Sunday, March 21, 2010

If you do not have prostate problem, chances are, you will.

Statistics points to the fact that if a man lives long enough, he will develop prostate problem. Most prostate problems are benign in nature, although very uncomfortable and inconvenient. However, the symptoms can be hiding something more sinister like prostate cancer, which is one of the most common cancers. Prostate cancer if it is not detected and treated at the early stage is often fatal. That is why prostate examination is so important, especially for men in the high risk age group of forty and above.

Medical procedures can sometimes be overwhelming to the average person. Many men avoid having a prostate examination because of the invasive nature of the test but it is a very necessary test. Most men will experience enlarging of the prostate around the age of fifty. Ignoring the problem will have detrimental effects on one's general health and may even lead to the late treatment of prostate cancer.

Prostate Health

The prostate gland of a sexually mature man is about the size of a walnut. It is located close to the base of the bladder, in front of the rectum. It produces fluid, which nourishes and protects semen, when it is transported into the vagina of a woman through sexual intercourse. This fluid also increases the volume of the semen.

Prostate gland in men starts enlarging as they get older. Your prostate will probably start to enlarge when you are in your 40s and enlargement may continue for the rest of your life. This condition is commonly known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

There are three main conditions affecting the prostate health. These include Prostatitis, Prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate gland.

Prostate MilkingMany people recommend regular prostate milking as a preventative treatment against prostate cancer and prostatitis. Prostate milking is also known as prostate massage. Below are given steps, which guide you through the process of prostate milking when you do it on your own.

- First make sure that your fingernails are trimmed and have no jagged edges jutting out.

- Clean your body and your hands thoroughly. Then put on a sterile latex glove on your hand and dab a little water-based lubricant on your fingers to perform urination or a bowel movement, which helps to relax the area.

- Carefully insert your finger or fingers into your anus. Move them gradually upwards and to the back, along the area of the rectum towards the front of your body.

- Your fingers should move roughly in the direction of your navel.

- You will feel the prostate gland, which is like a small, round bulb about the size of a large walnut. Gently massage it with a light waving motion along its sides.

- You should not press hard on the central area, where the sensitive nerves are located.

- You may experience a disconcerting sensation, which makes you feel an urge to urinate. However, you should continue with the procedure.

- After a few minutes, the prostate gland may be stimulated enough to have ejaculation.

- You may also experience sexual pleasure or orgasm. However, sometimes, ejaculation will not take place but you may feel sexual pleasure.

Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease, which develops when cells of the prostate mutate and begin to multiply in an uncontrolled manner. In most of the cases, prostate cancer develops slowly and may remain undiagnosed, as it never causes any symptoms or problems.

Prostate Problems
The most common symptom of a prostate problem is difficulty in urination. The changes in the prostate narrow the urethra, which helps in smooth exit of urine from the bladder. Prostate problems are generally found in men after the age of 50 years when they experience urination problems. These prostate problems occur due to its enlargement, which result in squeezing the urethra.

Enlarged ProstateEnlarged prostate is also known as benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) or sometimes as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Enlarged prostate is an overgrowth of prostate cells, which obstruct the flow of urine and men suffer urination problems

The prostate is part of a man's sex organs.

It is the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra. As the prostate grows larger it can press on the urethra. This narrows the urethra and can cause some men with prostate enlargement to have problems urinating. Prostate enlargement is said to be the most common health problem in men older than 60 years of age. The prostate usually starts to enlarge at about the age of 40.

Early in prostate enlargement the bladder muscle become thicker to force the urine through the urethra. It does so by contracting more powerfully. This can make the bladder more sensitive. As the prostate is getting larger and the urethra is squeezed tighter, the bladder may not be able to keep up and cause problems fully emptying the bladder. If too much blockage happens from the prostate enlarging it may cause repeated urinary tract infections which can cause kidney damage.

Sometimes men with enlarged prostate don't get any symptoms at all. But common symptoms of enlarged prostate are a weak urine stream, difficulty starting to urinate, dribbling after urinating, feelings of not fully emptying the bladder, leaking urine, more frequent urination, bloody urine, and loss of sexual desire or functions.

Getting a physical exam every year is recommended to be sure there are no signs of enlarged prostate. If there are signs there will be another physical exam to determine exact causes of symptoms. A digital rectum exam is normally done to examine the prostate gland. The doctor can then determine the size and condition of the prostate or feel for lumps. Urine tests are done too to make sure there are no signs of infection.

