Corset Health Issues

Corset health issues date back to the 1800s when doctors' warnings against the wearing them largely fell on deaf ears as women willingly abused their bodies in the name of fashion. But how did this all come about? What sort of health issues did ladies endure by wearing corsets?

What Is a Corset

A corset is a close-fitting undergarment reinforced by tight lacing, also known as "stays", that lace up the back of the garment. Often a shift or chemise was worn underneath for added comfort, to absorb perspiration and to keep the corset clean.

Originally, corsets were worn by men and women on the outside of their clothing. During the 16th and 17th centuries, they were intended to flatten the chest, but after 1660, the corset was shaped to accentuate the breasts. Problems began in the 19th century when corsets were reinforced with whale bone or metal. The goal in wearing these corsets was to achieve the smallest possible waist. This obsession eventually gave birth to various corset health issues.

Corset Uses

Corsets were used by men in order to slim their figures and give an hourglass appearance. Popular from 1820 until around 1835, men abandoned the use of the impractical corset because it was not only uncomfortable but also made moving difficult.

Women wore corsets to exaggerate the bust and hips in order to also give the appearance of a slim waist. Many were made with garters to hold up women's stockings. This became the fashion for wealthy ladies who had servants to help with the lacing. These women began to have numerous ailments ranging from a persistent cough to various aches and pains. Doctors began advising females to abandon their corsets in favor of their health. But women, being slaves of fashion over having common sense, preferred prescriptions and concoctions to cure the ailments, but in reality only compounded their corset health issues.

Types of Corset Health Issues

In the name of fashion, tightlacing became commonplace. The goal was to reshape a female's body to conform to standards of fashion. For many ladies, a 16- to 17-inch waist was desirable and was accomplished by lacing their corsets tighter and tighter until their rib cages became deformed. Health problems naturally followed.

Trouble Breathing

One such problem was reduction of lung volume. Because the corsets were so tight, women were only able to fill the tops of their lungs with air. This shallow breathing resulted in the bottom part of the lungs being filled with mucus. This was characterized by a persistent cough, the body's way of ridding the lungs of foreign matter. This may have been why doctors believed corsets were a cause of tuberculosis. Women were also known to faint because of the reduced lung function. This made smelling salts a typical household item.

Impact on Internal Organs

Another corset health issue was the compression of the internal organs, including:

• Liver
• Stomach
• Bladder
• Intestines

Not only did this compression cause a deformed liver but also indigestion, heartburn and constipation.

At the time it was common for children to wear training corsets in order to prepare them for real corsets when they grew older. This often resulted in the atrophy of their back muscles. Consequentially, some women found it impossible to go with out the support of a corset in order to accomplish simple tasks such as picking up a baby.

Inability to Bear Children

Perhaps one of the most significant corset health issues involved a woman's ability to have children. Obviously, constricting and compressing her internal organs made it difficult for a baby to develop. Many times, the mother died or the baby was born with birth defects. It was also believed that women would deliberately wear an unusually tight corset in order to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

Corsets Today

Around 1900, females thankfully abandoned the tortuous corset in favor of brassieres and girdles. While often the intent is still to slim her body, today's woman can do it with comfort and style. Today's corset is far less restrictive than in past generations. Created to look like the traditional corset, modern ones are designed to be beautiful and much more comfortable. While corsets of yesteryear were meant to be covered up by clothing, women today often choose a corset with the intention of being seen. They can be thankful that they have these choices and don't have to deal with corset health issues.

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