Why you should check up on the men in your life
Is there a man in your life over the age of 45? Did you know that by the time he is over 50 he has a 1 in 2 chance of developing symptoms of an enlarged prostate [1]?
It may be your husband, partner, father, brother or son and, more likely than not, his prostate isn’t something you will have discussed together. You (or he!) may not even be aware that he possesses a prostate, nor indeed what it is or what it does for him. The fact is, however, that the symptoms of an ageing prostate are no fun at all and don’t benefit from being ignored. So bringing the topic up may well be one of the most helpful things you can do for him.
The symptoms to be looking out for (or listening out for, if he’s complaining about them) are the following:
- The need to urinate frequently – especially at night
- Weak or interrupted urine flow
- Feeling that the bladder isn’t emptying completely
- Bladder discomfort with a constant feeling of fullness
These symptoms are caused by the prostate (which is a gland that surrounds the neck of the bladder in men), gradually swelling and restricting the flow of urine out of the bladder.
Nothing that alarming, and completely natural for the male of the species – 3.2 million men in the UK experience symptoms of an enlarged prostate [1]. Having reassured him that he is not alone, now is the time to encourage him to visit his doctor.
He may not relish the thought of a visit to the doctor – many men don’t. So here’s how we can help: you can download our Doctor’s Information Pack for him or read our guide to Talking to your Doctor for some extra information.
The likelihood is that the doctor will confirm that it’s a case of enlarged prostate (known as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH), but it’s important to check because it might be another condition such as:
- Prostatitis, a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics
- Overactive bladder muscles, which can often be treated with medication to relax the muscles
- Diabetes, which can cause increased urination and needs to be caught as early as possible
If it is BPH, which is the most likely outcome, the doctor may suggest prescription drugs or, in severe cases, surgery may be an option. For less severe cases, there is also a traditional herbal remedy licensed for the relief of urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate such as Prostasan Saw Palmetto capsules.
Still looking for more information to help him? To give you a helping hand, have a look at our latest infographic which offers a quick & easy guide to the enlarged prostate, symptoms he can expect, lifestyle changes which can help alleviate the symptoms and how Saw Palmetto can help.
As one simple example, an American study has shown that men who have a high intake of vegetables, especially those rich in beta-carotene, lutein and vitamin C have a reduced risk for BPH. [2] So eat all the green, leafy vegetables, sweetcorn, yellow and orange-coloured vegetables such as peppers, kiwi fruit and grapes, to get these nutrients. Another study showed that eating four or more servings of vegetables daily reduced BPH risk by 32%, and eating more fatty foods increased the risk. Eating red meat daily increased the risk of BPH by 38%. [3]
[1] http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/Charities/prostate_action.php
[2] Rohrmann S et al. American J Clin Nutr 2007; 85: 523-529
[3] Kristal AR et al. American Journal of Epidemiology 2008; doi: 10. 1093/aje/kwn389.
