Prostate problems can be a problem after 50. There are many things that you can do.
What is the Prostate?
The prostate gland is a small gland that makes semen in men. It is located just below the bladder, in front of your rectum, and it wraps around the tube, which carries urine out of the body. As you age, it tends to get more significant, leading to various health problems if it gets too big.
Common Problems (Here are some non-cancer prostatic problems):
BPH is a prevalent condition in older men when their prostate is not cancerous but enlarged. There are several treatments for BPH:
Active surveillance is also known as watchful waiting. Your doctor might tell you to wait until your symptoms worsen before beginning treatment. Your doctor will advise you on how often you should return for checkups.
Medications. Medicines can shrink your prostate or relax the muscles around it to ease symptoms.
Surgery. Your doctor might recommend surgery to improve urine flow if nothing else works.
There are other treatments. Radio waves, microwaves and lasers can treat BPH-related urinary problems. These heat treatments use different types of heat to reduce excess prostate tissue.
A bacterial infection usually causes acute bacterial prostatitis. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience fever, pain, or chills. Most cases can generally be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, medication may be necessary to relieve pain and discomfort.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis can be a condition that comes back over and over, and this rare condition can be challenging to treat. Sometimes, antibiotics may be effective for an extended period. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to feel better.
Chronic prostatitis is also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It can be painful in the lower back, groin, and tip of the penis, and it may be treated with a combination of medicine, surgery, or lifestyle changes.
Talk to your doctor about possible side effects.
Prostate Problems: What Are the Symptoms?
If you experience any of the following symptoms, consult your doctor immediately:
Urinary urges are frequent.
You will need to get up several times a night to urinate
Semen or blood in the urine
Burning or pain in the urine
Painful ejaculation
Frequent pain in the lower back, hips, pelvic area, or upper thighs.
Urine dribbling
Prostate Cancer
American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer. Your risk of developing prostate cancer could be affected by Age. Men over 50 are at greater risk.
Race. African American men are most likely to develop prostate cancer. Native American and Hispanic men are next. The lowest incidences of prostate cancer are found in Asian American men.
Family history. Your chances of developing prostate cancer are higher if your brother or father had it.
Diet. Men who consume high fat may be at greater risk for prostate cancer.
Diagnoses of Prostate Cancer
Your doctor will ask you about any past medical conditions and family history to determine if your prostate symptoms may be caused by cancer. Your doctor will also perform a physical exam. Your doctor will also perform a physical exam.
• The prostate’s size, firmness and texture
• Any growth beyond the prostate, such as hard or lumpy areas, should be reported immediately.
• Any pain that is caused by pressing or touching the prostate
Your doctor may ask you to provide a urine sample for testing purposes. Your doctor may also perform a blood test to determine the P.S.A. level. P.S.A. levels may be elevated in prostate cancer patients or men with an enlarged prostate. An ultrasound exam may be necessary to take computer images of your prostate.
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist (a Urologist) if you suspect you have prostate cancer. The doctor will take small tissue samples from different parts of your prostate to look for cancer cells.
Prostate Cancer Treatment
The treatment for prostate cancer will depend on whether it is present in the prostate or elsewhere. Your age and general health are also important factors. Discuss with your doctor the best treatment option for your needs and possible side effects. Ask another doctor for a second opinion.
The following treatment options may be available for prostate cancer:
• Active surveillance, also known as watchful waiting. You may choose not to have cancer treated immediately. Your doctor will monitor your condition for any changes. If the tumour grows, treatment may be initiated.
• Surgery. This is the most common type. It involves removing the entire prostate.
• Radiation therapy. This radiation therapy uses radiation to shrink tumours and kill cancer cells. Radiation may be delivered by an X-ray machine or tiny radioactive pellets placed near or inside the tumour.
• Hormone therapy. Other treatments, such as radiation therapy, may also treat testosterone deficiency. If the cancer is likely to return, this treatment may be done. For prostate cancer that has advanced beyond the prostate, hormone therapy can also be used.
Many doctors recommended annual P.S.A. testing beginning at 50 for all men. For men with a high risk of developing prostate cancer, it was encouraged to start earlier. Doctors have become more aware of the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening, and they have started to discourage annual P.S.A. testing. Discuss your options with your doctor.
It is not recommended that men with no symptoms undergo annual P.S.A. testing, and P.S.A. testing can help doctors identify the cause of prostate cancer in men with symptoms. The P.S.A. test can determine if prostate cancer has returned in men who have had their prostate removed.
F.A.Q.
What is the most common problem with the prostate?
BPH is the most common problem with prostate in men over 50. Problems with bladder control and urination are two symptoms of a prostate issue. Your symptoms could be quick or slow-onset and lasting for a while.
What causes prostate problems?
Some men may be more at risk for prostate cancer if they have higher levels of androgens. Research has shown that prostate cancer is more common in men with high insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1) levels.
These are five signs that you may have prostate cancer early.
These are the five most common warning signs of prostate cancer.
• When urinating, ejaculating or sweating, you may feel pain and a burning sensation.
• Frequent urination, especially at night.
• Problems with urination:
• Sudden erectile dysfunction.
• You can find blood in urine or semen.
What does it feel like to have a prostate problem?
Urination that is painful or causes burning. Incapability to urinate. Painful ejaculation. Frequent pain in the lower back, hips, pelvic area, or upper thighs.
How can I tell if my prostate is enlarged?
