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What are the most important things you can do to protect the health of your prostate?
When it comes to protecting your prostate health, one of the first things to know is your anatomy. The prostate is a gland the size of a walnut found only in the male reproductive system. It is found in the pelvis, under the bladder and in front of the rectum. The tube that carries urine (the urethra) passes through the center of the prostate. The prostate helps to make sperm, which protects and nourishes the spermatozoa. For most men, the prostate enlarges with age, sometimes leading to health problems.
The most common risk to prostate health is not cancer and is linked to this hypertrophy of the gland called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. As the prostate grows, it is flush with the urethra and can cause low urinary flow or waking up frequently at night to urinate. A diagnosis of prostate enlargement comes from a health professional who performs a physical examination and examines the urinary symptoms of a man. These symptoms can often be treated with the use of prescription drugs or minor surgeries.
All prostate changes are not benign, so you can protect your prostate health by knowing your prostate cancer risk. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. About 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Prostate cancer can be diagnosed on the basis of a physical examination of the prostate and a blood test of PSA (prostate specific antigen). The American Urological Association recommends that men between the ages of 55 and 69 talk to their doctor about whether they should be tested for PSA. Early detection may be recommended for high-risk men (for example, a family history of prostate cancer in a man's father or brother). African-American men are also at higher risk, with approximately 1 in 6 people diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In the beginning, prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. Screening can enable early detection, when treatments can be more effective, and identify aggressive cancers before they spread. Fortunately, the risk of death from prostate cancer is low and many cancers detected are developing slowly.
Finally, you can protect your prostate health with good choices in your diet, exercise habits and regular preventative visits. The Urology Care Foundation recommends that dieting low in animal fats and high in fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer in humans. Just like doing regular exercise, losing weight and quitting are healthy choices for the heart, these can also be beneficial to prostate health.
Dr. Ryan Smith is urologist at the University of Virginia Health System.
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