Why are bras so problematic for women?

This is because the vast majority of women wear bras that are ill-fitting. Scientific studies show that the current system of bra sizing is quite inadequate. Medical studies have also attested to the difficulty of getting a correct fit. Often bras are too tight and instead of keeping the breasts away from the chest wall, these bras actually compress them against the chest even further. The upper thoracic and cervical vertebrae (spine) are pushed forward and down, which interferes with back, shoulder and chest movement. Women often overestimate the width of their back and underestimate their cup size, which results in the weight of the breasts being carried by the shoulders, rather than supported around the chest, which contributes to back pain. The difficulty is more severe for large busted women because as breasts become larger, their shape and the distribution of the tissue within them changes, becoming saggy and bulbous rather than conical, making measurements increasingly unreliable. Similarly the heavier a build the woman has, the more inaccurate the underbust measurement as the tape sinks into the flesh more easily.

Does the medical community acknowledge the dangers of improper bra sizing? The British Chiropractic Association has warned that wearing the wrong bra size can lead to a number of problems, including back pain, restricted breathing, abrasions, breast pain and poor posture. They have written that many of the health problems associated with bras are due to fitting problems.

Why are bras linked to breast disease and do they cause cancer? The issue here is the effect bras have on breast circulation, specifically regarding the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system moves fluid, called lymph, away from the tissue spaces, taking with it viruses, debris, cancer cells, bacteria, and other toxic materials. 

Concurrently, carbon dioxide is removed by the bloodstream, while fresh oxygenated fluid is delivered to the tissues.   

The lymphatic system consists of microscopic vessels that originate in the tissue space and lead to larger, though still tiny, vessels that ultimately enter a lymph node. These nodes are bean-sized filters lined by white blood cells. The breasts' nodes are located mostly near the armpit.

If the nodes detect a virus, cancer cell, or other foreign or hazardous substance in the tissue fluid, white blood cells develop immediately to fight off this invasion. The fluid works its way through larger lymphatic vessels back to the heart and the bloodstream. 

It is important to draw a distinction between the bloodstream, which delivers fluid via the pumping pressure of the heart, and the lymphatic system, which is a passive drainage system. This means that the lymphatic flow is directly influenced by factors such as breathing, gravity, exercise and movement, and pressure. The slightest compression or constriction of the tissue can close down the tiny lymphatic vessels, inhibiting lymph flow. This congestion of fluid within the tissue is called lymphedema.

Lymphedema can lead to pain, fluid accumulation, tenderness, and the formation of cysts. 

Women who have fibrocystic breast disease essentially have lymphedema of the breast. It has been suggested that the constant pressure exerted on delicate breast tissue from the elastic on bras and from underwires impair the lymphatic flow. After all, bras are designed to push and mold the breasts into a more fashionable shape. And this pressure cuts down on the flow within the lymphatic system, reducing its ability to remove fluid and toxins from the breast tissue. The toxins that are within the breast tissue include some biochemical products of tissue edema, such as free radicals, which are known to cause cancer. In addition, there are also toxins in our air, food and water, including pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and other products of our petrochemically polluted world. Many of these are known to cause cancer. These toxins are delivered to all our tissues each day through the bloodstream. It is the job of the lymphatics to remove these toxins. And it is this important function that bras inhibit by their compression and constriction of the breasts, bringing rise to the theory that bras are a cause of breast cancer.

Cancer causing toxins are delivered to the breast tissue by the bloodstream, and are kept there by the bra. The toxins are the bullets. The bra holds them in place, pointed directly at the breasts.

The breasts are the most clothing constricted of any organ, explaining why women have more cancer in the breast than elsewhere in their bodies. It also points to why women have more breast cancer than men, and why breast cancer is only a problem in cultures in which bras are worn.

How often should I get measured? It has been suggested that a woman should consider checking her bra fit every two years. A woman's breasts will change shape, size and distribution at least six times in her life due to factors such as weight gain, weight loss, exercise, birth control, childbirth, dietary changes and medications.