Surprising Remedies For Enlarged Prostate Symptoms
We know Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia to be a very common condition, affecting day-to-day quality of life. If you have been to your doctor and had a diagnosis, you may be reaching for advice on what to do next. Well, if this is the case, you may want to look at this list of surprising remedies for enlarged prostate symptoms.
Dr. Jen Tan
Tips For Coping With An Enlarged Prostate
When a man reaches about age 25, his prostate begins to grow. This natural growth is called benign prostatic hyperplasia and it is the most common cause of prostate enlargement. BPH is a benign condition that does not lead to prostate cancer, though the two problems can coexist.
Although 50% to 60% of men with BPH may never develop any symptoms, others find that BPH can make life miserable. The symptoms of BPH include:
- a hesitant, interrupted, weak urine stream
- urgency, leaking, or dribbling
- a sense of incomplete emptying
- more frequent urination, especially at night.
As a result, many men seek treatment. The good news is that treatments are constantly being improved. Patients and their physicians now have more medications to choose from, so if one doesn’t do the trick, another can be prescribed. And thanks to some refinements, surgical treatments are more effective and have fewer side effects than ever before.
But there are some things men dealing with BPH can do on their own. When symptoms are not particularly bothersome, watchful waiting may be the best way to proceed. This involves regular monitoring to make sure complications aren’t developing, but no treatment. For more troubling symptoms, most doctors begin by recommending a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Often this will be enough to relieve the worst symptoms and prevent the need for surgery
Get A Prostate Exam Each Year
As part of your annual mens health exam at Mens T Clinic®, our physicians check the health of your prostate. Every man receives a digital rectal exam . Yup, thats the awful test where a doctor sticks a gloved finger up your anus and you cough. But the awful test could save your life.
If youre between ages 55-69 or at high risk for prostate cancer, we may also recommend a prostate-specific antigen blood test to determine if your levels of PSA are within normal ranges. We may also advise you to get your first test at age 40 or so, to help establish a baseline normal value unique to you.
Show your prostate you care by contacting our Mens T Clinic®office that’s nearest you — in Dallas, Frisco, The Colony, Houston, Cypress, Pearland, Pasadena, Grapevine, and Spring, Texas. You can phone us or use the online booking form to set up a mens health consultation today.
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What Helps Enlarged Prostate Symptoms
An enlarged prostate, which causes symptoms like frequent and urgent urination, has many possible treatment options. Doctors can prescribe various medications, plus there are natural options such as Saw Palmetto. Changes to your diet and lifestyle can also help, as I discussed in my previous blog 6 natural remedies for an enlarged prostate.
In this blog, however, I will focus on a few remedies that you are less likely to be aware of. These are:
Read on to find out more about how these can help your symptoms and how you can add a little more to your diet!
Cat’s Claw And Prostate Health
There are many medicinal properties attributed to cat’s claw, but among the best known is its ability to protect the immune system and thus your body’s cells. In addition, it is believed that the content of beta-sitosterol and campesterol may be responsible for its great anti-inflammatory power, which is especially beneficial for treating BPH or prostate enlargement, thus alleviating such condition by preventing testosterone from converting into dihydrotestosterone, a substance that has great responsibility in prostatic enlargement.
It is also recommended to use cat’s claw to treat the symptoms of prostatitis and even alleviate the condition, as it has been proven to relieve urinary discomfort caused by prostate infection and helps fight infections in the prostate. Similarly, cat’s claw can block the proliferation of an enzyme known as aromatase, which stimulates the production of estradiol, another hormone that like testosterone is linked to enlargement of the prostate. Older men have more estradiol in the body than men at a young age.
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Watchful Waiting With An Enlarged Prostate
When the symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland are mild, with low scores on the BPH Impact Index , it may be best to wait before starting any treatment — what’s known as “watchful waiting.”
