The prostate gland can be found in the male reproductive system. The main function of the gland is to provide an alkaline fluid called semen that is expelled during ejaculation. The healthy prostate looks slightly larger than a walnut and is located below the bladder. Enlargement of the prostate is the commonly found problem in men after retirement, resulting in abnormal functioning. Most of the time, it creates problems in urinating as it surrounds the urethra. So once you hit your 40’s, schedule regular checkups with your doctor to ensure that you have a healthy prostate. Prostate cancer is a reason behind major deaths in men! This is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the USA and UK. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the USA, next to lung cancer.
What are the causes of enlarged prostate and cancer?
We know that at the age of 40, the levels of prolactin of testosterone increase. This prolactin stimulates the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that naturally converts testosterone to dihydro-testosterones (DHT). This DHT is the major reason for the enlargement of the prostate and cancer. In addition to aging, we will discuss other causes of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.
Genetics
The enlarged prostates can be inherited from generation to generation.
Cell-growth factor
Some people have enlarged prostate for whatever reason.
Hormone imbalance
A typical middle-aged person has increased abdominal fat and thin muscle mass, which is the main factor for causing hormonal imbalance in men. There are also other factors like stress, depression, anxiety that can cause changes in hormone levels.
Obesity
Researchers and recent studies show that excess amount of calorie consumption either directly or indirectly stimulates enlarged prostates. This is mainly due to changes in hormone levels because of the fat, as we discussed above.
Mineral deficiency
Zinc is an important mineral for the proper function of the prostate gland in our body. Due to aging or uncontrolled diet or excessive alcohol drinking, the zinc level will be deficient. This leads to abnormal function of the prostate gland.
Testosterone
Like we discussed earlier, there will be an increase in the conversion of testosterone to DHT which triggers prostate enlargement.
What are the symptoms of enlarged prostates?
Nocturia
Waking up at night several times to pass urine is what Nocturia is. It is more common in aged people and when there is an enlarged prostate then the condition will be worst.
Dysuria
Dysuria in men is the condition in which the person has painful urination because of the infection in the urinary tract. This condition will become complex when there is an enlarged prostate gland.
Epididymitis
Epididymitis is also caused due to an infection in the urethra or bladder. The symptoms include low-grade fever, high sensitivity to traction or pressure.
Asymptomatic
There are cases in which men with inflammatory prostatitis are asymptomatic.
How to prevent prostate problems?
Let us begin with some home remedies to avoid prostate-related issues.
Tomato
Tomato is rich in lycopene that helps in protecting the prostate. Do not eat raw tomato as it is hard to digest. Eating well-cooked tomatoes with dark green leafy vegetables is the best way to avoid prostate-related issues.
Grapefruit
Grapes contain high amounts of vitamin C and bioflavonoids that help to prevent prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, and heart diseases.
Bean
The high fiber content in beans helps the body to remove the excess level of testosterone thereby reducing the chances of prostate enlargement.
Papaya
The antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and flavonoids present in papaya have anti-cancer effects and are cardioprotective.
Fish
Coldwater fish contains Omega-3 fatty acids which significantly reduce prostate-related risks.
What are the treatments for enlarged prostates?
Drug treatment
This is the first and foremost treatment doctors tend to opt for. The medications suggested will be to get relief from the swollen prostates.
Invasive surgery
The majority of the surgery cases are designed to cause the prostate gland to shrink or remove the extra tissues surrounding the urethra region. This reestablishes the flow of urine from the bladder.
Full surgery
If both the options look not enough to solve the problem, then the doctor opts for full surgery. These are either operated laparoscopically or through the use of robot technology. Such surgeries require a week-long stay in the hospital.
Final thoughts
To maintain a healthy prostate, healthy eating is highly important. The prostate gland is like a filter, if you have poor eating habits, there is a high chance that it gets clogged. In this article, I hosted a lot of home remedies/food recommendations as preventive measures. It is always better to seek professional medical advice if you are facing serious health issues.
