Boobs, Bras, and Your Health

Could Your Bra be the Source of Your Pain and Anxiety?

Bras have been around for centuries and have gone through a fascinating evolution. Often dictated by societal influence, styles have ranged from restrictive corsets, loose fitting camisoles, sexy uplifting brassieres, to supportive sport bras. The development of synthetic materials enabled the creation of form-fitting bras that offered support along with flexibility. 

Today the choice is endless. Whatever your style or need, there are a multitude of options to choose from. While this may sound like a good thing, there are many lesser known, underlying concerns making the style and material of your bra important considerations, along with the question of whether or not you should go braless.

Big Boobs and Tight Bras 

The bigger the boob the more support needed. Right? Well this seems like a natural conclusion. But there are many things to consider when choosing a full-support bra.

It may surprise you to know, despite the need to support larger breasts, restricting your boobs too much can restrict your breathing. While suffocating corsets are a relic of the past, modern bras can cause some of the same issues. A tight bra that wraps around your ribcage disrupts its natural expansion disrupting your flow of breath. And disrupting your breathing leads to dysfunction in every system of your body, from muscular to mental to digestive. 

Besides your rib cage, tight bra straps also exert pressure on the neck and shoulders. To add to the problem, underwire can contribute to that pressure. If you can see bra marks on your ribcage when you take off your bra, it could be a sign your bra is too tight.Those headaches you’ve been blaming on other factors may simply be down to tight bra straps pressing on your muscles and nerves. 

So, while it is important to support bigger busts, it’s best to support them only as much as needed. Look for a bra that is supportive without the underwire. And choose a bra that allows you to feel comfortable yet supported. You may be surprised to find that doing so may relieve pain, stress, and anxiety.

Lesser Known Health Effects of Ill-Fitting Bras

Some of the effects of ill-fitting bras may surprise. Whether large busted or not, wearing a bra that’s too tight, or too loose, can cause pain and postural issues that can lead to ongoing pain and discomfort often attributed to other causes. 

Some Interesting Points to Consider

Apart from the discomfort factor, a tight bra constricting the rib cage often leads to shallow breathing. Your brain will interpret this as a warning of danger and trigger a sympathetic nervous system reaction, the flight and flight response, to a non-existing but perceived threat. And this can create anxiety and even panic attacks.

A tight bra around your bust and underarm is also likely to restrict the flow of lymphatic fluid to your lymph nodes. These nodes, located in the underarm region, are responsible for filtering out toxins that can lead to illness. So the restrictiveness of a bra, especially that sports bra you think is protecting you from the impact of exercise, can lead to a slow-moving lymphatic system, thus toxins pooling in the area. And toxins lead to illness. 

It might surprise you to know that, often, pain can be attributed to a tight or poorly-fitting bra. And it’s not only back pain. The shoulder, chest, and neck may also be affected.Too much or too little support can cause the shoulders and neck to shift forward altering the natural curvature of the spine. Any pressure on or alteration of a normal spine curvature can cause a cascade of health related problems, including pain issues. 

Have you ever heard of mastalgia? That's the tightness, tenderness, or sharp pain in one or both breasts that is usually not serious and often associated with periods. Just by changing your bra, these various pain problems might just be eliminated, and you’ll save money spent on costly doctor visits. 

As the saying goes, ‘If your cup is half full, you probably need a different bra!’ It’s easy to determine your proper bra fit. And it might be the most simple answer to solving that little niggle you always thought was unfixable. What easier way to improve your health than choosing a well-fitting, well-made bra?

Sustainable Materials and Your Wellbeing

Your bra is the closest layer of clothing to your skin. Bras made with synthetic materials are disruptive to your energy fields and an insult to the body. Not only that, worn-out bras with rough seams or irritating fabrics can cause itching, chafing, or rashes. 

The fabric your bra is made from has the potential to be positive or detrimental to your health. The importance of buying a well-made bra. made from good, breathable material cannot be underestimated. 

Non-breathable fabric can leave you open to skin irritation, heat stress, allergies leading to rashes and infection, and can have a negative impact on the environment.

