According to an article published in a women's magazine, even though your bra (brassiere) may give you an enviable cleavage, its regular use could bring about health problems, particularly if it is not fitted properly. In a recent study conducted in the United Kingdom, researchers showed that if you wear a push-up bra on a regular basis, it could cause breathing and bowel problems! This is because the bra forces the diaphragm down and therefore restricts the ribcage.

Push-up bras (also called padded bras) are designed to enhance cleavage and they are among the most widely accepted method for supporting a woman's breasts. The majority of women in the western world and indeed, in nearly all countries of the world, wear a bra. But there are a slowly increasing percentage of women who prefer not to wear one on a regular basis.

One of the main issues with the bra, especially if it is not fitted properly, is that is that it will act as a pulley, transferring the weight of the breasts from the lower chest wall to higher parts of the body such as the back, neck, shoulder, and head. This can cause injury or pain in these parts, especially if the woman has pendulous breasts. But most of the health issues and problems associate with wearing push up bras are due to fitting problems. In fact, according to the British Chiropractic Association, wearing the wrong bra size can lead to a number of problems such as restricted breathing, back pain, abrasions, poor posture, muscle tension, headaches and breast pain.

If you want to protect yourself from these health problems, a properly fitted bra is vital. Ensure that you are measured properly and that you get the right bra for your needs. Some studies show that up to 90% of women wear the wrong size of bra. Aim to go for a fitting about 2-3 times a year and make sure you get rid of old bras after about 9 months.

Also remember that if you gain or lose weight you may need to adjust your bra or get a new one. Women may gain weight for example when they are pregnant. They may lose weight when they go on a weight loss diet program. There's a collection of free fat loss ebooks here.