Present in every man's bloodstream, the PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a protein from the prostate gland. PSA tests are performed to help doctors determine your prostate health. Consider getting yours checked if you are older than 50 or have a strong family history of prostate cancer. An elevated PSA level does not always signify prostate cancer; high PSA may result from an enlarged prostate or inflammation.
Step 1
See your doctor and get a digital rectal exam if you have not already had one. This exam allows the doctor to feel your prostate gland and determine its size, shape and potential irregularities.
Step 2
Get treatment for the cause. If your PSA is elevated due to infection or inflammation, your physician can prescribe medications to reduce swelling and kill bacteria.
Step 3
Have protected sex. Bacteria, such as the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea, can lead to prostatitis. Prostatitis inflames the prostate and may lead to elevated PSA levels.
Step 4
Eat a low-fat diet. Men who eat animal fats -- such as the saturated fats in dairy or meat -- may increase their risk of prostate cancer. Reduce your overall dietary fat intake to allow just 20 to 35 percent of calories from fat daily. For the average 2,000-calorie diet, this equals anywhere from 44 to 78 g of fat intake daily.
Step 5
Request a repeat PSA test if you are anxious. The PSA test has a record for false-positives -- meaning PSA levels may come back elevated even in the absence of any prostate disease.
Step 6
Take prostate medications as prescribed. Flomax, Hytrin and Proscar are just some of the myriad drugs used to shrink the prostate if you are diagnosed with benign prostatic hypertrophy -- or a non-cancerous swelling of the prostate.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Protein-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
- University of Utah: Prostate Pathology
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Prostate Englargment -- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- MayoClinic.com: Healthy Diet -- End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines
