I know it’s embarrassing, but can we talk about prostates?
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It’s a tricky little thing, the prostate. Usually, the doughnut-shaped gland functions for an entire lifetime without evident problems, busily producing part of the fluid that carries the sperm during ejaculation. Since we can’t see it, men are generally unaware that they have such a thing, with only a hazy notion of where it is or what it does – many people can’t even pronounce the name correctly – how many times have you heard someone talking about ‘prostrate’ problems!
Things seem to be changing, a huge increase in diagnoses of ‘enlarged prostate’, (or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BHP ) to give it the full medical monty) and a sinister upturn in the incidence of prostate cancer in the UK are signs that prostate problems are on the increase; probably because men are living longer, but also perhaps as a result of modern diet and lifestyles.
As an elderly member of the ‘at risk’ group, I spent a bit of time trawling the available advice, sorting the real from the fanciful, and in the process turning up some stuff that will make you smile. Here is a summary of my findings:
- Consult your Doctor if you develop any of these symptoms
- Check these Frequently Asked Questions
- Ask your Doctor for a Prostate-Specific Antigen test (PSA)
- Ask your Doctor for a Digital Rectal Examination
- Don’t get obese
- Stop smoking
As for causes and cures, the juries are still out on:
- Not enough sex
- Too much sex
- Masturbation
- Statins help
- Statins don’t help
- Exercise helps
- Blueberry and grape punch may help
- Pomegranate juice looks promising too
- Selenium looks worthwhile
- Quack remedies
Don’t delay. Consult your Doctor if you think that you may have prostate problems; early diagnosis brings a very high probability of a complete cure.