Prostate problems too often
put a damper on the activities
of men of all ages and they
are far more common than
previously thought. According
to numerous studies, more than
half of all men over 50 years
of age suffer from an enlarged
prostate and its symptoms. As
men age, up to 80% will suffer
from uncomfortable symptoms
tha
more

Prostate problems too often
put a damper on the activities
of men of all ages and they
are far more common than
previously thought. According
to numerous studies, more than
half of all men over 50 years
of age suffer from an enlarged
prostate and its symptoms. As
men age, up to 80% will suffer
from uncomfortable symptoms
that may include difficulty
urinating, increased frequency
and urgency of urination,
bouts with sleep-disturbing
nighttime urination and
painful lower backache.
Prostate difficulties are
costly, too. Every year about
400,000 men have prostate
surgery; adding over $3
billion annually to our
national health care bill.Most
men know more about a women's
monthly cycle than they do
about their own body and its
sexual health, yet problems
with prostate gland are as
common in men as period
problems in women.Prostate
function A small donut-shaped
gland, the prostate surrounds
the urethra where it leaves
the bladder. The prostate
produces an alkaline substance
which makes up the largest
part of the seminal
reproductive fluid. From
around the age of 45, the
number of cells in the
prostate gland starts to
enlarge in most men. This
non-cancerous process known as
benign prostatic hyperplasia,
or BPH for short. In some
men, the prostate gland grows
large without causing problems
with passing water. This may
be because their urethra is
wider than average, or because
the gland tends to enlarge
outward. In many, however,
enlargement of the prostate
gland squeezes the urethra to
interfere with urinary
flow.This, in turn, can lead
to urological symptoms such as
difficulty when starting to
urinate and dribbling after
urinating. In addition, the
bladder may feel full even
after urinating. While aging
contributes to an enlarged
prostate gland, hormones may
play a role. Once in the
prostate cells, testosterone
is converted into another,
more powerful male hormone,
dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT
is responsible for triggering
the division of prostate cells
so their numbers increase.
Levels of DHT are known to be
5 times higher in enlarged
prostate glands than in those
of normal size. If the
conversion of testosterone to
DHT is prevented, BPH does not
occur and can even be reversed
once it has developed. (If you
suffer significant prostate
problems, consult your health
practitioner.Prostate-Friendly
Herbs For prostate benefits,
many men combine Saw Palmetto
with Pygeum Africanum, an herb
containing beta-sitosterol and
other plant estrogens. Plant
substances from the botanical
red clover, called
isoflavones, may also aid in
maintaining a happy prostate
and proper urinary function.
Research has found that
isolavones, also known as
plant hormones, boost prostate
health by inhibiting the
enzymes that lead a prostate
to grow bigger. (Researchers
believe that the low incidence
of prostate health problems in
Asia is due to the fact that
Asian men consume many more
isoflavone-rich legumes than
in US citizens). Soy also
represents prostate hope.
Recently genistein was found
to decrease the growth of both
BPH and prostate cancer cells
in the laboratory, which the
researchers suggested showed
that the genistein found in
soy has the potential to be
used as a treatment for
both.Lycopene, an antioxidant
in tomatoes, may also help
lower risk of prostate cancer.
In an analysis of 72 studies,
most evidence showed that men
who consumed more lycopene
suffered less prostate cancer
(Natl Cancer Inst 91
(4):317-31,1999). Research
showing lycopene's benefits
was presented to health care
professionals at the Prostate
Cancer Prevention 2000
symposium in Toronto. 'Our
finding suggest that lycopene
may not only help prevent
prostate cancer but also may
be useful in treating prostate
cancer,' commented Omer Kucuk,
MD, a faculty member at the
Barabara Ann Kamanos Cancer
Institution in Detroit,
Michigan.Prostate
CancerProstate cancer is one
of the most common cancers
affecting elderly men in
developed countries and a
major cause of death. Regular
rectal exams are recommended
for older men to detect
prostate cancer early.
Research has shown that
regular ('more than five times
per week'[2]) masturbation can
cut the risk of prostate
cancer by up to 66%. This is
because regular ejaculation
reduces the buildup of
carcinogenic deposits in sperm
which can damage the cells
lining the prostate. Male
Sexual ResponseDuring orgasm
sperm are transmitted from the
ductus deferens into the male
urethra via the ejaculatory
ducts, which lie within the
prostate gland. The prostate
is often referred to as the
male g-spot. Some men are able
to achieve orgasm solely
through stimulation of the
prostate gland. Men who report
the sensation of prostate
stimulation often give
descriptions similar to
women's accounts of G-spot
stimulation. When combined
with penile stimulation, some
men report that prostate
stimulation increases the
volume of their ejaculation.

Category People & Blogs

Tags prostate, cancer, enlarged, treatment, symptom, health, problem, surgery, sign, antigen, stage, disease, cure, natural, urination, men