BPH is
a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia/hypertrophy or more
commonly referred to as the enlarged prostate. The prostate is a gland slightly
larger than a peanut surrounding the urethra and sitting at the base of the
bladder, in front of the rectum. As men age, non-cancerous nodules develop due
to the abnormal dividing of cells. Natural aging, testosterone, diet and
environments all may play a role in the abnormal growth of the gland.
Risks Increase with Age
The progressive enlargement of the prostate
increases with age. The abnormal changes can begin as early as 30; symptoms
usually do not develop until after 50-plus years of age. Prostate examinations
have found that 70 percent of men at the age of 60 and 90 percent of men by age
80 are affected by BPH. It is believed that all men will develop an enlarged
prostate if they live long enough.
Role of Hormones and Testosterone
At age 40 men’s testosterone levels begin
to decrease; in response the body produces more hormones to stimulate
testosterone production. Instead of simply increasing the testosterone, this
imbalance leads to an elevated rate in which testosterone is transformed into
dihydrotestosterone and a decreased rate in which DHT is cleared from the
prostate, thus creating the enlargement.
Animal Meat
Research has shown that daily consumption
of animal meat triples the risk for prostate enlargement, daily consumption of
milk doubles the risk, and lack of vegetable quadruple the risk of developing
prostate cancer. As the Western diet spreads to other countries, we are seeing
an increase in BPH in those nationalities such as Asian and African who are
normally immune to the disease.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors which include toxins
such as pesticides, food additives which contain compounds that increase the
production of DHT and the lack of zinc (important mineral in metabolizing
hormones) in our soil all contribute to increasing the chance of developing
prostate enlargement.
Prevention
To
decrease the possibility of developing an enlarged prostate, men should eat a
diet rich in fiber including organic fruits and vegetables, limit the intake of
meat to fish and poultry, take herbal supplements and be checked by their doctor
once a year after the age of 40.
Define Prostate
“By age 70, almost all men have some
prostate enlargement,” states the National Cancer Institute. The three most
common prostate conditions are prostatitis, enlarged prostate and prostate
cancer. One condition does not necessarily lead to another condition, and not
all conditions are cancer. However, according to NCI, prostate cancer is the
second most common type of cancer in American men.
Function
The prostate is a male gland that is
involved with urination and reproduction. According to The Prostate Centre, the
prostate is an exocrine gland that secretes fluid through the duct into the
urethra. Once in the urethra, the fluid is carried outside of the body through
the penis. The fluids that are made by the prostate are part of semen, or the
fluid that carries sperm during orgasm. The fluid and the semen are stored in
seminal vesicles and released during male climax. The prostate also produces
protein called prostate specific antigen, or PSA, that is ejaculated with
semen, and traces of PSA are also in the bloodstream. The prostate additionally
controls the flow of urine.
Identification
The prostate is a gland about the size and
shape of a walnut and weighs about an ounce. It is located above the base of
the penis, in front of the rectum, just below the bladder, and it surrounds the
urethra. The section of the urethra that runs through the prostate is called
the prostatic urethra. The seminal vesicles, that provide nutrients for semen,
are attached to the prostate and tucked between the rectum and the bladder.
Some of the prostate is muscle. A normal sized prostate fits in a man’s lower
pelvic region, states the PSA Rising website.
Prostate
Zones
According to the University of Pittsburgh,
the prostate contains five zones. The largest zone is the peripheral zone and
contains about 75% of the prostate’s glands. Prostate cancer and chronic
prostatitis usually occur in this zone and most needle biopsies, used to
determine cancer, are done here as well. The transition zone surrounds the
urethra and benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is found in this area. The
anterior zone occupies one-third of the prostate and consists of smooth muscle.
The central zone has the remaining glands of the prostate, and the last zone
consists of preprostatic tissue that prevents semen from returning back into
the bladder.
Common
Medical Conditions
Prostatitis is a prostate infection and a
symptom is when the prostate swells or enlarges. It can occur at any age. BPH
occurs in men that are middle age and older and is also known as lower urinary
tract symptoms, or LUTS. It is a common condition caused by non-cancerous
enlargement of the prostate gland, states the American Urological Association.
Tumors can also enlarge your prostate, states NCI. Prostate cancer can threaten
your health and your life, according to PSA Rising. Urinary difficulties may
occur as early as your 30s and 40s. However, most men do not have problems
until later in life.
Considerations
Your prostate normally gets larger as you
age, states NCI. You have a higher risk for prostate cancer if you have a
family history, are black, or are an older man, according to Mercer University.
If you have difficulty urinating, seek medical attention. If you cannot urinate
at all, go directly to the emergency room as you may suffer from BPH. Yearly
physical examinations and PSA tests are highly recommended to ensure you do not
have cancer,
http://www.edtreatmentindia.com/understand-prostate-cancer-and-cost-treatment-surgery-benefit-in-india.html
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