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PROSTATE PROBLEMS: The most common ailment of
men.
The Prostate is a walnut-sized gland that surrounds
the urethra, which carries urine away from the
bladder. The prostate is the most common site of
disorders in the male Genito-urinary system.
Generally speaking, there are three conditions that
can cause problem with the prostate : (i)
prostatitis, which is inflammation of the
prostate gland; (ii) benign prostatic hypertrophy
(BPH), which is an enlarged prostate with no
signs of cancer; and (iii) prostate cancer.
The first condition i.e. Prostatitis, or
inflammation of the gland, is most common in young
men. There are three types of prostatitis : Acute
infectious prostatitis, Chronic infectious
prostatitis, and non-infectious prostatitis.
The acute and chronic infectious prostatitis occurs
due to - infection and the symptoms include a
bladder infection resulting in discomfort & burning
micturition etc. and the cause of non - infectious
prostatitis is not known, which is experienced by
difficult urination/ejaculation and lower abdominal
pain. All types of prostatits, if untreated can lead
to impotency and difficulty in urination.
The second condition i.e. Benign hypertrophy of
Prostate is the gradual enlargement of the prostate.
It occurs in approximately half of all men over the
age of fifty and three quarters of men over seventy
years of age and is largely attributable to hormonal
change as associated with aging. A hormone called
dihydrotestosterone (DHT) tends to accumulate in the
prostate causing cells to harden and enlarge and
thereby creating resistance to the flow of urine
from bladder. This condition is known as Benign
Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH). This is a
non-cancerous condition.
The main symptom in BPH is the inability to
completely and freely urinate. Typically the
afflicted man needs to get out of bed several times
at night to urinate but finds his urine is minimal
and often returns to bed with a full bladder. The
long term effects can lead to kidney, bladder, and
urinary tract infections and in severe cases lead to
permanent kidney damage.
Testing for prostatitis and enlarge prostate usually
involves a digital rectal exam plus a blood test
that screens for levels of prostate-specific antigen
(PSA) , a protein secreted by the prostate.
The third condition that is Prostate cancer
is the most common cancer diagnosed in Canadian men
and the 2nd leading cause of Cancer death. This
disease is most common in older men, with 80% of
cases of prostate cancer occurring in men over age
65. The possible symptoms of prostate cancer can
include pain or a burning sensation during
urination, frequent urination, a decrease in the
size and force of urine, and continuing lower back,
pelvic or (supra) pubic discomfort.
However, the disease often causes no symptoms at all
until it reaches an advanced stage and/or spreads
outside the gland. In addition, these symptoms most
often are caused not by cancer, but by an
enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Early detection can make it possible to catch the
cancer before it spreads to other sites of the body.
It is recommended that every man should have an
annual rectal exam beginning at age fifty. A blood
test to detect elevated levels of a protein called
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an excellent
screening test for prostate cancer. A PSA test
result between 0 and 4 is considered to be within
the normal range. A level between 4 and 10 may raise
a doctor's suspicion and scores above 50 may
indicate a tumor that has spread to elsewhere in the
body.
Now I would like to give some tips for prevention
of Prostate troubles which include diet and
lifestyle changes:-
(i) LOW FAT/HIGH PROTEIN DIET: A healthy diet
plays an important role in prostate health. Aim for
a diet that is moderately high in proteins (44% of
your calories should be protein) since a high
protein diet may inhibit the production of
(5-alpha-reductase) the enzyme that converts
testosterone to DHT. Also look for a diet that is
low in carbohydrates, low in animal fats, and high
in essential fatty acids. Look for whole,
unprocessed foods, and eat plenty of sunflower or
pumpkin seeds each day. Add raw tomatoes to
your diet.
(ii) PUSH THE FLUIDS: Drink plenty of fluids.
Adequate fluid intake can help prevent bladder
infections, cystitis, and kidney problems that are
often associated with an enlarged prostate.
(iii) INCREASE YOUR FIBER: More fiber in the
diet may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by
lowering the levels of reproductive hormones in the
body.
(iv) INCLUDE SOY IN YOUR DIET: Soy may
decrease the chance of getting prostate cancer by
reducing troublesome cholestrol levels.
Lifestyle Changes:
1. SCHEDULE AN ANNUAL PROSTATE EXAM:- Annual
prostate exams from your family doctors can help
catch problems early and diagnosis and treat
pre-existing problems such as an enlarged prostate,
prostatitis and prostate cancer.
2. MAINTAIN YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT:. If you need
to lose weight do it. Studies show that men with 43
inch waist or greater were 50% more likely than
normal weight men to suffer from prostate
enlargement.
3. ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL: Studies have shown
the higher the alcohol intake the more likely a man
suffers from prostate enlargement. So abstain from
Beer & Alcohol. Caffeine and sugar should also be
avoided or moderated.
4. KEEP YOUR CHOLESTEROL DOWN: Free radical
damaged cholesterol may play a role in stimulating
the prostate cell formation that may cause an
enlarged prostate so it is important to keep your
cholesterol level within a healthy range.
With regard to the homeopathic
treatment for Prostate troubles, the Homoeopathic
approach is essentially a constitutional and
individualistic treatment. The homeopathy treatment
is determined after evaluation of the patient's case
in detail. Various aspects of patient's life style,
personality, food habits, emotional make up,
personal and family history are evaluated
appropriately to decide correct medicines to treat
Prostate troubles. |
