Prostate Health Information

Overview

Many men are concerned about the health of their prostate. The prostate is a chestnut-shaped gland that sits right below the bladder and is wrapped around the urethra. The prostate is needed for ejaculation and the gland's basic job is to add special fluid to the sperm before it exits the penis during ejaculation.

The health of the prostate can be adversely affected in three ways: infection, enlargement and cancer. Infection of the prostate, or prostatitis, can be classified as an acute or a chronic infection. Enlargement (known as benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH) is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that can cause urinary symptoms in many men. Prostate cancer is the most serious of these three medical issues. Men age 50 and older are at higher risk for developing prostate cancer than younger men. About 300,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, where some 35,000 men die of this disease annually.


Symptoms

In acute prostatitis, many men experience fever, chills, burning with urination, pelvic pain and cloudy urine. Chronic prostatitis may occur in the setting of a previously unrecognized acute infection, and often times, the symptoms are similar but more subtle than in acute prostatitis. Prostatitis is often treated with antibiotics.

The onset of symptoms of an enlarged prostate are much more insidious. Symptoms of BPH include urinary hesitancy, dribbling of urine before and after urinating, frequent urination, straining to start the stream, urgency of urination, and getting up several times at night to urinate. BPH is often treated with medication therapy or surgical intervention. BPH is often a benign condition. However, if the prostate becomes large enough, it may constrict the urethra and urinary obstruction may occur. Urinary obstruction is considered a medical emergency and prompt care is advised.

In most patients with prostate cancer, there are no symptoms. Other patients experience symptoms that are indistinguishable from BPH. Prostate cancer is often first detected by a blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) or a rectal exam. Starting at age 50, all men should have an annual PSA and rectal exam. Men who are of African descent or who have a first-degree relative with prostate cancer should start screening at age 45.

Prevention

There are some dietary tips you can follow to maintain your prostate health and decrease your risk of prostate cancer. Include in your diet regular portions of fresh vegetables and fruits, legumes (peas, beans and lentils) and fresh fish. Fish from cold ocean waters (such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and cod) have large amounts of essential fatty acids, which are good for prostate health. Eat whole grains in moderation, rather than refined (white) breads, pasta, crackers, rice and other grains.

Decrease your intake of fatty meats, hydrogenated oils found in margarine, donuts, cookies, cakes, potato chips and other deep-fried foods.

Are There Special Foods That Can Decrease the Risk of Cancer?

There has been some research with promising results on specific foods that decrease your risk of prostate cancer. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower and foods that contain isoflavones (including soy milk and soy beans) may decrease the risk of prostate cancer. There is mixed research on foods that are rich in lycopene (tomato-based foods) in reducing prostate cancer risk. Some research results show a decreased risk of prostate cancer in patients who supplemented their diets with vitamin E and selenium. Some rich dietary sources of selenium include Brazil nuts, walnuts, tuna and turkey. Good sources of vitamin E include wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts and peanuts.