{"id":6810,"date":"2024-03-19T05:58:06","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T05:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=6810"},"modified":"2024-03-19T05:58:06","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T05:58:06","slug":"study-finds-that-men-with-excess-breast-tissue-at-higher-risk-of-early-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/study-finds-that-men-with-excess-breast-tissue-at-higher-risk-of-early-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Finds That Men With Excess Breast Tissue At Higher Risk Of Early Death"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Deposit Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In a groundbreaking study<\/a> published on January 16 in BMJ Open<\/a>, researchers found a concerning correlation between gynecomastia \u2013 defined as the abnormal enlargement of male breast tissue not attributable to excess weight<\/a> \u2013 and a heightened risk of premature mortality before the age of 75.<\/p>\n

In addition, patients with preexisting risk factors, such as cancer<\/a> or circulatory, lung and gut diseases before being diagnosed with this condition were at highest risk.<\/p>\n

Led by Anders Juul, MD, PhD<\/a>, a professor of growth and reproduction and an endocrinologist at Rigshospitalet<\/a>in Denmark, the study underscores the urgency for medical attention to be directed towards individuals presenting with gynecomastia.<\/p>\n

\u201cClearly, newly developed gynecomastia should be considered by the evaluating doctor as the \u2018canary in the coal mine,\u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/em> says Dr. Juul. Physicians should look for the underlying cause, follow these patients more closely, or both, he adds.<\/p>\n

Due to its prevalence among older men, physicians frequently attribute gynecomastia to obesity without thoroughly investigating its underlying causes, explains Dr. Joseph Aloi<\/a>, a professor specializing in endocrinology and metabolism at Wake Forest University School of Medicine<\/a> and practicing endocrinologist at Atrium Health-Wake Forest Baptist<\/a> in Winston Salem, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

Dr. Aloi, who was not involved in the study, says, \u201cThese findings suggest that when men present with gynecomastia, that their doctor should take a deeper look at potential underlying conditions that could be causing it.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Over 3 in 10 Men Will Be Diagnosed with Gynecomastia At Some Point in Their Lifetime<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gynecomastia<\/a>, characterized by the non-cancerous enlargement of male breast tissue due to hormonal imbalances, affects a significant portion of the male population, with research<\/a> suggesting that it will afflict at least 3 in 10 males during their lifetime, making it the predominant breast condition in men.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to distinguish gynecomastia from what is colloquially referred to as \u201cman boobs\u201d or pseudogynecomastia<\/a>, typically linked to excess weight or obesity.<\/p>\n

Possible Causes of Gynecomastia<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Detlev Erdmann, MD, PhD<\/a>, a plastic surgeon at Duke Health<\/a> in Durham, North Carolina, who specializes in gynecomastia surgery, the onset of gynecomastia can manifest at any age but is typically instigated by fluctuations in sex hormone levels during infancy, puberty, and later stages of life.<\/p>\n

Dr. Erdmann, not involved in the study, emphasizes that gynecomastia<\/a> predominantly afflicts older men due to declining testosterone levels, often coinciding with weight gain, exacerbating the condition.<\/p>\n

Dr. Aloi further highlights that while hormonal imbalances serve as the primary catalyst for gynecomastia, it can also arise from various medications and medical conditions, including adrenal tumors<\/a>, alcoholism<\/a>, kidney disease<\/a>, liver disease<\/a>, and thyroid disorders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Study Participants Had Follow Ups for Up to 25 Years<\/strong><\/p>\n

Previously regarded as primarily a cosmetic concern affecting elderly obese men, gynecomastia has often been overlooked in medical circles, noted Dr. Juul.<\/p>\n

While earlier research has hinted at a correlation between gynecomastia and comprised health outcomes, the authors assert that the association with premature mortality remains uncertain.<\/p>\n

To delve into this matter, researchers utilized Danish national health registries, identifying over 23,000 men diagnosed with gynecomastia between January 1995 and June 2021. Of these individuals, approximately 40 percent fell within the 19 to 40 age bracket at the time of diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Each of these men was then meticulously matched with five counterparts without the condition, totaling roughly 140,000 participants.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, the cohort of men with gynecomastia was divided into two distinct groups for further analysis.<\/p>\n