Breast Health for Dancers
Belly dance is one of the few places in the dance world where it’s okay to have breasts. Heck, it’s even welcomed! Our costumes accentuate the feminine physique that fashion and society sometimes condemn. Like the rest of our bodies, if you want to keep them healthy and looking good, there are a few things you can do that will help that along.
Do Regular Self Breast Exams
From your first “girl check-up,” you were probably shown how to do a breast exam. (If not, google it. There are plenty of sites that will break this down for you). This is an important monthly exam that every woman should do to detect any irregularities that occur in the breast tissue. This can alert you to cysts and tumors early enough to have corrective action taken without it seriously impacting your health.
Thermography
If you are interested in prevention and a longer window of opportunity for detecting breast cancer, you may opt for thermography. Thermography is a heat scan that can show inflammation in tissue years before it turns into a tumor large enough for mammography or a breast exam to pick up. You get a baseline scan to show what is normal for you, then a regular scan every year or two. Dietary and lifestyle changes can mean that cancer never develops.
Getting the Right Bra
Bras are designed for different purposes. To get the most benefit from your bra, you have to match the bra with the function. There are nursing bras, sports bras, lingerie, maternity bras, full figure bras, etc. None of these can do its job right without the proper fit however. I recommend getting a professional fitting. You may find that the reason your clothes don’t look as good as they should or that your back hurts is because you are wearing the wrong size. Whatever you do, DO NOT USE AN OFF-THE-RACK BRA AS A COSTUME ITEM. Once decorated, this will not provide you with the support that you need, even if it was fine before adorning it.
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Like the rest of your body, your breasts get nutrition from the food you eat. Stay hydrated. Eat whole, natural, fresh, alive foods. Don’t smoke and maintain your exercise.
Use Skin Care Products if you Need to
There are times when your breasts need extra nourishment. If you get chapped or irritated, use some type of natural skin care cream. It will make you more comfortable.
Most of us only think about our breasts when it comes to figuring out how well they look in our next costume. It doesn’t take a lot of time to keep them healthy, but considering these issues can help you stay healthy and beautiful.
