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[S464]Signs Of Prostate Problems

by Alex Fir, Ale

It is important to catch the problem early so you can treat symptoms before they get worse. In addition, in the case of prostate cancer, catching it early will greatly improve treatment capabilities and can even save your life.

What you should keep in mind is that not all prostate problems are caused by cancer. In fact, numerous men have prostate issues and never develop cancer. Here are some problems that men could have:

- Prostatitis means that a prostate gland is swollen due to infection. Acute prostatitis is a temporary swelling caused by a one time infection. A man will likely have a fever and other signs of infection. This can be treated quickly with antibiotics. Chronic prostatitis is a continuing condition due to a repeated infection. This is more persistent and harder to cure.

- Prostate cancer is clearly the most dangerous problem you can have with your prostate. Besides looking for signs, you should also undergo regular prostate screening to help expose a problem.

- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is an enlarged prostate that is caused by problems other that infection or cancer. The risk of having this problem increases with age and can be successfully treated. It can cause irritating symptoms but is not serious. There are medicines available that help relieve symptoms, for example the frequent urge to urinate.

As a result of the location and function of the prostate, nearly all of the issues a man face from prostate problems are associated with urination and sexual functioning.

Urination problems include:

Frequent urge to urinate
Inability to pass urine completely or urinate at all
Slow stream or dribbling
Pain or burning while urinating
Blood in urine

Sexual symptoms:

Inability to achieve an erection
Pain during ejaculation
Blood in semen

In addition to these signs, you can also experience pain in the lower back and thighs.

Prostate problems happen in a large percentage of men over the age of 50, so you should watch for symptoms if you are older. However, not all men with prostate problems are over fifty, so you should see a doctor if you notice these symptoms, regardless of your age.

The prostate is a critical part of the male reproductive system which manufactures a clear liquid which makes up a significant portion of male seminal fluid. Sperm is taken from the testicles to the prostate where it is mixed with prostatic fluid and proteins to form semen.

A normal prostate is roughly the size of a walnut, weighs in at approximately one ounce and is situated just under the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is also regularly described as being donut shaped and is partially wrapped around the urethra, which carries urine out of the body from the bladder.

Through a man's life the prostate grows, although from about the age of twenty until the mid-forties growth is very slow and is more or less undetectable. When a man passes about forty-five however it is very common for the growth of the prostate to accelerate and the vast majority of men will begin to experience the symptoms of an enlarging gland during their forties or fifties.

In many cases an enlarging gland merely produces some mild discomfort which many men choose to learn to live with. In other instances however the prostate may become sufficiently enlarged so that it pinches the urethra enough to cause various symptoms which require treatment or persuade a man to seek treatment to relieve his discomfort. Growth of the prostate at this stage of a man's life is simply a normal part of the aging process and is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BHP.

In all cases however the greatest danger with an enlarged prostate is that this may be something more than just a case of enlargement and may be effectively masking the growth of an underlying cancer.

As the prostate starts to grow it also begins to press on the urethra and to narrow it so that the first signs of a developing problem are generally seen when it comes to urinating. Specifically you may experience difficulty in urinating and need to 'push' to start the process. You may also suffer a weak flow of urine and one which has a tendency to stop and start. As the prostate continues to grow you will also notice that you need to visit the bathroom more often, especially at night, and that you feel as if you need to visit the bathroom even after you have just done so.

As you can imagine this could become something of a nuisance to say the least but but, even so, many men are happy to simply view it as one of the problems of aging and learn to live with it. The is nothing wrong with this of course but the mistake which far too man men make is not to turn to their doctor at this stage to confirm that their problem is only BPH and that it is not likely to cause other problems in their particular case.

Aside from the risk of the possibility of an underlying cancer present, BPH can also lead to other problems like kidney disease or bladder infection.

If you start to experience symptoms which suggest a developing prostate problem then visit your doctor so that the problem can be properly diagnosed.

Article Source : Cancer Prostate

About Author

Both Alex Fir & Donald Saunders are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Alex Fir has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Finances and Family Concerns. . Alex Fir's top article generates over 4400 views. to your Favourites.

Donald Saunders has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health Insurance, Forex Training and Diabetes Treatment. ProstateProblemCenter.com provides information on various and also provides advice on having a. Donald Saunders's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.