Senior Living: Taking care of your prostate as you age - Long Beach Press Telegram
By Dr. Jennifer Liu,
Contributing writer
The prostate gland, located just below the bladder, is part of the male reproductive system and helps produce semen. It starts off the size of a walnut and beginning around age 25, the prostate can gradually enlarge, leading to potential issues as men age.
As a natural part of aging, most males will slowly begin to experience prostate issues such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. Both are different but very common conditions that affect 40% to 50% of men over age 50.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the enlargement of the prostate. When BPH occurs, it blocks the flow of urine through the urethra, leading to bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.
Symptoms of BPH may include:
- An urgent need to urinate.
- Difficulty starting urination.
- The feeling of a full bladder, even after completing urinating.
- A weak flow of urine.
The best treatment depends on factors that include age, prostate size and overall health. Treatments that are available include medication, minimally invasive therapies and surgery.
Another condition men may experience as they age is prostatitis, an active infection or inflammation of the prostate. This is usually caused by a traumatic injury to the prostate or by bacteria that entered the prostate from urine or during sex.
There are different types of prostatitis, depending on the cause. The different types include acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.
Symptoms for prostatitis depend on the different types. Some common symptoms include:
- Burning sensation when urinating.
- Cloudy or bloody urine.
- Pain or discomfort in the penis.
- Fever.
Prostatitis can be tricky to treat since there is no specific cure and depends on the type that you have. Treatment options include medication, physical and mental health therapy, and home care.
When should I see a doctor?
You are never too old to see your doctor. If you're having pain, burning or trouble urinating, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.
To make a proper diagnosis, your doctor will perform a physical exam that includes a digital rectal exam, a procedure used to examine the prostate and other lower internal organs. You may also be referred to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in urinary health.
Looking out for prostate cancer
BPH is not linked to cancer and does not increase the risk for cancer. But the symptoms of BPH and prostate cancer can be similar.
Prostate cancer is the growth of cancerous cells inside the prostate, which may break out of the gland and affect other parts of the body. More than half of all American men have some cancer in their prostate glands by the age of 80, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Most of these cancers never pose a problem. However, if you have a family history of prostate cancer, you are twice as likely to develop it. In America, prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer, with one in nine men — 3 million each year — being diagnosed with this form of cancer in their lifetime.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that as men reach the age of 55, they should be screened for prostate cancer with a prostate specific antigen test. PSA is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant, cells of the prostate gland. This test measures the level of PSA in a man's blood, which is often elevated in men with prostate cancer.
Early symptoms, when the cancer is most treatable, are very difficult to spot, which is why screening is important. Talk to your doctor about when you should be screened.
How can I maintain my prostate's health?
A man's lifestyle, exercise habits and diet have a great impact on his prostate health, especially as he gets older. Just like other areas of the body, taking care of your prostate can prevent and lower risk factors for difficult conditions like BPH or prostatitis.
Here are things you can do to help keep your prostate healthy:
- A healthy diet: Eat foods such as oily fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, vegetables and foods high in healthy fats like nuts, olives and avocados.
- Exercise: Studies show that exercise reduces risk of BPH and prostatitis. Exercise is essential and helps you keep a healthy weight, strengthen muscles and support cardiovascular health.
Aging men may feel discouraged to begin exercising and eating healthy, but it's never too late. Whether you're in your 40s, 50s or 60s, your future self will still thank you.
Although prostate issues may relate to private aspects of a person's life, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. For more information or to find a provider, call 800-MEMORIAL or visit memorialcare.org/Providers.
Dr. Jennifer Liu is the chief of urology at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.
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