There are both medical and surgical treatments for enlarged prostate. A common operation for resection of prostate is TURP. The doctor will scrape away the inner core of the prost ate through a small instrument inserted through the urethra. This is done to give relief from symptoms. TUIP is an operation that instead of removing prostate tissue the doctor makes cuts in the prostate; the cuts reduce pressure on the urethra making it easier to urinate. There are also other surgeries out there to treat enlarged prostate.

Often times after having TURP done men find that they have the side effect of semen not going through the penis during orgasm. Since it is not going through the penis it is going backward into the bladder. It can be treated with a drug to keep the bladder closed. This can cause problems with fertility. Erection problems and loss of bladder control are also common side effects of prostate surgeries.

Activities That Help to Maintain a Healthy Prostate.

1. Moderate exercise (like walking)
We know that one half to three-quarters of men older than 75 will have some cancerous changes in their prostate glands. People doing moderate exercise like walking for 2 to 3 hours per week had a 25 percent less risk of developing prostate problems than those who did not. Just 20-30 minutes walking a day would help to increase circulation of blood to the body as a side benefit for better sexual function and prostate health.

2. Sitz baths
It is one of the earliest prostate treatments and the most effective remedies for prostate pain. This special bath brings a great flow of blood to a specific area of the body while the regular hot bath is pleasant and generally increases circulation throughout your body.

3. Yoga
Yoga is really helpful to the prostate. It also helps tone the deep pelvic muscles there by promoting circulation. Yoga promotes flexibility, circulation, and stimulates the liver meridian. In general yoga helps a person to be more aware of his pelvic area in terms of his muscular control.

4. Kegal exercise
Kegal exercise when performed while in virasana, bhekasana or frog pose also promotes good prostate health and overall benefit to the urogenital tract.

5. Spinal and pelvic massage
Spinal and pelvis massage helps to
a) Increase blood supply to the prostate and the pelvic area.
b) Increase lymphatic flow to the prostate and the pelvic area.
c) Reduces inflammatory conditions.

6. Joyful sex life
Sex helps increase movement of the pelvic muscles and the blood circulation to all organs of your body. As fresh blood supply arrives your cells, organs and muscles are saturated with fresh oxygen and hormones, and as the used blood is removed, you also remove waste products and toxins from your body, thus reducing the risk of inflammation of the prostate.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment- with Common Sense Approaches

1. Reduce fat and cholesterol intake, especially saturated fats.
Study shows that if you eat more than 5 servings of red meat every week you could increase the risk of enlarged prostate and prostate cancer by 80%. By eating less of red meat and replacing them with cold water fish, you are ensured yourselves to get enough omega fatty acid that helps to improve your prostate health, reduce cholesterol levels, lower the risk of enlarged prostate as well as prostate cancer.

2. Eat foods containing more zinc (nuts- especially walnuts, pumpkin, seeds, safflower seeds and oysters).
Zinc is an essential mineral for prostate health. It helps to reduce the size of the prostate and relieve symptoms of enlarged prostate. Foods containing zinc also contain cucurbitacines, chemicals that stop testosterone from changing to stronger forms of testosterone which encourages too many prostate cells to grow. Foods that contain cucurbitacines are nuts, walnuts, pumpkin seed, and oyster.

3. Guard your prostate with green tea
Green tea contains catechins, a chemical that helps our immune system to track down tumor cells before they can do any harm to the prostate cells. Green tea may be one reason that Asian people have far fewer cases of prostate cancer than North Americans.

4. Remove all chemicals and pesticides from diet (eat organic food).
Chemicals and pesticides in the processing food is toxic to our body. Intaking high doses of these poisonous chemicals will danger our immune system as well as cause inflammation of the body including the prostate.

5. Increase consumption of plants high in the sulphurophanes
Study shows that you could reduce the risk of prostate cancer and prostate enlargement by 45% if you eat 24 or more servings of vegetables that contain high amounts of sulphurophanes such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and cabbage.

Prevention and treatment.

With Foods
1. Tomato
Tomatoes contain a high amount of lycopene that can help to protect the prostate and keep it healthy, but raw tomato is hard to digest. Be sure to take tomato with dark green leafy vegetables for helping the absorption of lycopene.

