The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system that wraps around the male urethra near the bladder.If you’re a man in your 40s or older, it is particularly important for you to know certain facts about your prostate, and steps you can take to help prevent and treat prostate problems.
Prostate problems are extremely common and if you are experiencing them, you are certainly not alone! Did you know that 40 percent of visits to urologists today are for prostate problems? The rate of prostate cancer is rising by as much as 3 percent each year and is very common in men over 50 years old. Erectile dysfunction problems are as common as a cold in men over 30. Chances are good that you or someone you know may face prostate or ED trouble at some point in life.
If you are feeling alone and worried about your condition, we are here to help and provide as much information and help as possible!
Prostate trouble often comes to a man’s attention through urinary difficulties, problems ejaculating, or pain in the pelvic region. However, men with prostate cancer might not experience any symptoms at all before their diagnosis. That’s why prevention and regular check-ups are so important. So first step is seeing a doctor regularly, we cannot stress enough the importance of this, as early detection is key!
In fact, early detection of any prostate problems is very important, so here are some symptoms you don’t want to ignore:
Symptoms of Prostate Problems
Pain, hesitancy, or urgency to urinate |
Itchy feeling in the penis |
Erection difficulties/impotence |
Discomfort when sitting |
Pain during sex or ejaculation |
Discomfort in the groin, penis, or testicles |
Decrease in sexual desire |
Burning feeling with urination |
Depression |
Fatigue |
Male infertility |
Premature ejaculation |
Decreased force of urinary stream |
Blood in the urine |
It is important to educate yourself about the different forms of prostate problems that men can have. This way you’ll be able to help yourself or someone close to you.
In this article we will try to shine some light on the symptoms of prostate problems and suggest treatment options as well as ways to prevent these conditions.
Prostatitis
An infection and inflammation of the prostate gland are considered to be a precursor to Prostate Cancer. Prostatitis can show up in the form of:
Urinary complaints, burning, itching, unusual discharge from the penis, sexual dysfunction, pelvic pain, fever, and fatigue.
This condition can come on suddenly at just about any age. In fact, approximately 80 percent of sexually active men have prostatitis to some degree. But virgin males can get it too. It can be mild and short-lived, severe with a sharp rise and short course, or it can turn chronic with debilitating symptoms.
The sad truth is that conventional medicine provides few effective treatment options for this condition. Traditionally, it’s treated with antibiotics. But studies show that antibiotics relieve symptoms in less than 30 percent of all cases and even then low-grade prostatitis often continues growing without symptoms.
Fortunately, new treatments are now emerging that can help you overcome this insidious condition, effectively and naturally.
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)
This condition affects 10 million men in the United States and is characterized by gradual swelling of the prostate. As the prostate swells, it begins to press against the urethra, interfering with the normal flow of urine out of the body.
With this condition you can suffer from hesitancy in urinating, straining to start the stream, a weak urinary stream, dribbling before or after urinating, frequent urination, or increased urgency. You may also suffer from incontinence as well as incomplete urination, which means that you can’t completely empty his bladder.
ncreasingly, prostatitis is considered a likely factor in the development of BPH. Therefore, many of the natural medicine approaches that work to prevent and treat prostatitis are also effective for BPH. In fact, some prostate experts believe that prostatitis and BPH may be the same condition.
Men with identical symptoms can be diagnosed with either prostatitis or BPH, the only difference being the man’s age. Men under 50 tend to be diagnosed with prostatitis, whereas men over 50 are often told they have BPH.
It’s important to note, however, that prostate enlargement is the defining symptom of BPH, and it does not always occur with prostatitis. Moreover, hormone imbalances are also thought to be a factor in BPH.
BPH Non-invasive Surgery
The principal medical “solution” to BPH symptoms is the non-invasive surgery called TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), also referred to as reaming out the prostate.
The urologist inserts an instrument through the penis (while the patient is under anesthesia), removing enough of the tissue to open the urethra and restore normal urine flow. Often, there are major complications with TURP. So before turning to surgery it is really best to try all the other natural options first.
Prostate Cancer
Although prostatitis and BPH can, in advanced cases, be quite dangerous, the most serious prostate problem is cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common form of malignancy found in men.
