Prostate

Prostate enlargement is a common disease in men after the age of 50 and is an increasing phenomenon.

This condition is known as prostate enlargement or clinically as benign (non-carcinogenic) prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
The problem of enlarged prostate is triggered by a rapid proliferation of cells in the central section of the gland.

The prostate is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the urethra is a channel through which urine flows).
The prostate is responsible for the production of the so-called seminal fluid.
This fluid is used to neutralize the acidity of the vaginal tract, which would otherwise destroy the sperm before it reaches the egg for fertilization.
The normal size of the prostate gland is 4 x 3 x 2 cm, and the weight of the gland is about 20-25 grams.

In childhood, this gland is the size of a pea.

Over time, gradual growth begins.
With the reaching puberty, the growth increases and by the age of 25 the gland is fully grown.
In most men, the prostate can become so large that it puts pressure on the bladder and urethra.
This disrupts the normal flow of urine, which leads to various unpleasant symptoms.

Why does the prostate enlarge in adolescents?

It rarely occurs in men under 30 years of age (for example, at 20 or 25 years of age).
The age from 40 to 50 years is considered the growth period of the prostate gland.
The causes that cause this situation in the juvenile population have yet to be determined.
There is no solid evidence, but there are credible hypotheses.

In older men, prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia) is a common disease.
The first hypothesis relates to testosterone levels and female hormone (estrogen) in men.

In young and older men, an abnormal change that takes place in these areas can trigger prostate enlargement.
Some doctors claim that one of the causes could be a disease known as hyperplasia, which takes place in the gland.
In some cases, the prostate may develop a higher sensitivity to normal hormone levels, thereby causing enlargement.
Among the most credible theories is the unnatural way of life and diet, which leads to malfunction of internal organs.

Risk factors for prostate enlargement include:

1. Diabetes
2. Sexual abstinence
3. Coitus interruptus

Symptoms of prostate enlargement

• If the prostate is enlarged, it presses on the urethra and can lead to a partial urinary stop. This causes the first symptom of BPH, which is urinary retention at the beginning of urination. The man must make an effort to urinate properly.
• The enlargement of the prostate prostate causes a weak stream of urine, complicates the start and often interrupts the flow of urine.
  Urine dripping may also occur after urination.
• The prostate gland may continue to grow in size and eventually narrow the urethra. To address this problem, the bladder must expend more force to empty urine out of the body through the urethra.
  Too much contraction could sensitize the bladder and signal to the brain that it’s full, even if it’s just a small amount of urine.
  This leads to frequent micturition (frequent urination) – another characteristic symptom of BPH.
  This symptom is accompanied by a sudden urge to urinate, especially at night (nocturia).
• In some people with BPH, the urethra may become so narrow that the bladder no longer empties completely, leaving a residual amount of urine in it. This causes a feeling of imperfect emptying.
• The consequences of prostate enlargement also include incontinence and the inability to urinate.
• Prostatic hypertrophy affects sexual life because it can lead to erection problems and thus to disorders of fertility (impotence).
• With acute prostatitis, the patient may also have fever, abdominal pain and back pain.
• Blood in the urine is usually not caused by BPH, much more likely a tumor is responsible.

One might think that the severity of symptoms is related to the enlargement of the prostate.
However, studies have shown that some men with a greatly enlarged prostate have only minor symptoms of micturition.
On the other hand, some people with a slight enlargement have worse symptoms.
In addition, it was found that about half of the men with this condition had symptoms so bothersome that they consulted a doctor. Again, there are men whose symptoms have shown increasing improvement over time.

Complications

Untreated BPH can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder stones and, in rare cases, kidney damage.
Due to these complications, the affected person may have other symptoms in addition to those mentioned above.

Diagnosis of prostate enlargement

Examination of the prostate
There are several ways to examine abnormalities of the prostate.
The occurrence of coarse areas such as hardening, knots or sunken districts is considered anomalous.
In addition to a direct measurement of the prostate, blood tests are performed to detect an increased amount of a special protein produced in the gland.
This serves to detect a tumor or other diseases.

There are other types of analyzes and tests that are done along with a rectal-digital examination to confirm the suspected diagnosis or distinguish strictly correlated signs of two other conditions.
Listen to these studies:

Prostate-specific antigens (PSA): Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced in the prostate. In diseases such as prostate cancer and prostatitis, PSA levels are elevated.
It is an important parameter for detecting a pathological condition of the prostate. However, PSA levels are not a reliable indicator and the significance of these data depends on the results obtained from other investigations.

Transrectal ultrasound: This procedure involves inserting a device that releases sound waves (known as a TRUS) into the rectum. The probe is surrounded by a shell on which an ultrasound gel is applied.
The probe emits sound waves that are reflected by various organs, including the prostate.
An image of the prostate is created from the reflected sound waves.
The ultrasound can reveal irregularities that are not noticeable during the rectal-digital examination.
It also shows the size of the prostate to determine whether it is only slightly enlarged or greatly enlarged (for example, by double).

