Prostate Health Supplements

Enlarged Prostate (BPH)

Approximately one in three men over the age of fifty will have some degree of prostate enlargement. This condition is medically referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. (”Hyperplasia” means that there’s an abnormal growth of cells and tissues, but because the overgrowth is not cancerous, it’s considered benign.)

The overgrowth of cells found in BPH is fuelled by the male hormone testosterone and its by-products. Researchers have found that there are receptor cells on the prostate that attract testosterone molecules. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, prostate cells thrive and grow in the presence of testosterone.

BPH generally becomes worse with age. It is associated with hormonal changes that occur as men age – their prostates are less able to eradicate the buildup of testosterone. A family history of prostate enlargement can increase the odds of developing an enlarged prostate. The condition is also more common in white and black men than in Asian men. Again, the real reason for this difference is not known but thought to be related to differences in diet.

Dietary fat, high cholesterol, and nutrient deficiencies can all play a role in causing BPH; in addition, pesticides, food additives, excessive amounts of alcohol, and other toxic chemicals are considered to be contributing factors.

Certain medications that contain antihistamines are also linked to prostate disease. For this reason, men who are being evaluated for BPH or suspect they might have it should never take over-the-counter medications without first consulting a doctor.

Though the prostate continues to grow during most of a man’s life, its enlargement doesn’t usually cause problems until late in life. BPH symptoms are very uncommon before age 40, but more than half of men in their sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH.

Inflammation Of The Prostate (Prostatitis)

Another problem with similar symptoms can be prostatitis, or inflammation of the gland. Its most common form is infectious prostatitis, both acute and chronic. can cause symptoms similar to those of BPH, including frequent urination (with or without a burning sensation); painful ejaculation; a feeling of incomplete emptying; and pain in the lower back, in the scrotal area, and around the perineum (the area between the testicles and the rectum). These symptoms tend to come and go with chronic prostatitis, but in the acute form there can be sudden fever, chills, nausea, sweating, and flulike symptoms, as well as more severe pain. Any or all of the above symptoms should prompt a visit to your doctor without delay! Infectious prostatitis can occur at any time from teenage to octogenarian. It is painful and can bring about severe psychological based fears. Often it seems more serious than it really is and it usually responds well to treatment.

The other form is non-infectious prostatitis, which includes conditions brought about by sexual activity. Curiously enough this can result from too much sex, or too little, from extreme sexual excitement where there is no ejaculation, as well as prolonged abstinence from intercourse.

Prostate Cancer

More rarely, prostate cancer can occur. It may not display any symptoms for some time, until the swollen gland restricts urine flow. Prostate cancer is the one that scares most men, and this common cancer often runs in families. Symptoms are the same as for an enlarged prostate. A blood test plus an examination is the best way of detection.

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. In the prostate it is often painless and not quickly detected. Once a problem is suspected, diagnosis is relatively quick and simple. Cancer of the prostate is the second most common cancer in men behind lung cancer. However it’s easier to defeat today than it ever has been before.

Prostate cancer is believed to be caused by genetic mutations, exposure to cancer-causing chemicals and hormones (such as testosterone), and dietary factors (such as too high a consumption of saturated fat).

Prostate cancer ordinarily grows slowly and is not, by itself, a deadly disease—if it stays in the prostate. It will likely cause mild to severe urinary problems, but will not, in most cases, be deadly. Unfortunately, the cells that make up prostate cancer travel to the surrounding tissue, which is when the cancer becomes deadly. And it often becomes deadly long before anyone knows it exists, for more than 40% of all prostate cancers have moved beyond the prostate gland before they are detected.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 6:39 am and is filed under Prostate Health Supplements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.