Prostate Disorders
What are Prostate Disorders?
Prostate problems fall into three main categories: prostatitis, or inflammation of the gland; benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which results in an enlarged prostate that can narrow the urethra; and cancer. An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown, it does not raise the risk of cancer. Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older. As the gland grows, it can press on the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems.
After age 40, testosterone levels declines, and a testosterone metabolite called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the female-associated hormone estrogen increase. DHT stimulates cell growth and, in turn, prostate enlargement.
Symptoms of the three disorders are often very similar and can include:
- Pain while urinating
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Pelvic pain
- Frequent urination
- Abdominal pain
- “Dribbling” or incontinence
- Erectile dysfunction
- A feeling that your bladder never fully empties
- A sudden inability to urinate
- urinary tract infection
- Presence of blood in the urine
- Frequent need to urinate at night
Who is Affected?
The older a man is, the more likely he is to experience prostate problems and symptoms. Young men are rarely affected by these disorders.
After age fifty, disorders of the gland are among the most common of men’s health complaints. Eighty percent of all prostate cancer diagnoses, for instance, are made after age sixty-five, and by age seventy, ninety percent of all men display at least some symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
What are Options for Treatment?
At the Magaziner Center for Wellness, we focus on alternative treatments rooted in nature, namely herbal preparations customized for each individual patient. We often turn to Saw Palmetto, which has been shown in many clinical studies to reduce prostate enlargement, and Pygeum Africanum. Used together or alone, depending on a patient’s individual needs, these herbs help inhibit the synthesis of growth-stimulating DHT and promote DHT elimination caused by decreased estrogen levels, without the “one-size fits all” prostate medications that are known for their side effects, including erectile dysfunction. It is these very side effects that keep many men from seeking any type of treatment!
We also utilize homeopathic strategies, including magnetic treatment, to help slow tumor growth in our patients with prostate cancer.
As always, we monitor and help modify a patient’s diet to be sure they are getting enough of the key vitamins and minerals needed to maintain good prostate health. We often recommend nutritional supplements, including selenium and vitamins D and E, which have been linked to a healthy prostate. We encourage our patients to eat a diet rich in lycopene, found in tomatoes, and other plant-based foods, as a heavy animal-food diet has been linked to prostate cancer.