Scientists have discovered an unexpected fact about women with macromastia

Researchers from an international team of doctors found that patients with macromastia are exposed to chronic migraines 40% more often than other women.

In addition, they are twice as likely to complain of cervical pain and 50% more likely to experience breathing problems during sleep. These results were published by the press service of the medical school of the University of Wake Forest in the United States.

“There is a widespread perception in society that excessively enlarged breasts are merely an aesthetic issue. However, our data show that this anatomical feature is associated with a number of serious pathologies, including migraine attacks, neck pain and apnea. An in-depth study of these relationships will allow us to more accurately diagnose such conditions and provide women with adequate medical support, said Kristin Pocock, associate professor at Wake Forst University.

According to the expert, macromastia occurs in a small part of the female population due to genetic features that stimulate the growth of glandular tissue or the accumulation of fat deposits in the chest. In most situations, this anatomical variation leads to discomfort and impaired posture, which forces many women to resort to surgical breast reduction.

American doctors set themselves the task to find out how often macromastia provokes migraines, neck pain, sleep disorders and damage to the cervical nerves, which is often indicated by women with large mammary glands. To gather evidence, the scientists analyzed statistics from one of the leading medical centers in California, which in the period from 2017 to 2024 monitored the health of a wide group of American women.

The researchers formed a sample of 350 women with macromastia and a comparable group of their peers without this anatomical feature. The control group was carefully selected for such parameters as age, eating habits, weight and other vital indicators. A comparative analysis of the frequency of visits to neurologists and other specialized specialists revealed significant differences. It turned out that patients with enlarged breasts are much more likely to experience migraines, apnea, chronic pain syndromes in the cervical zone and cervical radiculopathy.

In the presence of macromastia, the risk of developing radiculopathy and apnea doubles, while the likelihood of migraine and breathing disorders in sleep increases by 40-50% compared to women without this feature. Further study of the lifestyle of both groups will clarify the mechanisms of these pathologies in women with abnormally large breasts. This knowledge will become the basis for the development of new therapies aimed at eliminating the consequences of macromastia.