Pain when you urinate. A frequent need to pee. Problems with urination, such as difficulty starting to pee. Pain when ejaculating.
How can you test your prostate?
A digital rectal exam (D.R.E.) is a test where your provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into yours. This allows the provider to check for unusual areas or lumps in the prostate. This type of exam is not recommended for most cancers, especially in the early stages. The P.S.A. and D.R.E. can be done together in most cases.
How do I test my prostate health at home?
Put gloves on and lubricant one finger. It would help to inspect the area around your rectum to find anything unusual. Gently insert a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum. To assess the size of the prostate, feel it and look for any bumps or soft spots.
What is the source of your prostate pain?
Prostatitis, a condition of the prostate gland often associated with inflammation, can be described as a disorder. Prostatitis can cause painful or difficult urination and pain in your groin and pelvic area.
Can you live with a prostate?
Living without a prostate is associated with two major quality-of-life issues: the loss of urinary control and the failure of erectile function.
Can an enlarged prostate be treated?
Most patients with BPH (enlarged prostate gland) can be treated. Some patients see significant improvement with only medication. Surgery is often an option if medicine fails to work or the prostate is too large.
How can you tell if your prostate is enlarged?
An enlarged prostate can lead to difficulty starting and struggling to pee—a weak urine flow.
How can you solve prostate problems?
There are many options:
- Alpha-blockers. These medications reduce the pressure on the bladder and relax the muscle fibres of your prostate. This makes it easier to urinate. …
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. These medications reduce the prostate size by blocking hormonal changes that can cause prostate growth. …
- Combination drug therapy. …
- Tadalafil (Cialis)
How does it feel to have a swollen prostate?
Acute prostate infection.
You may also feel fullness in your rectum. You may have difficulty urinating as your prostate gets more extensive.
What foods can reduce the size of your prostate?
Researchers discovered that men who ate a lot of fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes and dark vegetables, had more minor BPH symptoms and less likelihood of worsening their BPH.
When should you have your prostate checked?
50 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. They should be screened. Men at increased risk for developing prostate cancer should be screened by age 45.
Is your prostate feeling larger?
It is possible to feel your stomach (or abdomen) swelling or your bladder not emptying fully. The majority of chronic urine retention is not painful, however, the pressure from urine can gradually stretch the bladder muscles and make them weaker. When you urinate, this can lead to urine being left behind in your bladder.
Is a prostate examination painful?
It takes approximately 10 minutes. Although it can be uncomfortable, the test is usually not painful and doesn’t cause lasting side effects. A biopsy can confirm or exclude cancer, and a doctor will use a needle to take a sample of your prostate.
How can I get rid of prostatitis as quickly as possible?
Acute bacterial prostatitis is treated using antibiotics. You may be able to purchase antibiotic tablets for home use, and these tablets should be effective in treating the infection quickly. Most people will take antibiotics for four weeks.
Can the prostate affect bowel movements?
An enlarged prostrate can cause bowel movements to be slow or even stop altogether. Just in front of the lower part of the rectum, the prostate is located under the bladder. It is common for one to affect the other because they are so close.
What happens if a man’s prostate is removed?
Side effects of prostatic surgery. Radical prostatectomy’s most common side effects include incontinence (inability to control your urine) and erectile dysfunction. These side effects may also present with other prostate cancer treatments.
How long will you be in the hospital after a prostatectomy?
What to Expect After Prostatectomy. The hospital: Expect to stay for one night. All rooms on the Johns Hopkins urology floor can be accessed privately. To prevent blood clots or other complications, nurses assist patients in getting up and moving as soon as possible after surgery.
Are bananas good for treating prostate problems?
Bananas can also be beneficial to prostate health. This tasty fruit can help reduce prostate cancer risk or manage it. Prostatitis and an enlarged prostate are also possible with this fruit.
What is vitamin best for the prostate?
Vitamin C. Consuming high levels of vitamin C-rich cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale and brussels sprouts may help reduce the risk of an enlarged prostate.
What fruit is best for prostate health?
Citrus: Grapefruits, oranges, limes and lemons all contain high levels of vitamin C. This may help protect the prostate gland.
Walking is good for prostatitis.
Even moderate to low-intensity activity such as walking at a moderate pace can yield benefits—prostatitis treatment. Italian researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial (considered the gold standard in medical research) on men with chronic prostatitis.
What causes prostate problems?
Family history. Your chances of developing prostate cancer are higher if your brother or father had it. Diet and men who consume high fat may be at greater risk for prostate cancer.
What juice is good to take for the prostate?
In studies of men with recurrent prostate cancer, and increasing levels of prostate-specific antigen (P.S.A.), researchers discovered that drinking pomegranate extract or pomegranate liquid significantly reduced the rate at which P.S.A. was growing (P.S.A. doubling time).
How do I keep my prostate healthy?
Five Ways to Keep Your Prostate Health Top-Notch
- Consume whole, fresh foods. Vegetables and fruits are rich in phytonutrients, which help cells to stay healthy and replenish their energy. …
- Reduce or eliminate alcohol and processed food.
- Get more exercise.
- Get your hormones back.
- Every year, have a prostate examination.
Are water and prostate health good?
Drinking a lot of water is good for your overall health. Drinking a lot of water is good news for your prostate. For every organ to function correctly, it needs water.
How good is garlic for the prostate?
Allium sativum (garlic) has anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. These effects have been proven effective in treating prostate cancer and alleviating symptoms of BPH for many decades.