Every three minutes, a new case of prostate cancer is diagnosed in the U.S.11 Many men have prostate cancer and are not aware of it. Autopsy studies of men who died of other causes suggest that by the age of 50 or so, 30 percent of all men have undetected prostate cancer. And by the age of 90, the majority of men have it.
The traditional treatment of prostate cancer involves surgical removal and/or radiation. Each year, 40,000 men have their prostates surgically removed or burned with radiation—often within 48 hours of a cancer diagnosis.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Statistics
Unfortunately, in many cases, surgery and radiation don’t work for prostate cancer. In fact, cancer often recurs—35 percent of all patients require more treatment within five years, and 76 percent within 10 years.
While short-term survival rates among prostate cancer patients are very high—upward of 90 percent—impotence and incontinence are very real possibilities following most mainstream medical treatments.
The nerves controlling erection run along the outside of the prostate, and even with the newer, “nerve-sparing” approach to surgery, these precious nerves are often damaged or destroyed, leaving the man incontinent and impotent for the rest of his life.
Scientific Approach to the Root of Prostate Cancer
More scientists now believe that chronic and progressive prostatitis and BPH contribute to the development of prostate cancer. In fact, many men who develop prostate cancer experience the symptoms of prostatitis or BPH for years before receiving a cancer diagnosis.
Specifically, scientists think that the chronic infection and inflammation associated with prostatitis can, over time, lead to the development of prostate cancer. Chronic inflammation caused by bacteria and other pathogens in the prostate, over time, may lead to the development of cancer.
While this might scare many of you who have prostatitis or another “benign” prostate condition, the good news is… you don’t have to wait for a cancer diagnosis. There are steps you can take NOW to protect yourself.
You don’t have to wait for a cancer diagnosis and suffer through painful surgery, radiation, incontinence, even impotence. There are other ways! You can conquer chronic prostatitis, BPH, and prostate cancer naturally, safely, and effectively.
BPH vs Prostate Cancer
Unlike Prostate Cancer, BPH is not life-threatening. These two do share some common symptoms that might get you worried:
- Urgent need to urinate
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty starting a urine stream
- Nocturnal urination
BPH does not cause prostate cancer, but it is possible to have both prostate disorders at the same time.
Prostate Enlargement
This is a very common condition which is associated with ageing. There is no scientific study that could explain why the prostate gets bigger as men get older, but prostate enlargement is not caused by cancer and does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Over a third of all men over 50 years old will experience some symptoms of prostate enlargement and it is not usually a serious threat to health. Symptoms of prostate enlargement include:
- A weak flow of urine
- Difficulty starting or stopping urinating
- Having a feeling of not being able to fully empty your bladder
- Straining when urinating
- Having the need to urinate more frequently
- Prolonged dribbling after you have finished peeing
- Waking up frequently at night to urinate
A pressure on the bladder and urethra is created when the prostate becomes enlarged which affects how you pass urine. Symptoms are mild and do not require treatment in some men; however, others may experience troublesome symptoms and will have a major impact on their quality of life.
Reasons for Prostate Enlargement
There is no known cause of prostate enlargement, however, most experts would agree that it is linked to the changes in hormones that occur as the man gets older.
- One theory is that the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increases which may stimulate the growth of prostate as some men get older.
- Another theory suggests that estrogen and testosterone relationship play a role.
High levels of testosterone and much smaller levels of estrogen are produced by younger men and as men get older, a higher proportion of estrogen in their body is produced as their levels of testosterone decreases. The relevant increase in estrogen may stimulate the growth of the prostate.
Steps to Diagnosing Prostate Enlargement
If you’re worried about your health and want find out whether you have prostate enlargement you will need to have a few tests.
- First, you will be asked about your symptoms and if it seems that you may have the symptoms of prostate enlargement, you will be asked to have your symptoms assessed by completing a questionnaire. Each question may have five possible answers with corresponding scores and the severity of your symptoms will be assessed by your overall scores.
