Something You Should Know About Prostate Problems

Prostate problems strike most men over the age of 50. The American Urological Association states that over 90% of all men will develop some kind of prostate problem during their lifetime. Of these, the most common prostate problems are:

-- Prostatitis - caused by an inflammation

-- Benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH which is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate

-- Prostate cancer

Inflammation In Prostate May Be Silent

Examination of prostate tissue from routine autopsies indicate 75-80% incidence of chronic inflammation in these cases. While inflamed prostate may not be painful in itself, it can lead to prostate enlargement and unpleasant symptoms because of an increased pressure on the urethra.

These symptoms produce increased urgency or difficulty to urinate, problems in emptying the bladder, sleep disturbances because of frequent nighttime urination, weak or sporadic stream of urine, dribbling at the end of urination and emotional distress.

Because of the side effects of treatment for BPH which can be worse than its symptoms, most doctors do not suggest treatment for the condition. But if left untreated prostate problems could become much worse and eventually require uncomfortable prostate biopsies, radiation or microwave treatments. It can even require debilitating and potentially serious surgery.

Over 400,000 men in the United States undergo prostate surgery each year. Moreover, prostate problems can lead to dangerous complications, including bladder and kidney infections.

What Causes Prostate Inflammation

Prostate inflammation is idiopathic, which means cause unknown. Some probable causes include:

-- Infection with sexually transmitted agents or non-sexually transmitted bacteria or virus;

-- Cell injury triggered by chemical and physical trauma from urine reflux;

-- Prostatic stone formation;

-- Retrograde movement of sperm cells into the prostate;

-- Hormonal (estrogen) variations and/or exposures;

-- Dietary factors such as increased consumption of red meat and animal fats.

Inflammation Increases The Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) is a lesion that frequently occurs in the prostate. PIA is connected to prostate cancer since inflammation produces increased cell death and DNA damage in regenerated cells.

Many population-based investigations confirm the link between inflammation and prostate cancer. Furthermore, these studies also discovered that men who took inflammation-reducing medications or followed dietary patterns that were less likely to promote inflammation are at lower risk of prostate cancer.

Inflammation Promotes Metastasis Of Prostate Cancer And Treatment Resistance

Studies consistently show that inflammation associated with the progression of tumors plays a crucial role in the metastasis of prostate cancer. Tumor cells produce a variety of substances that trigger inflammatory cells to break into tumor tissues. Once this happens, the tumor tissues release inflammatory cytokines, proteases, and growth factors which are responsible for tissue disruption, invasive potential of tumor cells, growth of new blood vessels that feed tumor cells, and finally tumor metastasis.

There are no effective treatments for metastatic prostate cancer. Since resistance to chemotherapy has been linked with increased inflammatory responses in metastatic tumors, studies are carried out to investigate whether anti-inflammatory treatments could improve metastatic tumors and bring down treatment resistance.

Natural Anti-inflammatory Remedies For Prostate Health

Anti-inflammatory herbal remedies have been used for centuries to treat various chronic inflammatory conditions. Turmeric, Gingo biloba, Saw palmetto, Scute, Coptis, and Lovage are commonly used anti-inflammatory herbs in prostate remedies.

Anti-inflammatory remedies work as detox cleanser to remove noxious stimuli, i.e., inflammatory cells and their metabolites and debris. After effective removal of the inflammatory substances, the enlarged or inflamed prostate gland may begin to shrink.

Anti-inflammatory remedies may provide the following benefits:

-- Remove irritable stimuli that promote DNA damage and gene mutation in the prostate;

-- Help ease urinary tract relaxation and reduce urine reflux;

-- Maintain a healthy hormone balance;

-- Supply natural antioxidants to the prostate and help to restore a normal microenvironment.

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