterone levels of males drop. 


2.Side effect of numerous medications and drug abuse

a.Corticosteroids and anabolic steroids

b.Antibiotics

c.Herbals like dong quai, tea tree oil, and lavender

d.Opioids (narcotic drugs)

e.Estrogen (including those in soy products

f.Heartburn drugs

g.Anti-anxiety medication

h. Anti-androgens used to treat prostate enlargement, prostate cancer and some other conditions. Examples include flutamide, finasteride (Proscar, Propecia) and spironolactone (Aldactone).

i. Anabolic steroids and androgens.

j. AIDS medications. Gynecomastia can develop in HIV-positive men who are receiving a treatment regimen called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Efavirenz (Sustiva) is more commonly associated with gynecomastia than are other HIV medications.

3. medical conditions and health problems

• Hypogonadism. Any of the conditions that interfere with normal testosterone production, such as Klinefelter's syndrome or pituitary insufficiency, can be associated with gynecomastia.
• Aging. Hormone changes that occur with normal aging can cause gynecomastia, especially in men who are overweight.
• Tumors. Some tumors, such as those involving the testes, adrenal glands or pituitary gland, can produce hormones that alter the male-female hormone balance.
• Hyperthyroidism. In this condition, the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine.
• Kidney failure. About half the people being treated with regular hemodialysis experience gynecomastia due to hormonal changes.
• Liver failure and cirrhosis. Hormonal fluctuations related to liver problems as well as medications taken for cirrhosis are associated with gynecomastia.
• Malnutrition and starvation. When your body is deprived of adequate nutrition, testosterone levels drop, but estrogen levels remain constant, causing a hormonal imbalance. 

IF you want to get full information about gynecomastia in Hindi you can watch this video below

MORE INFORMATION ON CAUSE OF GYNECOMASTIA 

As i have already mentioned that gynecomastia occurs due to low testosterone levels and excess estrogen levels . What happens here when the estrogen levels rises in the body of males it it tries to do everything it does in the female body. So here in males it enlarges the mammary glands. 

WHY GYNECOMASTIA MOSTLY OCCURS IN OBESE PEOPLE

Gynecomastia mostly occurs in fat people with high body fat percentage or very high BMI(Body Mass Index). It is not that obese men's body produce less testosterone . What happens here is the fat present in their body converts the testosterone into estrogen through a process called aromatization.

PRECAUTION/PREVENTIONS

1. BE IN YOUR BMI RANGE -  Be fit and eat healthy and maintain  a healthy body fat percentage . 

2. Avoid alcohol. Don't drink alcohol, or drink in moderation

3. Don't use illegal drugs. Examples include steroids and androgens, amphetamines,  heroin, and marijuana.

4. Review your medications. If you're taking medication known to cause gynecomastia, ask your doctor if there are other choices.

CURE 

Once you have gynecomastia the only cure for it is SURGERY . 

One more cure lies in a Medication - Tamoxifen sold under brand name Nolvadex.(take it only under doctors prescription ).

One other cure ls turmeric . Even if there are no scientific proof and studies  for this but still many people say that that had got relief from gynecomastia .