BPH and Prostate Cancer

BPH and Prostate Cancer
A man who has BPH may also have undetected prostate cancer at the same time or may develop prostate cancer in the future. Therefore, the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society recommend that all men over 50 consult their physicians about having a digital rectal exam and PSA blood test once a year to screen for prostate cancer. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40. More than half of men in their 60s have some symptoms of BPH. As many as 80 to 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s have some symptoms of BPH. One theory is this condition is associated with a decrease in testosterone levels as men age which the body then interprets as an increase in estrogen. This in turn may stimulate cell division, especially of the prostate resulting in enlargement. Regardless of the reason, if left untreated, potentially the prostate can enlarge to such a degree that urination becomes next to impossible. In this event, urinary bladder damage as well as an increased risk of bladder and kidney infection becomes increasingly problematic. Preventative maintenance works extremely well in this situation and should be considered by all men over the age of 40.

Why does BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) occur?

Why does BPH occur?
It is important to note that there are several different reasons why the prostate can enlarge including bacterial infection resulting in bacterial prostatitis. Make sure that you understand and have successfully identified the reasons behind your prostate condition before you attempt any treatment.
The prostate is a small gland that encompasses the narrow part of the urinary bladder and urethra in men. Its major function is to manufacture and secrete seminal fluid which forms a substantial part of ejaculate. Unlike the rest of the body, the prostate undergoes two separate growth spurts at different times in the male’s life. In early puberty, the prostate doubles in size and then once again at around the age of 25, it starts to grow again, continually growing at a slower rate as the man ages.
When the prostate becomes enlarged, the prostate acts as a clamp on the neck of the urinary bladder which then creates issues with urination such as frequency, strength and duration.
BPH can raise PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels two to three times higher than the normal level (0-4). An increased PSA level does not indicate cancer, but the higher the PSA level, the higher the chance of having cancer.

Prostate information every Man should know

Prostate information every Man should know

Health statistics show that it is not a matter of if males in general will develop prostatitis, but when. By the age of 50, half of the male population will experience some symptoms and by the age of 80, 80% of men will experience some level of prostate enlargement also known as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This condition does not increase your chances of developing prostate cancer but it does interfere with efficiency and effectiveness pertaining to urinary function. Some of the more common symptoms include;

• The need to urinate frequently
• Inability to sleep through the night without getting up to urinate
• Difficulty starting urine stream or complete inability to urinate
• Decreased strength and force of the urine stream
• Dribbling after urination ends
• Blood in the urine (BPH can cause small blood vessels to burst)