Five Facts Every Man Should Know About The Prostate


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One in two men over the age of 60 are likely to suffer from prostate problems. About a third of men over 50 suffer from it. The gland is located just below a male\'s bladder and surrounds the top portion of the tube (urethra) that drains urine from the bladder. Enlarged prostate gland occurs as men get older and nobody quite knows why. When it does get bigger it acts like a clamp on the urethra thus reducing the flow of urine.

The consequences of this are well known and difficulty in urinating, frequency, urgency and difficulty in emptying the bladder are all too common symptoms. The condition in this benign form is called BPH (benign prostastic hyperplasia ).

In order to rule out cancer of the prostate, you will have to have a few blood tests- especially the PSA which will indicate whether there is any anti-tumoral activity in the gland. Smetimes the doctor will request a more accurate test which is called the free PSA. A scan sometimes is recommended.

Second fact to be aware of is the rectal examination which is called the DRE which stands for digital rectal examination. While doing this, the doctor can feel the back of the gland against the rectal wall and can tell if it is much larger than normal or if it is smooth - this is normally a good sign.

Thirdly, is surgery always necessary? No. What treatment you can have will be determined by various factors such as your age, size of the prostate and general medical condition. Surgery can result in impotence and incontinence although there are many surgical procedures which preserve the nerve tissues, thereby reducing this risk.

\'Watchful waiting\' is the policy adopted by many doctors and urologists as medication with regular tests can keep the situation under control for many years. Medication consists of alpha blockers (such as Flomax and Cardura) which help the muscles relax around the neck of the bladder thus facilitating urination. Other drugs are used to actually reduce the size of the gland (Proscar).

In fifth place, a change in diet, if the condition is mild or moderate, is recommended.. So a low-fat diet, with lots of fibre from fruit and vegetables, tomatoes and soya and a reduced intake of coffee and alcohol can help. Some herbal remedies and supplements are also possible- the best known ones to be effective are :- saw palmetto, zinc, pumpkin seeds, beta sitosterol and selenium.

Thankfully surgery is not often an option now but the doctor and patient together can make an informed decision about which treatment is best. Herbal supplements are sometimes used in conjunction with standard medication. They may also be used instead of these medicines. In the final analysis, the patient has to decide what is best for him.

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