When Men to have Enlarged Prostate

 

An enlarged prostate – a disorder known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH for short – is a highly common health issue for males over 50 (about 50% of men experience BPH symptoms when they are 51-60 years old, 70% in their 60s, 80% in 70s and 90% when older than 80).

The prostate is a small gland that helps make semen. It is found just below the bladder. And it often gets bigger as a man ages.

While BPH is the leading cause of prostate disorders, infections can also cause an enlarged prostate.

Urinary changes are the main enlarged prostate symptoms. BPH symptoms primarily include the following:

Frequent Urination

This is the most commonly seen symptom of an enlarged prostate. Frequent urination in men is often a sign of a prostate disorder. This symptom occurs because the enlarged prostate stresses the urethra, making it harder for urine to flow freely.

Weak Urine Flow

BPH can also cause a weak urine flow, where the stream of urine is not as strong as it used to be. This weakness can be attributed to the narrowing of the urethra caused by the enlarged prostate.

Difficulty Starting and Stopping Urination

Another symptom of BPH is difficulty initiating and stopping the flow of urine. The inability to fully manage urination can be frustrating and may require additional effort to fully empty the bladder.

Incomplete Emptying of the Bladder

The enlarged prostate can restrict urine flow, leading to a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder even after urination.

Dribbling at the End of Urination

BPH can also cause dribbling or leakage of urine at the end of urination. The inability to fully cease urine flow occurs because the enlarged prostate obstructs the urethra, preventing the bladder from fully emptying.

Less common symptoms might involve the following issues:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

In some cases, BPH can increase the risk of UTIs. The stagnant urine in the bladder, caused by the obstruction, provides a breeding ground for bacteria.

Blood in Urine

Although a rare symptom of an enlarged prostate, blood in urine (hematuria) can occur due to BPH. But blood in the urine might also be due to an infection or a potentially serious disorder like kidney disease or cancer.

Kidney Damage

If left untreated, BPH can lead to kidney damage. The stagnant urine in the bladder can back up into the kidneys, causing potential complications.

Sexual Dysfunction

BPH can also contribute to sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. This occurs because the enlarged prostate can compromise the normal functioning of the reproductive system.

It is critical to note that not all individuals with BPH will experience all of these symptoms. The intensity and combination of symptoms can also vary from person to person.

We can manage BPH with lifestyle measures:

Ø Including certain foods, while removing others, may help improve symptoms:

• Avoid high fat foods, incorporate more lean proteins like fish and poultry
• Eat more and many different vegetables, citrus and other fruits

Ø Make sure to lose weight if you are above a healthy number.

Ø Regardless of your weight, try exercising regularly at a moderate to vigorous level, most days of the week.

Ø Cut back on caffeine and alcohol, particularly at night, since both increase the need to urinate.

Ø Avoid drinking anything within a few hours of bedtime to reduce middle of the night wakings.

Ø Reducing or managing stress.

Besides, we can use herbal remedies to get relief from symptoms. For example, pygeum bark contains chemicals that might help shrink the enlarged prostate. It can be used with saw palmetto, stinging nettle root and/or bee pollen to treat BPH. Pygeum bark comes from the bark of a tree native to Africa called Prunus africana. 

Enlarged prostate symptoms are often mistaken for signs of prostate cancer (which is a malignant growth that develops in the prostate gland). While prostate cancer and BPH share symptom similarities, they have distinct differences that can help differentiate between the two.

Some common symptoms of prostate cancer are the same as BPH. These include the following:

• Difficulty urinating
• Frequent urination (particularly at night)
• Weak urine flow
• Blood in urine

However, some symptoms are not related to BPH but are related to prostate cancer. Please seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing the following symptoms:

• Blood in semen
• Painful ejaculation
• Persistent pelvic, lower back or hip pain

What lifestyle changes can help avoid prostate cancer?

 

Prostate cancer is primarily a “disease of aging”.

As you get older, your chances of developing prostate cancer increase. While many people may wonder how to prevent prostate cancer, there is no one way to avoid the disease. Staying healthy as you age, or working to reverse existing health problems, can lower the risk. However, like all cancers, prostate cancer has certain risk factors that cannot be avoided.

For example, race and genetics play a significant role. If you are African American, your chances of developing prostate cancer are double those of white American men. If your father, brother or multiple blood relatives had prostate cancer, you are more likely to get it, too.

Men in western countries have much higher rates of prostate cancer than men in Asia. Experts suspect differences in eastern and western diets are to blame. Poor eating habits and diets that heavily rely on fats and animal proteins can cause DNA damage and lead to cancer.

And even men who are already at greater risk due to age, race or genetics can reduce their chances of developing prostate cancer by adopting healthy diets and lifestyles.

Thus what you eat matters.

New data published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows how diet can help after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers learned that a low omega-6, high omega-3 fatty acid diet, combined with fish oil supplements, could slow the growth of cancer cells in men with early-stage prostate cancer.

Dr. William Aronson, the lead study author, said, “Many men are interested in lifestyle changes, including diet, to help manage their cancer and prevent the progression of their disease. Our findings suggest that something as simple as adjusting your diet could potentially slow cancer growth and extend the time before more aggressive interventions are needed."

Improve Your Diet

Research has shown that the same types of diets associated with better heart and brain health are linked to a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

In a study published in the March 2022 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that men who reported eating primarily a plant-based diet, like the Mediterranean or DASH diets, had a significantly lower risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer.

Other studies have also shown that following healthier diets may lower the odds of dying from prostate cancer. While this benefit might be related to the high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in fish (a staple of the Mediterranean and DASH diets), taking a fish oil supplement, however, has not been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk.

