Prostate & Urinary Support

Me and My Prostate, “A Man’s Life Story”

This article is to help men understand what a prostate gland does, how it works and what issues need to be paid attention to.
All to often prideful men procrastinate seeing a health care professional when they should because of potentially embarrassing conversations that need to be had.
 

The Prostate in a Young Man

During the “wonder years” (teens to the mid-thirties) everything in a man’s anatomy works well. Men mostly assume that they are invincible and for the most part indestructible. The prostate plays a major role in a young man’s life but because it does its job so well men simply pay no attention to it. One might compare this stage in life to driving a new car. Everything works and even the rough roads feel smooth, so maintenance isn’t a thought because starting your engine and taking off is without issue is normal.
 

The Prostate in a Middle-Aged Man

A man well into his forties can start to experience issues that are related to testosterone levels, and muscular strength. Everything works all right but it takes a bit to get things going. Mornings might be the most noticeable for men. Instead of getting up and being able to urinate right away it might take a minute or two to get relaxed enough for the urine to start flowing. Another thing that is noticeable is the urine stream.
Middle aged men can sometimes experience a weakened urine stream. The prostate has a lot to do with the urination stream. There’s a lobe like part of the prostate in the very center. It is called the transition zone. It’s only about ten percent of the entire prostate gland. The transition zone can swell or inflame and hinder the flow of urine. It is considered one of the first signs that a visit to the doctor should be scheduled to have a prostate examination.
 

The Prostate in an Older Man

This is where good genetics, healthy diet and exercise and consistent check-ups have their payouts. The best practices for the health of your prostate are below. At this point in a man’s life, it is imperative to pay attention to the signs! Yes, there are signs and signals that men will receive when issues with the prostate are starting to present. It is time to see a doctor or health care representative if you are experiencing dribbling urine, pain or even a slight burning during urination, frequent urination, blood in the semen or urine, or frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvic or rectal area, or the upper thighs, urinary incontinence (the inability to urinate). All of these clues can come in different degrees. The dribbling, the frequency and pain might just be slight but if it’s there, you shouldn’t ignore what your prostate's signals. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT!
 

For the Health of the Prostate

For all men young and old there are some seemingly inconsequential adjustments that might really make a difference in the long run. Think of it like a retirement savings account. If you start to make consistent deposits when you’re twenty years old the account grows and becomes something substantial when you’re ready to retire. The same goes for prostate health only the deposits are related to good health practices. The dividends are an improvement in the golden years of your life.
Here are a few things that will make a real difference in, not only your prostate health, but your overall health and well-being.

1. Eat a fresh, healthy foods.

a. Fruits and vegetables are full of phytonutrients and antioxidants that help your cells stay healthy and replenished. The easiest way to improve your diet is to switch to the plant-heavy Mediterranean diet, which is also filled with healthy fats, such as avocados and olives.

b. Some great suggestions for a diet that's not only healthy for men and their prostates but also general health and well-being overall.

i. Fish, including salmon, trout, bass, sea bass, and fresh tuna.

ii. Poultry (chicken and eggs) is always a great source for protein again make sure it's fresh.

iii. Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables

iv. Other sources if protein come from beans and legumes

v. Foods with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) like olives, avocados, coconuts, and nuts like walnuts and almonds

vi. Nuts and seeds like peanuts (if you're not allergic), sunflower seeds, caraway seeds, chia seeds and quinoa.

vii. Whole grains like oats, sprouted wheat and barley

2. Cut down or cut out alcohol and refined foods.

a. Both alcohol and refined foods can cause unhealthy inflammation in your body including your prostate. You’ll want to eliminate processed foods, which are low in nutrients and high in chemicals and preservatives that could compromise your health.

3. Stop smoking!

a. There is nothing more important than the circulation of blood to and from the prostate. Smoking contaminates the blood and slows the circulation. There is nothing that is more unhealthy than smoking and now that includes electronic cigarettes. If you aren’t smoking now, then don’t start. If you are smoking, just STOP! The rest of your life will be better for it.

