Know the Overview of Your Prostate Health- Most males don’t exactly want to talk about their prostates. “Let’s speak about your prostate.” However, it’s important to talk about the significance of the prostate gland to men’s health. Dr. Kenneth Goldberg, an associate professor of urology at Lewisville, Texas, claims that the prostate fundamentally serves two purposes. The first is to contribute to the ejaculate’s fluid output, and the second is to keep your urology working. Men can survive without their prostates.
Why then is prostate health such a big deal? A dysfunctional prostate might lead to an excessive amount of health problems while having no actually necessary functions—especially if you’re not attempting to have children. Here are the things you need to know to prevent your prostate gland from causing damage.
Bigger Doesn’t Always Mean Better
“Two parts of the body tend to become larger as a male gets older,” explains Dr. Goldberg. “The prostate is one, and the belly is the other.” And the last is the one that starts a number of events that might go wrong.
During urination and ejaculation, the prostate has a channel that conducts both urine and semen. With aging, the prostate may expand and become more difficult for urine to flow through. Weak urine stream, night urination, dribbling after urinating, and a stream that comes and goes are all signs of an enlarged prostate.
A problematic prostate might result in an excessive amount of health problems while having no actually essential functions. The inability to completely empty your bladder, which, may lead to more significant disorders, may seem like a minor irritation compared to other problems.
These may appear to be minor inconveniences, but they can result in more significant problems, such as the inability to completely empty your bladder, which, according to Dr. Goldberg, “can lead to infections, backlog in the kidneys, or bladder stones.”
Of course, that’s not the worst of it—guys also need to worry about the big C. Prostate cancer can be fatal. Prostate cancer is extremely treatable if found early, although early prostate cancer may not show any symptoms.
Family history Matters
How is a person meant to find out if he has prostate cancer if there are no symptoms and catches it early rather than too late? The mix of age and family history provides the solution.
Men over 50 are often affected by prostate difficulties, according to Dr. Bajic. “Prostate problems before the age of 40 are quite uncommon.” The likelihood of a male experiencing issues increases as he ages. According to Dr. Goldberg, 20 to 30% of men in their 50s have enlarged prostates.
About 80% of males still do by the time they reach their 80s. “Prostate cancer is extremely treatable if found early, although early prostate cancer may not show any symptoms.”
So, only older men need to be concerned about it. Wait a minute. According to Dr. Bajic, men who have a significant family history of prostate enlargement or prostate cancer may have problems early in life. “Screening should begin in a man’s 40s if there is a substantial family history.”
Dr. Goldberg concurs: “For guys in their 40s, 50s, or maybe early 60s, [knowing you are] family history is vital. It is not hereditary if you develop prostate cancer in your 70s or 80s. That’s just old age. Finding the males who actually require treatment is the key. The 80-year-old guy who may have prostate cancer won’t definitely pass away from it, and the therapies will likely be more painful for him than the illness itself.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) states that “men of African origin are almost 75% more likely to get prostate cancer compared with white men, and nearly twice as likely to die from the illness.” This final piece of information is crucial.
Getting tested first is best
Men should begin prostate cancer screening in their 40s or 50s, depending on their genetic makeup. Blood tests and fingersticks are the two most used diagnostic techniques. Blood tests are quite simple (pretty awkward and uncomfortable).
Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA, testing is used to look for prostate cancer, according to Dr. Bajic. PSA is a chemical that the prostate naturally secretes. It changes the thick, gel-like quality of semen into a more liquid state. A blood test can reveal an excess of PSA, which can occur with prostate cancer.
Most likely, one of the “other tests” would be the standard procedure used by doctors to examine the prostate—you know the one. According to Dr. Bajic, a digital rectal exam can aid in detecting prostate nodules that could be cancerous. Some prostate tumors don’t produce PSA and can only be found by a rectal examination. Although the PSA is the most popular and is regarded as the gold standard test, many urologists also advise an annual rectal exam beginning at age 50.
However, there is still debate among urologists over the necessity of a yearly “finger test.” Additionally, there are more recent screening tools, such as ultrasounds. The best option for you and your family may be discussed with your doctor.
Dr. Goldberg believes that although “I don’t know if we need [the digital rectal exam] every year anymore, it should absolutely be done in instances with increased PSA.” In the end, ultrasounds are more accurate than PSAs, fingerstick tests, or biopsies. Without doing an ultrasound, you cannot determine whether a guy has a 100- or 200-gram prostate.
If you decide to have an ultrasound, be aware that it will probably cost much more than a PSA or digital rectal exam and that the entrance site will be the same as with the latter, albeit a tiny probe or transducer will be used in place of the finger.
Early Detection Produces Excellent Results
The aim is early diagnosis regardless of the tests you and your doctor choose, as prostate cancer that is identified at a lower stage has a very good chance of being cured. The 5-year survival rate in the United States for men with early-stage prostate cancer is really more than 99%, according to the PCF. Starting in your 40s, receive yearly tests if you’re African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer. The age at which annual tests can begin is 50.
Dr. Bajic cautions that if prostate cancer isn’t found early on, “it can spread to other sections of the body and, at that point, is no longer treatable.” There are several levels of prostate cancer aggressiveness, according to Dr. Goldberg. Some tumors don’t need to be treated immediately soon, but aggressive ones must.
The variety of such therapies is what you might anticipate. “There are alternatives, with different therapies fit for different forms of prostate cancer,” says Dr. Goldberg. “Surgery, radiotherapy, or simple monitoring are options.” As with screening, speak with your doctor about the best course of action for your unique circumstance.
You Can Practice the Prevention of prostate cancer,
it’s preferable to stay clear of prostate issues completely. What can young men do right now to protect their prostate’s health in the future? Sadly, the response is “not much.” If they live long enough, all men will develop prostate cancer and enlargement, claims Dr. Bajic. “Dietary changes cannot be made to avoid prostate problems.
However, it has been proposed that a diet high in plants and regular exercise might help prevent cancer in general. Dr. Goldberg says that spicy meals, alcohol, and caffeine all irritate the prostate and bladder when it comes to foods to avoid.
Here is one last prostate-related tip: According to Dr. Goldberg, “frequent ejaculation would ideally be advantageous since you’re emptying away the prostate’s secretions. That is undoubtedly an excellent line to tell your partner.
