Prostate Health
Why It’s Important
All men, regardless of age, should be concerned about their prostate health. Inflammation of the prostate may happen at an earlier age, but benign enlargement of the prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH) and prostate cancer generally do not affect men until they are in their 40s or older.
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland, located at the base of a man’s urinary bladder and in front of the rectum. It plays an important role in male fertility as it produces the seminal fluid that nourishes the sperms during ejaculation. As men age, the prostate is often a source of problems related to an uncontrolled growth of its tissues.
The benign growth that is a normal part of aging is referred to as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. It usually begins after the age of 40 and slowly progresses. Most men in their 60s /70s could be complaining of symptoms of BPH, the most notable of which are difficulty in urination, night urination, weak urinary stream, interrupted stream, urine dribbling, and a sense of urgency to urinate, a weak urine stream.
This benign enlargement of the prostate can be an annoyance, but usually it is not a serious problem, and there are variable effective treatment solutions ranging from medications to minimally-invasive surgical procedures to radically-relieve the symptoms.
Sadly true and on the contrary to benign enlargement of the prostate, prostate cancer usually gives no warning signs at its early stages. That is why it is crucial for otherwise healthy men to have regular prostate checkups.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and represents a substantial public health burden. However, the 5-year survival rate is almost 100% when the cancer is discovered early.
Clinical assessment to rule out the presence of any abnormalities in the prostate gland is the first and most important step, and it is advisable to have it done once a year after the age 40. Above 45, another simple blood test, prostate specific antigen (PSA), is recommended annually in addition to the clinical assessment. Men who are at high risk (men with a family history of prostate cancer or of certain ethnic groups) should begin PSA testing at age 40.
Prostate health checkups are nothing to be embarrassed about nor should they be ignored. Millions of men are alive today because they decided to have their prostate checked. If you fit in the criteria, then it is highly advisable to talk to your Urologist today about the importance of prostate health screening.
With my sincere wishes for everlasting health,
Dr. Anis Haddad
Urologist & Men`s Health Expert
Author Info
No Comments