The good, and not so good, fabric choices:

• Organic cotton: A sustainable, breathable, and skin-friendly choice that's great for everyday wear. It allows for air flow and is great at wicking up moisture making it not only comfortable to wear all day long, but great for keeping your skin dry and cool. And it’s biodegradable ✅
• TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal: Material made from responsibly sourced wood pulp. Boasts breathability, durability, moisture absorbing, and softness. Lyocell and Modal fibres are derived from raw material wood. These fibres are certified as biodegradable and can fully revert back to nature ✅
• Organic Silk: A popular choice for comfort and tighter-fitting bras, silk is absorbent but doesn't hold moisture for long. Silk is considered to be a sustainable fibre. It is renewable, biodegrades, and uses less water, chemicals and energy than many other materials ✅
• Wool: A soft, durable, and moisture-wicking fabric that’s naturally biodegradable with minimal micro-plastic shedding. Its ability to absorb moisture helps maintain a drier microclimate next to the skin. Wool has long been accepted as an environmentally positive fibre choice with a number of benefits, such as being 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable ✅
• Lace: A fabric often used to make bralettes, it is beautiful, breathable, and affordable. But its environmental impact depends on the type of lace and what it's made from, so requires a little research to ensure its sustainability. ❔
  

• Nylon and Spandex: While nylon and spandex have many positive features such as durability and resilience, it is not breathable, builds up odours, is not as comfortable as organic materials, and pollutes our waters ❌
• Polyester: A durable fabric that's resistant to UV rays and moisture. Polyester is made of plastic and therefore it is not biodegradable. It can take hundreds of years for the fibres to break down. And, when sent to land-fill, toxic materials used during the production process leach into the soil and could contaminate the local water sources ❌
• Mesh: A lightweight, airy fabric, it breathable and prevents overheating. It’s water-resistant and very flexible, so great for movement. However, it is synthetic so unavoidably bad for the environment ❌

As a general rule, choose natural breathable materials to help prevent skin irritation and ensure comfort. Good materials work in harmony with your own flow of energy rather than against it. Choosing products made from natural, non-toxic materials helps reduce your exposure to toxins that can harm your health. 

Your Bra and Your State of Mind

You may think it strange that your bra can affect you mentally and emotionally. But a bra has the power to elevate confidence, self-esteem, and mental wellbeing.

First of all, it won’t matter how stunning your outfit is if you’re wearing an uncomfortable, unflattering bra that constantly demands your attention and adjustment. Wearing beautiful, comfortable undergarments can boost self-confidence and body image. 

Comfort First

Throughout history, bras have had cultural significance reflecting societal norms. The media, advertising, and social pressures have been largely responsible for women’s pressure to wear a certain type of bra. 

But in today’s world, which emphasises comfort and self-expression, it is easier to break free from “perfect” standards. So, choose a bra that feels good, rather than adhering to societal expectations about bras and bust sizes.

The Feel-good Factor

Like the term greenwashing,  ‘warm glow’, a term first used in the finance world, is now popping up in the world of sustainability. It describes the sense of joy and satisfaction we get from contributing to a better world. And buying sustainable, ethically sourced products can give you just that feeling by creating a ‘warm glow’ effect.

And this can have a knock-on effect too! Sustainable living encourages mindful consumption—paying attention to what you buy, use, and throw away, and your bra is no exception. Buying a bra made sustainably with environmentally friendly materials may seem too small a factor to make an impact on the environment. But every contribution helps. So even this tiny action can lead to reduced feelings of stress and anxiety as mindful consumption will help you focus on what truly matters.

The Nature Effect

Surrounding yourself in nature has been shown to positively impact your mental health,  reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. So it makes sense, that surrounding your body with soft, sustainable materials will also lift your state of mind. And, feeling good underneath will have a ripple effect on the way you feel about yourself on the outside.

Should You Go Bra Free?

More and more women are choosing to go braless, citing health, comfort, and cost-saving benefits. As well, there are social reasons often related to self-acceptance and political expression. For years, women have been protesting the cultural and physical restrictions imposed by bras.

While this may be so, it is not necessary to go bra free. According to breast specialist Dr. Cassann Blake, wearing a bra is a personal decision that all comes down to comfort. Some women love the freedom of going braless and are quite comfortable without one. On the other hand, many women love their bras and feel comfortable, sexy, and more relaxed wearing them. Plus, there are many healthy alternatives to traditional bras to suit different needs and preferences. Sustainable options such as bralettes, wireless pad-free brassieres, camisole-type bras, or bandeau tops are plentiful.

The good news is, it’s up to you to decide. Let’s let the body move and breathe whether wearing a bra or not!

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For those who choose to wear a bra, at Bon+Berg we offer beautiful, sustainable choices to suit all tastes and types.