2. Soy bean and legume
Soybeans and legumes contains isoflavones and is a unique source of phytochemicals It directly inhibits the growth of different types of cancer cells and protects the prostate from being enlarged. Study shows that isoflavones were found to markedly inhibit prostate tumors in mice implanted with prostate cancer cells. Try adding soy or rice milk to your morning cereal or oatmeal.

2. Grapefruit
Grapefruits contain high amounts of vitamin C, minerals, bioflavonnoids and other plant chemicals that help to prevent enlarged prostate, prostate cancer and other forms of cancer and heart diseases.

3. Papaya
Papayas are rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, carotenoids and flavonoids that have cardio protective and anti-cancer effects. Eating papayas help to promote lung health and prevents the prostate from becoming enlarged and prevents prostate cancer.

4. Bean
Beans are rich in inositol pentakisphosphate. Beans are high in fiber, which helps the body rid itself of excess testosterone that reduces the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT thus triggering prostate enlargement and other problems.

5. Green tea
Green tea contains the antioxidant phytochemicals called polyphenols that attack growth factors and proteins, interrupting processes that increase the size of tumors, thus preventing them from spreading to other parts of the body. Green tea also help to prevent the development of benign prostate hyperplasia such as enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.

6. Broccoli
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, including kale and cauliflower, are rich in sulphoraphane, a cancer-fighting phytochemical that helps rid the body of excess testosterone and reduces the risk of benign protatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

7. Cold water fish
Cold water fish contains high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids. Study shows that omega-3 fatty acids inhibit carcinogenesis that helps significantly lower levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in men with benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

B. With Supplements
1. Bee pollen
Bee pollen is an antioxidant containing high amounts of flavonoids, zinc and many other elements needed by our bodies. It has an astounding record at reversing prostate cancer and other prostate problems such as enlarged prostate.

2. Prostate glandulars
Animal prostates contain high amounts of zinc that nourishes the human prostate.

3. Alanine
Since alanine is present in prostate fluid, it plays an important role in prostate health. This has been confirmed in some studies that Alanine helps in preventing enlarged prostate and helps in strengthening the immune system.

4. Glutamics acid
The fluid produced by the prostate gland also contains high amounts of glutamic acid, and may play a role in the normal function of the prostate. High dosages of glutamic acid may cause headaches and neurological problems and people with kidney or liver disease should not consume high intakes of amino acids without first consulting with your doctor.

5. Glycine
Glycine is also found in fairly large amounts in the prostate fluid and may for this reason be important in prostate health. It is required to build proteins in the body and synthesis of nucleic acids, the construction of RNA as well as DNA, bile acids and other amino acids in the body. Study shows that glycine, taken withalanine and glutamic acid help to reduced the amount of swelling in the prostate tissue.

6. Lycopene
The substance found in tomatoes, fruits and vegetables can prevent and slow down prostate inflammation and prostate cancer. Study shows that lycopene helps to decrease in DNA the damage to prostate cells. Lycopene also protects against LDL cholesterol oxidation.

Signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia

1. Nocturia.
Nocturia is defined as being awakened at night one or more times in order to pass urine. It becomes more common as the person becomes older. This common pattern seen among people with this condition is an increased number of times of waking up every night to urinate for the rest of their life.

Nocturnal Polyuria is an important cause of nocturia in which there is an overproduction of urine at night. It is defined to have nighttime urine volume that is greater than 20-30% of the total 24 hour urine volume. Nocturia occurs more commonly among older people. It also occurs in women and men differently. Women generally experience nocturia as a result from childbirth, menopause, and pelvic organ prolapse. Nocturia in men can be directly attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate.

2. Dysuria.
Dysuria is a complication associated with genitourinary infections usually resulting in painful urination because the infection has made its way into the urinary tract, resulting in a urinary tract infection. Dysuria in men is usually indicative of a complication of the prostate, commonly referred to as prostatic hyperplasia caused by hormonal imbalances associated with estrogen production.

3. Asymptomatic
As we know the prostate gland becomes enlarged as a man ages. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis may be diagnosed when infection-fighting cells are present causing common symptoms of prostatitis such as difficulty with urination, fever, and lower back and pelvic pain.

4. Epididymitis
Epididymitis is an inflammation of the epididymis that connects the testicle with the vas deferens. Epididymitis is usually caused by infection of the urethra or the bladder. Epididymitis may begin with a low grade fever and chills with a heavy sensation in the testicle which becomes increasingly sensitive to pressure or traction.