Biopsy of the prostate: If the patient’s rectal-digital examination indicates an abnormality or PSA levels are elevated, a biopsy (tissue removal for further examinations) may be taken to confirm the suspected diagnosis.
The sample is taken using transrectal ultrasound (TRUS).
A needle connected to the TRUS transducer is inserted to various points, from which the tissue samples of the prostate are then taken.

What can be done? Treatment of prostate enlargement

Drug therapy
After the cause of prostate enlargement has been determined, in addition to various preventive therapies, there are some drugs that can be administered.
These drugs include: antibiotics, alpha-blockers, finasteride and Avodart (depending on the severity and type of disease).

One can also prescribe some herbal remedies, such as saw palmetto.

There are also surgical options to treat prostate enlargement.
If the prostate is operated, there are different options for surgical intervention:

• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
• Simple prostatectomy
• Laser surgery
• Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)

Natural remedies for prostate enlargement

In addition to a special diet, there are some natural remedies or preventive measures such as:

• Do not drink coffee and other stimulants before bedtime.
• Fluid intake with breaks to avoid drinking too much at once. This exerts strong pressure on the urethra.
• Avoid cold, because it aggravates the pain.
• Perform all recommended exercises, especially the pelvic exercises according to Kegel. These strengthen the pelvic muscles.
• Reduce stress. This has a positive effect on health.
• Avoid cycling or use a saddle with a recess for the prostate.
• Do not take over-the-counter cold and sinusitis medications that contain antihistamines and decongestants, as these increase the symptoms of BPH in the body.

There are many studies to determine the severity of the disease and its cause. These tests are used to create a comprehensive analysis of the urinary tract to determine the amount of residual urine remaining and the pressure exerted on the bladder, and to rule out a prostate tumor or other diseases. They can also serve many other purposes.

Yoga poses to keep the prostate healthy

Regular yoga exercises can prevent, reduce or even reverse prostate enlargement.
The most common prostate diseases are prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. One can prevent, slow down or alleviate all these problems by strengthening the muscles of the abdomen and flanks, thus also improving blood circulation in these areas.
Many yoga postures can help strengthen the aforementioned muscles and improve their circulation (as with any other exercise). Here are some of the simplest and most effective positions:

Navasana (boat position)
This asana (posture) gets its name from its distant resemblance to the shape of a boat that the yoga student takes.
To do this, you first lie on your back. Then you lift legs and arms at the same time without bending them. One can perform this asana in two ways: Paripurna Navasana (complete) and Ardha Navasana (partial). If you perform the first variant, you should keep an angle of 90 degrees between the upper and lower body; with the Ardha Navasana you increase the angle to about 120-150 degrees.

Virabhadrasana (Warmaking)
Stand straight. Stretch one leg forward and take a position like a lunge. Raise the arms on both sides of the head and, if possible, stretch slightly backwards.
This asana is particularly helpful (thanks to the backward stretching of the spine) for keeping the spine healthy and has a similar effect to the lunge.

Diet and nutrition for prostate enlargement

Fresh fruits and vegetables are important in the diet, while processed and salty foods or trans fats and unsaturated fatty acids should be avoided.
Here are some food groups that should be part of the daily diet:

Beta-sitosterol
Beta-sitosterol is very useful and is extracted from the pith of sugar cane.
Plants such as saw palmetto and African plum are also a good source of beta-sitosterol.

Linseed oil
Flaxseed oil contains many omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Along with this oil, one can take fish oil to aid digestion.
This category includes some foods such as:

• Basil
• Tuna
• Halibut
• Salmon oil
• Cod liver oil

Zinc-containing foods
Zinc is an important mineral that promotes cell differentiation and growth and helps build the immune system.
It is very useful in the treatment of enlargement or inflammation of the prostate.
Zinc-containing foods that can be included in the daily diet plan are:

• eggs (a limited number is recommended),
• Oysters
• Seafood.

Foods that contain
a lot of vitamin E Vitamin E is the most important vitamin to absorb if you suffer from prostate enlargement. Foods that contain vitamin E include:

• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Sunflower oil
• Peanut butter
• Wheat germ oil
• Roasted or dried almonds

Water
You should drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated, otherwise an infection of the urinary tract can spread to the bladder.
Drinking eight glasses of water a day can help remove bacteria from the body and promote faster recovery from the condition.
Also, drinking blueberry juice can help relieve the symptoms of urinary tract infection.

Foods
to avoid The following foods should be excluded from the diet:

1. Chili
2. Meat
3. Sausage
4. Crustacean
5. Cheese
6. Eggs
7. Beer
8. Alcoholic cocktails

• Enlargement of the spleen or splenomegaly
• Prostate surgery
• Nocturia, pollakiuria and dysuria