Living with Gynecomastia or Man Boobs

Many men who are overweight or obese can have dramatic improvements with man boobs, but for others it will not eliminate it. Surgery may be the only option in other cases and is called gynecomastia surgery. Hormone therapy may also be a good place to turn for help as gynecomastia may be caused by a lower level of testosterone or a higher level of estrogen in males. Before starting a hormone therapy though, you may consider the benefits of exercise as this simple change along with some dietary changes results in increased testosterone and lowering estrogen.

The word Gynecomastia comes from the greek words gyne meaning "woman" and mastos meaning "breast", but the slang term adopted by many is man boobs.

Several potential causes include:

Puberty
Steroid abuse
Obesity
Genetic disorders
Side effects of many medications
Castration
Aging

Many men who are overweight or obese can have dramatic improvements with man boobs, but for others it will not eliminate it. Surgery may be the only option in other cases and is called gynecomastia surgery. Hormone therapy may also be a good place to turn for help as gynecomastia may be caused by a lower level of testosterone or a higher level of estrogen in males. Before starting a hormone therapy though, you may consider the benefits of exercise as this simple change along with some dietary changes results in increased testosterone and lowering estrogen.

Man boobs can cause severe life long emotional scars which may never be addressed. The simple act of sitting by the pool with ones shirt off can cause emotional distress. Even after a diet and exercise routine to help the condition, the man's self image can still be firmly implanted.

Steroid abuse in bodybuilders can also lead to man boobs and result in a feeling of being out of control of their body. Steroids really affect the hormonal system of the body as well as having disastrous side effects beyond male breasts.

Men diagnosed with Klinefelter's Syndrome have a pair of X sex chromosomes instead of just one and are associated with additional risk for some medical conditions. They're almost always sterile and may have some degree of gynecomastia. Males with Klinefelter's Syndrome are referred to as "XXY males" and not as "suffering" from the syndrome. The condition is irreversible, but its symptoms may be altered in a number of ways, including testosterone treatment and other therapies. Alternatives to testosterone therapy include cardiovascular training along with weight bearing exercises and a change in diet.

It seems that the overall theme of why we get man boobs is about hormones. I'm no doctor, but I would want to ask you to consider a diet and exercise program to increase testosterone and burn fat before risking surgery. Using a diet and exercise program has many benefits to your health beyond changing your physical appearance. Exercise elevates mood, improving hormones and with it comes a feeling of self confidence.

Begin a daily cardio program, increase your water consumption, eliminate dead foods and increase live foods. Eating less than you burn by exercising leads to a calorie deficit and will remove fat from your body. As you begin to train harder, your body will increase testosterone and you will gain muscle further leading to an increase in fat loss.

Surgery should be the last resort after fully exploring diet and exercise. As you begin to train harder and drop the fat, you will feel better about yourself further helping the psychological stress of having gynecomastia. Feeling better about how you look, getting in shape and becoming healthier is the most positive aspect of exercise and weight training

About The Author-- Erol Orderland writes about weightloss and health from his home in the Netherlands. Visit Weightloss Information for more information and How To Get Rid Of Man Boobs for related information

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