If you are a male who is worried about the appearance of fatty tissue on the chest, you should find out the most common causes of this condition, called gynecomastia. It may be temporary, or it could be a symptom of a larger condition.
Some males may be surprised at the development of breast tissue on their chest, but this issue is not as odd as they may assume. In fact, many men suffer from gynecomastia, or the development of fatty tissue that resembles breasts, at some point in their life. There are various causes for this medical condition.
Hormones are to blame for most cases of gynecomastia, especially during puberty. Men typically have lots of testosterone and a little bit of estrogen, but those with this condition just have more estrogen than is typical. This is usually temporary and happens most often during puberty, though it can also occur in old age and just after birth, as some newborn babies are affected by their mother's hormones. It should go away on its own with time.
Some people might find that their case of gynecomastia does not disappear with time, in which case it may be related to another medical issue. For example, liver or kidney failure can lead to a multitude of symptoms, and one may be the development of fatty tissue on the chest since hormones can be affected. It stands to reason, then, that other disorders that affect hormones can also cause this issue. This may include hyperthyroidism or hypogonadism, to name a few. Anything that impacts the hormone balance can lead to this issue, but the good news is that once the underlying condition is treated, the gynecomastia should disappear.
Another cause of this problem is the ingestion of certain medications. Illegal drugs have many side effects, and gynecomastia is sometimes one of them. Heroin, steroids, marijuana, and alcohol are just some of the drugs that may lead to this condition. Unfortunately, even legal, prescribed drugs can cause this issue, such as those used to treat serious conditions like cancer, AIDS, ulcers, and depression. If you have been prescribed medication that appears to have led to this problem, you can tell your doctor and find out if you can taken a different drug, instead.
If you think you have this medical problem, you should talk to your doctor. You may find out that it is naturally occurring and will go away on its own, but you may also find that it is a symptom of a different condition altogether. Either way, getting checked out by a doctor is the best idea so that you can either stop worrying about it, or treat the condition that is causing it.