As a matter of fact, healthy diets consist of:

Reducing fat intake.

Eat less trans fats and saturated fats. Focus on healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids from nuts, seeds and fish. Limiting meat and added sugars may also be good for prostate health.

Avoiding charred meat.

Charred meat, from frying or grilling at high temperatures, may produce a chemical compound that leads to cancer.

Eating Vitamin D-rich foods.

Many people do not get enough vitamin D. But it can help protect against prostate cancer and many other conditions. Vitamin D-rich foods include cod liver oil, wild salmon and dried shitake mushrooms. Since the sun is a better, more readily available source of vitamin D, many experts recommend getting 10 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) every day.

Eating more fruits and vegetables.

Incorporate a wide variety of produce, including plenty of leafy greens. The antioxidant lycopene, which is plentiful in cooked or processed tomatoes, has been shown in some studies to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells. Also, cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli and cauliflower) contain a compound called sulforaphane that may protect against cancer.

Adding green tea and soy.

Clinical trials have suggested that soy may lower PSA (a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood) levels, and that green tea may help men who are at high risk for prostate cancer lower their risk.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

What you do not eat also matters. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding obesity is linked to a lower chance of developing advanced prostate cancer.

Obesity can be a risk factor for developing more aggressive prostate cancer. In general, losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight as you age can help reduce the risk of cancer and many other health problems.

Getting Regular Exercise

In addition to helping you achieve a healthy weight, exercise can reduce inflammation, improve immune function and fight some of the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle—all of which can help prevent cancer.

In fact, some evidence suggests that regular exercise can lower a man's likelihood of getting prostate cancer. In 2019, Harvard researchers published findings that showed men who engaged most frequently in vigorous activity had a 30% lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer and a 25% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with men who exercised the least.

Stopping Smoking and Drinking Less

Quitting smoking can improve your health in many ways, including lowering your cancer risk. And if you drink, do so in moderation. But some studies suggest that red wine has antioxidant properties that may benefit your health.

Staying Sexually Active

Studies show that men who have a higher frequency of ejaculation (with or without a sexual partner) were up to two-thirds less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Some experts theorize that ejaculation clears the body of toxins and other substances that could cause inflammation. The release of semen flushes harmful substances from the prostate. 

How to boost testosterone naturally?

 

Testosterone is the male sex hormone that is made in the testicles.

Testosterone affects males in many ways, including regulating sex drive, building bone mass, muscle mass and strength, distribution of body fat, production of sperm, and creation of red blood cells. Women also produce testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands, but they produce significantly lower levels than men.

Low levels of testosterone affect sexual function, causing reduced sex drive, fewer erections and infertility. It can also affect body composition unfavourably. Reduced testosterone levels can also cause weight gain.

Testosterone levels naturally decline with age. This is because DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone that the body naturally produces in the adrenal gland and helps to produce testosterone, drops when a person ages, so do testosterone levels. 

Eating healthful fats found in fish and flaxseed might help the body use the DHEA it produces. Moreover, some measures may slow or reverse the process. The best way to improve testosterone levels is by adopting some lifestyle habits that can improve overall health and well-being:

Getting enough sleep

Lack of sleep can adversely affect the levels of hormones and chemicals that the body needs to function correctly, including testosterone.

Making sleep a priority may help maintain testosterone levels. People should aim to sleep at least seven to eight hours each night.

Maintain a balanced diet

Eating a healthful and nutritious diet can keep all hormone levels in the body balanced and promote optimal long-term health. Research has long shown that eating well is essential to maintaining testosterone levels and overall health.

The best diets are ones that include mostly whole foods and offer a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

Maintain weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is the key for overall long-term health.

Research has shown that men who carry more weight have lower levels of testosterone, with obesity being an important factor in lowering testosterone, even over some other factors.

According to a 2016 study, men who are obese have 30% lower testosterone levels compared to men who are lean.

Stay active

A 2017 study suggested that increasing physical activity was more beneficial than weight loss for improving testosterone levels but do not overdo it, as higher levels of exercise may cause low testosterone.

In fact, the same study found that long-distance runners may experience low testosterone levels. The researchers speculated that this might be due to inadequate energy and improper nutrition.

Stress reduction

Stress elevates the hormone cortisol. Elevated cortisol negatively impacts testosterone. One 2016 study found that stressful events contributed to erratic changes in testosterone levels in males.

Vitamins

Many vitamins are important for optimum health and testosterone levels, such as vitamin D. Getting at least 15 minutes of direct sunshine each day can keep vitamin D levels managed. Food sources high in vitamin D include salmon and other fatty fish or fortified milk and cereal products.

Avoid drug and alcohol abuse

Abuse of drugs and alcohol links to lower testosterone.

According to one 2022 study, chronic alcohol use can lead to low testosterone levels due to the effects it has on the body, including hormonal reactions and cell damage.

Meanwhile, drug companies often promote products that claim to increase testosterone. While these might help some people, they may also slow down the body’s ability to produce testosterone naturally. Some studies have found that testosterone booster supplements and medications may present some health risks.

Also, while prescription medications can help manage a variety of health conditions, they are one of the most common reasons for low testosterone. For example, according to one 2021 study, statins, which are medications that lower cholesterol, may partially operate by reducing testosterone.

Moreover, there is little evidence to prove that testosterone therapy can help men with age-related testosterone problems.

Testosterone therapy may, however, be helpful when the body cannot produce testosterone on its own.