Could Your Wardrobe Affect Your Health?

Find out alarming truths about how your outfits can affect your wellbeing.

When you get dressed in the morning, your concern is probably more about whether your outfit looks good than how it may affect your health – but it might be time to think again. Your clothing can trigger some rather surprising consequences – here are some issues to be aware of.

Thin Bra Straps Can Cause Headaches

This is particularly true if you have breasts with a C cup or larger. “The shoulder straps on a bra carry some weight of the breasts. If they are too thin for your cup size, they can press into the top of the shoulder and compress the nerves, causing pain in the shoulder, arm, neck or head,” explains physiotherapist Tim Allardyce. He adds that a poor-fitting bra can also be a headache trigger.

“If it is too loose, the neck and head muscles work much harder which can cause pain.”

Get professionally fitted the next time you buy a bra.

Skinny Jeans Can Cause Nerve Damage

Last year, the case of an Australian woman who had spent the day packing boxes in a pair of skinny jeans made global headlines. The jeans had stopped the circulation to her calves, causing the muscles to swell. This resulted in damage to the nerves, so much so that she fell over and could not get up. It was an extreme case but “compartment syndrome”, as it is called, is a potential risk if you are squatting for long periods in tight clothing.

Professor Thomas Kimber, the neurologist who worked on the case, suggests wearing something loose-fitting when doing such tasks.

Dark Clothes Attract Insects