- You may also undergo a number of standard tests such as urine tests and blood tests that measure your Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
The treatment for prostate enlargement is determined by the severity of the symptoms that you are experiencing:
- For mild to moderate prostate enlragement symptoms, you will only have regular check-ups to have your prostate monitored carefully and you will not receive any immediate medical treatment. A change in lifestyle like limiting your caffeine and alcohol intake and exercising regularly may be advised to see if they improve your symptoms.
- For moderate to severe symptoms of prostate enlargement, aside from lifestyle changes, medication is also usually recommended. Commonly used medications are finasteride and dutasteride. These two block the effects of DHT which in result reduces the size of the prostate and improves the symptoms associated. Your GP may also prescribe Alpha blockers which help relax your bladder muscles, making it easier to pass urine. Commonly used Alpha blockers to treat prostate enlargements are Tamsulosin and Alfuzosin. A surgery is usually recommended for those that have moderate to severe symptoms which failed to respond to medication.
You’re not alone! Millions of men worldwide are affected by Prostate Problems. Here are the most common questions asked by men in regards to prostate:
Prostate FAQs:
- Can you get prostate cancer at a young age? While prostate cancer has a bigger chance to affect men over 55, studies show that younger men are not safe either. The leading cause of prostate cancer in young men may be a family history of the same prostate desease combined with an unhealthy diet.
- What happens when you have your prostate removed? Possible side effects of prostate removal involve inability to control your urination and/or impotence. After prostate removal it is no longer possible to ejaculate semen.
- What is the difference between BPH and Prostatitis? BPH usually affects men over the age of 50. It occurs as an enlarged prostate that blocks the urethra, making it impossible to pee wtihout pain.
Prostatitis affects man younger than 50 in most cases, and it is an inflammation or infection of the prostate gland. It creates the urge to pee a lot more often then usuall, daily and at night.
- What is a prostate massage? Many benefits have been associated with prostate massage. It is usually performed by a trained physician, but you can opt to do it alone, or with the help of your partner.
- Can I perform prostate massage to myself discreetly? Prostate massage can be done manually, by inserting a clean gloved finger into the rectum, or it can be performed by using a special prostate massaging device. We recommend using our device: Sonic prostate massager., however there are also other options on the market.
Superfoods That Boost Prostate Health
It is never too late to start with a healthy diet that will ensure many benefits for your prostate health. People suffering from any kind of prostate problems might want to include the following foods to their daily routine:
- Cayenne pepper – The substance called Capsaicin found in these hot peppers is know to reduce pain, and kill the cancer cells without harming the healthy ones.
- Brazil nuts – Tasty and nutritious, this South American delicacy is rich in selenium, zinc, magnesium and amino acids.
- Potatoes – A great source of potassium, that helps control blood pressure, and aids the contraction of muscles in your body.
- Broccoli – It’s all about the phytonutrients called sulforaphane and indoles. Both of them aid in destroying cancer causing elements. Eating broccoli more than once a week reduces the chances of developing prostate cancer.
- Watermelon – This tasty fruit will help protect your heart and prostate. It’s all due to Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight prostate cancer.
- Green Tea – Contains powerful antioxidants called Catechins. They play a major role in boosting our immune system. Green tea has been used to fight prostate cancer.
- Tomatoes – Another carrier of the antioxidant Lycopene. Studies show that our bodies will absorb tomato sauce or tomato puree a lot easier than raw tomato. Consider including some Italian food to your diet.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – People have found this type of vinegar to be especially helpful in shrinking an enlarged prostate. The usual method is mixing a teaspoon of vinegar with a spoon of honey.
We hope we provided a basic insight into the different forms of prostate disease, their symptoms, and steps you can take towards a better functioning prostate. If you want to further educate yourself on how to improve your prostate health we developed a 7-step plan that focuses mainly on nutrition, stress management, supplements, prostate massages, and physical exercise. Just follow the link and read about the 7 steps to a healthy prostate and start making some lifestyle changes today!
Our message is simple: Prostate problems are increasing by the year for middle-aged and elderly men, but it doesn’t skip the younger crowd either. We believe in holistic approaches to preventing and treating prostate related conditions. They will not only eliminate your disease but also increase your general level of health and quality of life.
Please take some time to go through our site and educate yourself on this important topic. Prostate related disorders can happen to anyone, this is why it’s especially crucial to stay informed.