Men’s prostrate health – Keeping your prostate healthy

Men’s prostrate health – Keeping your prostate healthy

Men have been suffering from prostate conditions that can negatively affect their life for many decades, it hasn’t just sprung up.  So what is the prostrate and what does it do?

The prostate gland is a small gland that is positioned under the bladder and it is about the size of a walnut.  Its primary function is the production of prostatic fluid which is fluid found in semen.  The Urethra passes through the prostate gland and carries urine and semen out through the penis.  The prostate gland begins to grow in size around puberty and then stops.  At around the age of 40 years, it begins to grow again, in some men it doesn’t stop.   

There are 3 problems associated with the prostrate:

1. Enlarged prostrate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
2. Prostatic inflammation (prostatitis)
3. Prostate cancer

Enlarged prostrate (BHP)

This is common in middle aged and elderly men - affecting around 50% of men in their 60’s and 90% in their 70’s and 80’s.   It occurs when there are too many cells being produced causing a blockage in the prostate preventing the flow of urine.  The swelling puts pressure on the urethra and acts like a clamp prevent urine to pass easily. BPH is very common - up to four in 10 men over 65 have it.   

Symptoms of and Enlarged Prostate are:

• dysuria (which means pain whilst urinating)
• difficulty in starting the flow urine 
• an interrupted flow of urine that sometimes starts and stops 
• dribbling of urine before and after urinating 
• a frequent or urgent need to pass urine 

The symptoms of BPH can be similar to those of certain types of prostate cancer, so it makes sense to see your Doctor as soon as possible if you start to have problems passing urine. BPH is easier to treat if the treatment starts early.

Upon diagnosis, pharmaceutical medication will often be prescribed. These medications can have some harsh side effects.  For prevention rather than cure, there have been proven studies that certain vitamins and herbs will help reduce the size of an enlarged prostate gland.

• Zinc is helpful with an enlarged prostrate or if it has become inflamed. In fact a zinc deficiency can result in the prostate becoming enlarged.  
• Vitamin C will help avoid infection and due to the diuretic factors in this vitamin, it will make urinating easier, at the very least.  
• Lycopene is a natural antioxidant vital in making tomatoes red. It has shown to slow or halt the growth of BHP. 
• Saw Palmetto is another plant used in the treatment of an enlarged prostate.  European studies have proven this to be true.

If you are concerned about the health of your prostate then prevention is definitely better than cure.  There are a number of preparations available on this website that can help in the prevention of an enlarged prostate.  Microgenics – Protech Complete Prostate Formula, Natures Sunshine Saw Palmetto and Nutra Life Epilobium Plus to name a few, are all excellent sources of the above vitamins and minerals to keep your prostate in check.

Alternatively if you have been diagnosed with BHP, then there are also products available here for you too.  Herbs of Gold Prostaid Forte contains Epilobium (along with all the other ingredients listed above) which helps in with the symptoms of BHP.  It has properties that act as antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.  It is proven to assist in bladder and urinary system health, making it easy to see why it is so effective in prostate health also.

Prostatic inflammation (prostatitis)

This is an infection or inflammation of the prostate and there are 3 main types.

• Bacterial prostatitis
• Nonbacterial prostatitis
• Prostatodynia

Bacterial prostatitis can come in two forms, acute (sudden onset) or chronic (slow gradual onset over a number of years). Symptoms can be quite severe and are treated with antibiotics.  Around 1 in 10 men will suffer from each type of Prostatitis in their lifetime.

Symptoms can include:

• Fever and Chills 
• lower back pain
• Aching muscles 
• Fatigue
• Frequent or pain when urinating

Nonbacterial prostatitis is much more common occurring in around 6 out of 10 men. While it is unsure as to why this condition occurs, it is known that men with a history of recurrent bladder infections are more like to contract this condition.

Symptoms include:

• Occasional pain or discomfort in the testicles, urethra, lower abdomen, and back
• Discharge from the urethra, more common during first bowel movement of the day
• Blood or urine in ejaculate
• Low sperm count
• Sexual difficulties
• Frequent urination

Prostatodynia affects about 3 in 10 men. Pain is often felt in the area of the prostate.  Diagnosis for Prostatodynia is made via a DRE (digital rectal exam), which is off putting to many men. Unfortunately this is the only way.  This is not a life threatening disease and does not lead to cancer, although its symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable.

Symptoms include:

• pain in the prostate gland, testicles, penis, and urethra 
• can be painful or difficult to urinate

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men.  It is a slow growing cancer and often is not the cause of death – although 30,000 men still succumb to Prostate cancer each year.  Symptoms are often closely related to BHP.

Additional Symptoms include:

• Chronic pain in the thighs, hips and lower back
• Blood in the semen or urine

Prostate cancer often takes a while to display any symptoms until it has progressed somewhat and then the symptoms are not unlike BHP.

Many men are unwilling to discuss this aspect of their health, and therefore many of these cases go undetected, continuing to cause men discomfort and embarrassment. Don’t wait until it is too late, take supplements and have a regular screen to help prevent these diseases.

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