4. Get more exercise

a. Exercise is good for every part of the body. A little exercise every day increases circulation and thereby distributes the valuable nutrients needed to maintain the health of your prostate.

b. Exercise also oxygenates the blood that’s being circulated. This life supporting oxygen consequently breathes life into organs in your body like the prostate.

c. Keep moving! To keep your prostate and other organs healthy, be sure you move throughout the day. Sitting in one place or position for extended periods of time can cut off that all so important circulation. Sedentary lifestyles (being a couch potato) has got to become a thing of the past. Sitting in front of a computer at work then going home to sit in front of a television is a sure path to health issues.

i. In fact, sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time is as bad — or worse — for your body as smoking. Every half an hour or so, get up and stretch and walk around for a few minutes. You can also use a standing desk and park far away from your destinations for extra walking time.

d. More exercise and a better diet may reduce one of the main risk factors for BPH and prostate cancer. That risk factor is obesity. Maintaining a healthy weight is not becoming toothpick thin. There are many different body types so to be clear… MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTHY BODY WEIGHT.

5. Restore your hormones

a. As men age, they lose the androgen called testosterone, which helps keep the prostate healthy. High enough testosterone levels also assist in maintaining your muscle density, bone density and strength. Testosterone is also responsible for increasing energy levels.

b. Low testosterone might be perceived as a precursor for the couch potato lifestyle. That lifestyle promotes the accumulation of fat and the loss muscle mass. The heavier you get, the more likely you are to develop prostate problems.

6. Get a prostate exam each year.

a. As part of your annual exam make sure your physicians check the health of your prostate. This is a simple test that assists you and your health care professional to monitor and track your prostate health. Most every man wishes that they could avoid the prostate exam because there’s only one way to receive it. The prostate exam is given by a doctor that inserts a gloved finger in your anus and asks you to cough. The might be really uncomfortable but that test could save your life.

b. If you’re between ages 55-69 or at high risk for prostate cancer, you should also request a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to determine if your levels of PSA are within normal ranges. Your first PSA test should at age 40 or so, to help establish a baseline “normal” value unique to you.

What is a prostate?

The prostate is a muscular gland that weighs about three-fourths of an ounce (20 grams). It is about the size of a small apricot. It surrounds the urethra just beneath the bladder.

What does the prostate do?

The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ whose main function is to secrete prostate fluid, one of the components of semen. The muscles of the prostate gland also help propel this seminal fluid into the urethra during ejaculation.

One component of prostate fluid is an enzyme called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) also aids in the success of sperm by liquefying semen that has thickened after ejaculation. This thinning action allows sperm to swim more freely, according to the medical reference book "Prostate Specific Antigen" (Informa Health Care, 2001). The PSA number is important to monitor for an aging man. High PSA numbers are considered to be indicators for prostate cancer. Any male under the age of 40 should have a PSA number that is near 3.5 ng/ml. As men age the average acceptable PSA numbers change. A 40 to 59 year old man should still be near 3.5 ng/ml. A 60 to 69 year old man should test out at less tha 4.5 ng/ml and a man that is beyond the age of 70 years old should be less than 6.5 ng/ml. Men with PSA numbers that are above those thresholds should have a prostate exam and possibly even a prostate biopsy as a precaution that there is no cancer present.

What is BPH?

BPH is an acronym that stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia. This is a disease that affects men's prostate gland as men age. It is estimated by OSU Medical that over 50% of the men over 60 years of age suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. I want to explain what is actually happening to the prostate effected by BPH.

With BPH, the prostate gets larger. This is a natural part of aging. When the prostate is enlarged, it can irritate or block the bladder. A common symptom of BPH is the need to urinate often. This can be as frequent as every one to two hours. Most men notice the more frequent need to urinate especially at night. There are other symptoms of BPH as well.

• Other symptoms include:
  • Feeling that the bladder is full, even right after urinating.
  • Feeling that urinating "can't wait"!
  • Weak urine flow.
  • Dribbling of urine.
  • The need to stop and start urinating several times.
  • Trouble starting to urinate.
  • The need to push or strain to urinate.

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• Herbal supplement that promotes healthy prostate functions.
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