The prostate is a reproductive gland in males, situated just underneath the bladder. It is shaped like a walnut and is roughly the same size. It envelops the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. The function of the prostate is to produce semen. A man's prostate keeps growing with age. There comes a point when the prostate is unable to grow further because of the layers of tissue around it. The prostate starts to clamp down on the urethra, causing difficulties in urinating. The condition means that the bladder is not completely emptied, which can lead to infections of the prostate and bladder, as well as kidney stones.
Considerations
The exact causes of an enlarged prostate are not completely known. It is a genetically transferable condition that occurs in most men over the age of 60. It is known that men who have had their testicles removed for some reason do not experience enlargement of the prostate at any stage. Therefore, the causes of an enlarged prostate are related to aging and testicular problems.
Causes
Hormone imbalance in middle-aged men may contribute to the condition. Men who have a habit of consuming foods rich in saturated and trans fats have a higher chance of experiencing hormone imbalance. Research has shown that frequent intake of high-calorie foods can be directly linked to prostate enlargement because of the hormone imbalances it causes. The prostate requires large amounts of zinc, so a zinc deficiency may cause an enlarged prostate. Another possible cause of prostate enlargement can be imbalances in testosterone and estrogen.
Prevention
Prostate enlargement becomes a certainty in most men as they age. There are several measures men can take to prevent or delay prostate enlargement. Regular exercise and a healthy sex life improve blood circulation and help remove toxins from the blood. A healthy diet can also prevent the hormone imbalance that can cause prostate enlargement. Men should consume foods that are high in zinc and sulphurophanes, and low in saturated fats and cholesterol.
Treatment
The initial treatment is in the form of medication that relaxes the urinary passage and shrinks the prostate. If medication doesn't help, then the next option is surgery. The conventional surgical procedure removes excess tissue from the prostate and requires at most a two-day stay at the hospital. The other type of procedure involves electrical or heat treatment, which shrinks the prostate tissue.
Warning
There are chances that men with an enlarged prostate have other undiagnosed conditions that may supplement the causes of prostate enlargement. Vesanoid is a drug known to cause prostate enlargement and other urinary disorders, as a side effect, in 3 percent of patients.
Tags: enlarged prostate, prostate enlargement, cause prostate, cause prostate enlargement, causes enlarged, causes prostate, hormone imbalance