Men in their middle age are preoccupied with their prostate health. There is a constant fear of missing the diagnosis of prostate cancer, which can mimic in some of its symptoms the most prevalent prostate disorder, which is benign prostatic hyperplasia.
What is the Prostate?
The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid. It's located below the bladder and surrounds part of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body).
The prostate gland is made up of several lobes that surround this tube like fingers around an orange. These lobes produce a thick, milky substance called semen when they're stimulated by sexual arousal or orgasm.
What are the Benefits of Prostate Health?
There are many benefits to maintaining a healthy prostate. The most obvious ones include improved urinary function and sexual function, but there are also some less obvious benefits that you may not know about.
- Improved Urinary Function: A healthy prostate can help men to urinate more easily and reduce the risk of incontinence as they age. This is because it helps to maintain the strength of their bladder muscles and prevent them from becoming weak or damaged over time.
- Improved Sexual Function: Men who have an enlarged prostate often experience problems with erections due to decreased blood flow in this area of the body--but if you take steps now to maintain good health, you'll be able to enjoy sex well into old age! * Reduced Risk Of Cancer: One of the most important things about keeping your prostate healthy is reducing your risk for developing cancerous cells within this organ (which can lead directly back up into other areas like your bladder).
What Causes Prostate Health Issues?
Prostate health issues can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Age. As men get older, their prostates tend to enlarge and become more prone to disease. The average age at which most men experience symptoms of prostate enlargement is 60 years old; however, some people may begin experiencing symptoms as early as 40 or 50 years old.
- Genetics. Some people are genetically predisposed to developing cancerous tumors in their prostates--and if you have a family history of prostate cancer or other diseases affecting the male reproductive system (such as testicular cancer), it's important that you take steps now so that you can protect yourself from these conditions later on down the line!
- Diet & Environmental Factors such as radiation exposure from cell phones or other devices with wifi capabilities have been linked with increased risk for developing cancerous tumors within the prostate gland itself; however there hasn't been enough research done yet about whether these factors actually cause them directly
What are the Symptoms of Prostate Health Issues?
- Frequent Urination
- Weak Urine Flow
- Painful Urination
- Blood in Urine
How is Prostate Health Diagnosed?
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). A doctor will insert a gloved finger into your anus and feel the prostate to see if it's enlarged or tender. This is the most common way to check for prostate problems, but it's not very accurate because many men with an enlarged prostate don't have any symptoms or pain.
- Prostate Specific Antigen Test (PSA). This blood test measures levels of PSA in your blood; higher levels may indicate cancer or inflammation of the prostate gland. The PSA test can be used to monitor whether treatment is working after surgery or radiation therapy has been given for cancerous tumors in this area; however, it doesn't always provide accurate results because some men have normal levels even though they have serious problems with their prostates!
What are the Treatments for Prostate Health Issues?
There are several treatments for prostate health issues, including:
- Medication. Drugs such as finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart) can help shrink the size of your prostate and reduce symptoms. They're taken once daily, but they may cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction or decreased libido.
- Surgery. Radical prostatectomy is the removal of the entire gland through an incision in the lower abdomen or groin area that allows surgeons to access it more easily than if they had to go through your pelvic region instead. This procedure can be done with robotic technology that reduces recovery time and complications such as impotence after surgery compared with traditional methods involving open incisions through which doctors make their cuts into surrounding tissue layers before removing parts of organs like ovaries or testicles during surgery procedures like hysterectomies where patients undergo removal procedures involving large incisions across their bodies' skin surfaces so doctors can reach deep inside these regions' innermost structures where tumors may lie hidden away undetected until too late when they start growing uncontrollably until reaching sizes big enough where symptoms occur because there's no room left inside anymore!
What are the Benefits of Early Detection?
Early detection is an important step in preventing prostate cancer. The earlier a man is diagnosed, the better his chances of successful treatment and recovery. Early detection can also help doctors determine whether your risk of developing this disease is low enough to avoid further testing or if you need more extensive testing that may lead to surgery or radiation therapy.
Early detection also gives you access to more treatment options than would be available later on in life when cancer has spread throughout your body. These include:
What are the Recommended Screening Tests?
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
- Prostate Specific Antigen Test (PSA)
- Urine Tests (urine cytology, urine flow rate and post-void residual volume)
- Ultrasound
What are the Recommended Lifestyle Changes?
The following lifestyle changes are recommended for men who want to prevent prostate cancer:
- Eat a healthy diet. A diet high in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Men should aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
- Get regular exercise. The ACS states that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer by about 30 percent compared with not exercising at all. Men should try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days or 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity three times per week, according to the ACS.* Practice stress management techniques such as meditation or yoga.* Limit alcohol intake; heavy drinking has been associated with an increased risk for aggressive forms of prostate cancer, which tend to be more common among black men than white men
What are the Recommended Supplements?
- Vitamin E: This antioxidant can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer and improve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition that causes urinary problems.
- Zinc: Studies suggest that zinc may help prevent BPH, but more research is needed to determine whether it's effective at treating the condition.
- Selenium: Preliminary studies suggest that selenium may reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer, though more research is needed before making any recommendations about supplementation with this mineral. It's also unclear if selenium supplements could have beneficial effects on existing cases of prostate cancer or BPH; more studies are needed before conclusions can be drawn about their usefulness in these situations as well.* Lycopene: Lycopene is found naturally in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables; some research suggests that eating foods high in lycopene might lower your risk for developing certain types of cancers, including those affecting the prostate gland.* Saw Palmetto Extract: Saw palmetto extract appears to improve symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland (BPH), but its use hasn't been proven effective against cancerous growths within this organ yet--so consult your doctor before taking any medications!