If you have noticed increased fat in your chest area as a male, you should get it diagnosed and treated by a doctor fast. Though the condition is often harmless, it can sometimes be a symptom of a dangerous underlying condition, so seeing a doctor is a good idea.
While gynecomastia is often caused by a hormonal imbalance in men,
and is typically harmless, there are a few conditions that can lead to this issue. For this reason, it is important to see your doctor if you experience enlargement of your breast tissue as a male. The condition itself may be harmless, but there may be an underlying issue that causes it, which you need to get treated before serious damage occurs. Consider some of the harmful medical issues that can cause enlargement of male breast tissue.
Klinefelter syndrome is a sex chromosome disorder, in which males get an extra X chromosome, leading to a makeup of XXY instead of XY. It is characterized by decreased testicular function as well as infertility. In addition, the breast tissue may become larger and more noticeable to others. These are the typical symptoms of this condition, so if you notice any of them, see a doctor. While Klinefelter syndrome cannot be cured, the symptoms can be treated with testosterone treatments, as well as plastic surgery for the gynecomastia. Note that this syndrome is not typically fatal, but it is good to get it diagnosed so that the most bothersome symptoms can be treated.
Another common cause of gynecomastia is medication. More specifically, medication used for treating high blood pressure, heart failure, and ulcers can result in enlarged breasts among males. In most cases, you can get different medication that does not result in this symptom, if you are bothered by it.
Most doctors want to know of any side effects caused by the medicine they gave you anyway, so it is a good idea to tell them about the larger chest tissue. It should return to normal once you stop the medication, though it could take a few months for it to go back to normal since the medication needs to leave your system completely.
In addition, liver cancer can lead to gynecomastia, as it increases your risk of getting this condition. Therefore, if you notice larger breasts, it is worth it to see your doctor, as you may find out that you have some other symptoms of liver cancer. Clearly, getting any type of cancer diagnosed quickly is best, so the sooner you see a doctor, the better.
Furthermore, note that while gynecomastia is typically harmless, it can increase your chance of getting breast cancer in the future. Your risk depends on the underlying cause of it. For example, if it is caused by a hormonal imbalance, you are most likely to get breast cancer since this type of disease is often caused by excess estrogen. Therefore, if you get hormone replacement therapy for any reason, you are also increasing your chances of breast cancer.
Know that no matter the cause of the increased tissue in your chest, it is a good idea to get it checked out quickly. It may be a symptom of a larger condition, or it may be perfectly harmless, but annoying. After all, it may cause you to assume you are out of shape when you are not, so it is advised that you get the excess tissue removed.
