Reluctant tie-wearers who have for years fidgeted uncomfortably with their over-tight knots will not be surprised to find out that wearing a tie can damage your health.

Researchers in America have discovered that a tie worn too tightly increases blood pressure inside the eye in the space of a few minutes, which puts the wearer at risk of developing glaucoma, the potentially blinding eye condition.

But ties are not the only articles of clothing that can affect your well-being.

While we are centuries away from the days of those faint-inducing corsets which produced the perfect hand-span waist but led to curvature of the spine and damaged organs, the humble tie is probably the least of our worries.

Those who wear tight jeans and pants, short skirts, 'hold in' hosiery and even seemingly sensible flat shoes may be heading for a wardrobe full of ailments, according to experts.

Medical findings blame clothing for afflictions ranging from poor posture and heartburn to cystitis and eczema.

It has long been known that high heels with pointed toes can lead to years of foot and back problems, but poorly-made flat shoes can also trigger a heap of trouble, according to the charity BackCare, also known as the National Back Pain Association.

''Flat shoes which don't have any cushion or arch support can contribute to back pain because every time you take a step you apply hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch to your foot,'' says Nia Taylor, BackCare chief executive.

''If there is no support, that pressure is transferred directly to the spine. If you put additional pressure on your spine then everything else you do becomes more risky because you are potentially putting the spine out of balance.''

Clothes which restrict natural movement can also lead to posture problems, she adds. ''Very short or very tight skirts can result in people not moving naturally. Climbing stairs or getting in and out of cars they will typically move more stiffly and if they are not moving naturally then everything is tensed up and injury is more likely to happen.''

Tight clothes may also provide the force to trigger endometriosis, a painful condition thought to affect around two million women in this country, which can lead to infertility, according to Professor John Dickinson of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in London.

He says: ''This is a hypothesis, because no one knows the cause of endometriosis, an extremely common condition which remains a complete mystery.

''But if a woman is wearing a tight abdominal garment for some time, say half a day, and then takes it off and releases that compression, it could result in bits of endometrium getting into the abdominal cavity. However, there is no proof either way.'' Yet his theory is supported by the fact that the condition seems not to exist in countries where loose clothing is worn, such as India, where almost all the women wear saris.

It is well known, however, that underwear which is too tight and becomes hot is bad for men.

Dr Dickinson explains: ''The reason hot garments are bad for men is that the falling of the testes outside the body is supposed to keep them cool. If you wrap them up in thick garments the sperm count goes down. Wearing unduly hot abdominal garments makes men less fertile.''

There have also long been theories that tight underpants contribute to testicular cancer.

However, a spokesman for Cancer Research UK says: ''There was a survey ten years ago when a large number of men were asked about their style of clothing, but no epidemiological link was found between tight underpants and cancer.''

Women should also choose their bras carefully, warns Taylor, as an ill-fitting bra can damage posture.

''It's important to wear a properly fitted and supportive bra or the woman's shoulders are pulled forward into a rounded position.

''Also, tight bra straps can dig into the middle of the spine and put pressure on the nerves in the back.''

Heat and constriction is also a problem for women as tights create a hothouse for germs and can lead to fungal infections like thrush and cystitis. Tight clothes around the abdomen can also affect the gut, says Dr Jeremy Sanderson, honorary secretary of the British Society of Gastroenterology.

''Simply by pushing on the stomach, you make the level of fluid (acid) in the stomach higher and are therefore more likely to reflux it up into the oesophagus.''

If the stomach doesn't have room to expand after eating, acid comes into the gullet and causes heartburn.

Of course, anyone susceptible to skin conditions may also be advised to steer clear of man-made fibres.

Dermatologists have warned that some women could be allergic to the dye in tights.

Sue Ward, of the National Eczema Society, says: ''We recommend wearing loose cotton clothing and avoiding synthetic fibres. Clothing made from man-made fibres and wool irritate the skin.

''Cotton keeps skin cool and allows it to breathe. Check that seams are well stitched and that the backs of any fastenings are covered with fabric to reduce the risk of irritation. Cut out labels from the neck of sweaters and blouses as these may also irritate.''