Most men over a certain age will inevitably suffer with prostate health at some stage during their life.
Being mindful of this and looking out for symptoms which may indicate something is not quite functioning as it used to, should help you and your doctor to detect and diagnose possible problems earlier.
Prostate problems are often an indicator that you may have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Prostatitis or Prostate Cancer so dealing with symptoms sooner rather than later is advisable.
Getting a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test during your 40's, and routine prostate examinations once you are over 50, is a sensible way to manage your prostate health.
Below are some indicators of things that you can be on the look out for: 1.
Urinary urgency 2.
Urinary Incontinence 3.
Weak Urine Stream 4.
Needing to Urinate More Frequently 5.
Dribbling Flow of Urine 6.
Stop Starting Urine Flow 7.
Frequent Urination 8.
Getting up Often at Night 9.
Incomplete Emptying of Bladder If the problem is Prostatitis, then you may also have pain during ejaculation or just have a general pain around your pelvic and genital area.
If the problem is prostate cancer then you may have additional symptoms such as, anemia, weight loss, fatigue, and / or traces of blood in your urine and semen.
If these symptoms sound familiar then the first step by your doctor will probably be an International Prostate Symptoms Test which looks at the common symptoms of an enlarged prostate, the severity of each symptom and your emotions towards these problems.
For example, "If you were to spend the rest of your life with your urinary condition just the way it is now, how would you feel about that?" Answer options range from 'Delighted' to 'Terrible'.
Depending on the severity of a prostate problem such as Prostatitis and BPH, this test should highlight the extent of the condition and the nature of the problem, putting your doctor in a much better position to make an accurate assessment of your prostate health.
If your doctor suspects prostate cancer then the International Prostate Symptoms test will probably be used in conjunction with a test for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and a Digital Rectum Exam (DRE).
Research If your doctor does diagnose you with one of these conditions then try not to worry too much, I appreciate that it's easier said than done.
Do your homework; there are many options and treatments available for your consideration, including natural ones.
You may be surprised by the range of options available to you.
We have found the books on prostate health by Dr.
Aaron Katz and Dr.
Mark Scholz to be particularly relevant and helpful.