Is nutrition important in preventing prostate diseases?
Some foodstuffs are thought to be associated with the development of benign prostate enlargement (BPH) and related symptoms. Increased energy intake, excess protein consumption, red meat, fat, cereals, bread, poultry, and starch increase the risk of clinical BPH development and BPH surgery. Data are showing that vegetables, fruits, polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, and vitamin D reduce prostate enlargement and related complaints. It is also known that the amounts of vitamin E, lycopene, selenium, and carotene in body circulation are inversely proportional to the risk of BPH development.
What are the symptoms of prostate diseases?
The size of the prostate enlarges with age. Due to the enlargement of the prostate, the urinary canal (urethra) gets pinched and urinary complaints occur.
The complaints of prostate diseases are grouped under two headings. The first one is related to the storage function of the bladder (urinary bladder). These complaints result from the decrease in the urine storage function of the urinary bladder, and usually appear as frequent urination, burning during urination, frequent waking up at night for urination, urgent need to urinate, and urinary incontinence before reaching the toilet.
Who should have prostate control?
In our country, we recommend that healthy men over 50 with no risks for or complaints of prostate diseases should have prostate control once a year. In countries like the USA, where prostate cancer is common (especially in Afro-American men), this age limit is much lower.
What is PSA?
PSA is a protein, found in blood, that is secreted by only the prostate gland. Contrary to popular belief, high PSA mostly does not make people sick. However, high PSA shows us, the doctors, that there is an extraordinary situation in the patient’s prostate and that we need to examine it more closely.