Facts, myths about sleeping braless; no scientific evidence linking such practice to cancer

 

OLD wives’ tales tend to get spread that much faster in the internet age, making it all the more difficult to separate fact from fiction.

This can lead to confusion and misinformation on a number of health issues. One such topic was whether is a bad thing that ladies opt to go braless when they retire for the night.

On the one hand, there is a popular belief that going without breast support is a cancer-prevention measure ie wearing bras to sleep can cause breast cancer. On the other, there is also the belief that going without a bra will cause women’s breasts to sag.

Addressing this concern is a post on Public Health Malaysia Facebook portal which emphatically states that an international scientific study (American Cancer Society) confirms NO medical evidence linking sleeping bras to the risk of cancer.

Cancer comes from genetics and lifestyle, not from one’s bra wires, argued the Malay language public health platform.

However, ladies were warned that wearing a TIGHT and WIRED bra (underwire) while sleeping can block the flow of the lymph system. This can cause swelling, pain or hyperpigmentation (dark bruises) under the chest. Such symptom is known as Lymhatic Flow Disorder.

Even if women were willing to risk slight discomfort to prevent sagging breasts, alas, the post had depressing news – nothing stops the passage of time.

Sagging breasts are a natural aging process affected by gravity, collagen and size. Wearing a bedtime bra may provide some support but it is NOT able to fully defy gravity or hinder permanent lethargy.

The simple advice proffered is that women who are comfortable going without support, please continue to do so as wearing a bra will not prevent sagging.

Ample air circulation

For those who wish to do so, there is no risk of this practice causing breast cancer either. For women who feel discomfort moving about in bed without support, go ahead and wear a bra but it is recommended they opt for a “sleep bra” or a loose-fitting sports bra.

It was also advised to choose bras made from cotton fabrics for comfort and that it is best to avoid wires.

The public service announcement concluded that women should not torture themselves over myths that do not exist.

Similar concerns were also addressed on the hellodoktor website which also touched on the same subject.

This was when Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri, a trainee surgeon in the Surgical and Trauma Division at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust which comes under the supervision of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, refuted the belief that wearing a bra to sleep could cause cancer.

“Some individuals may need to sleep wearing a bra at night for support or due to doctor’s advice. If you need to wear one, make sure the bra you are wearing is the right size and not too tight,” advised the UK-based Malaysian physician and social media influencer.

For Dr Amber Guth who is the Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the Breast Cancer Surgery Multidisciplinary Fellowship at the NYU Langone Medical Centre, there is no strong evidence that can link wearing a bra with any benefit or risk of harm to breast health.

She also explained that a woman’s breasts can sag due to several factors such as pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The article does, however, go on to list a number of benefits of going braless in bed. These include:

• Reduced perspiration: Wearing a bra while sleeping, especially when the room temperature rises at night, can cause women’s breasts to sweat. This can lead to disrupted sleep.
• Improved sleep quality: Apart from sweating, most bras are also designed for active daily activities – not rest. It may be more comfortable for many women to go braless for a more restful night’s sleep.
• Reduces the risk of skin infections: Wearing a bra all day will disrupt the air circulation in the protected skin pores. When a lady constantly wears a bra, her skin will have difficulty absorbing air. This situation will create a humid environment that is conducive to the risk of harmful bacteria breeding.
• Reduces the risk of lymphatic blockage: A bra that is too tight can put excessive pressure on a woman’s breasts. If a woman wears a bra like this while sleeping, she is likely to cause lymphatic blockage.

So there are certain benefits to cutting loose at night but there is most certainly no evidence to support the belief that wearing bras to sleep can cause breast cancer. –  Focus Malaysia