With regular checkups once a year or more often, doctors can watch for early problems and signs that the condition is posing a health risk or a major inconvenience. That’s where the BPH Index is especially helpful, Westney tells WebMD. “It lets us know how high the symptom score is ⦠when to start treatment.”
The “driving force in treatment,” she explains, is whether the symptoms are affecting your quality of life — and whether a blockage is causing serious complications, such as inability to urinate, blood in the urine, bladder stones, kidney failure, or other bladder problems.
A few questions to ask yourself:
- How severe are your symptoms?
- Do symptoms prevent you from doing things you enjoy?
- Do they seriously affect your quality of life?
- Are they getting worse?
- Are you ready to accept some small risks to get rid of your symptoms?
- Do you know the risks associated with each treatment?
- Is it time to do something?
Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
- Frequent urge to pass urine, especially at night
- Weak or interrupted urine stream
- Pain or burning when passing urine
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Painful ejaculation
- Nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
Prostate cancer can spread to the lymph nodes of the pelvis. Or it may spread throughout the body. It tends to spread to the bones. So bone pain, especially in the back, can be a symptom of advanced prostate cancer.
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Les Labs Prostate Health
LES Labs is laser-focused on only the most effective prostate supplement ingredients, but they are all delivered at fairly solid dosages.
Youll get zinc and copper for trace elements , and saw palmetto, stinging nettle, beta sitosterol, and pumpkin seed for the herbal ingredientsall proven prostate supplements.
Foods To Avoid: Red Meat
A juicy steak, a Sunday roast or some Italian meatballs are just a few popular dinner choices that make use of red meat however, if these are some of your favourites then I have some bad news – they won’t help the health of your prostate!
The problem with red meat is that it elevates levels of arachidonic acid in your body and this, in turn, increases inflammation – the very thing your enlarged prostate does not need! The more inflammation present in your body generally, the more likely you are to have inflammation in the prostate. Therefore, avoiding or limiting your intake of foods which trigger an inflammatory response is a good place to start when dealing with the problem.
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives to red meat that won’t cause such issues including fish. Why not swap that Sunday roast for a tasty fish stew?
If this doesn’t take your fancy though, simply have a look at our Recipe Hub for some cooking inspiration. Our Healthy Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas is extremely popular, as is our Trout with Creamy Potato Salad.
When cooking from scratch, beans also make a good alternative to meat, plus they happen to be high in protein and fibre.
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Proven Ingredients In Best Prostate Supplements Learn The Science
The research on prostate supplements and natural ingredients used in the treatment of BPH is insufficient to know for sure if these products work.
Most research was done on Saw Palmetto, Green Tea, Zinc, and Calcium and the study findings are frequently inconclusive. However, these ingredients were found to help some men find relief from their symptoms, and more research is needed to understand how these products help men treat BPH.
Saw Palmetto An herbal extract thats been consistently found useful in clinical trials investigating its effect on prostate function.
One such study was published in 2000 in the Journal of Urology by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine.
In this study, 44 men with an enlarged prostate received either a saw palmetto supplement or a placebo pill. Saw Palmetto can help shrink your prostate and improve urinary symptoms.
Beta-Sitosterol Beta sitosterol benefits are more, it has powerful prostate-shrinking effects. A clinical trial conducted by researchers in Germany followed a group of men randomly selected to receive either a beta-sitosterol supplement or a placebo for six months.
After six months of follow-up, the researchers reviewed the results and determined that the beta-sitosterol prostate supplement was effective at reducing symptoms compared to a placebo. The researchers then followed a subset of these subjects for another twelve months.
Saw Palmetto Research Results
How Can I Prevent Prostate Problems
Any male can develop prostate problems. There is really no way to prevent this. Prostatitis is more common in younger males, while BPH and prostate cancer more commonly affect men aged 50 years and older. If you have any risk factors, such as a family history, or are obese, you should talk to a healthcare provider as soon as you can if you are experiencing any lower urinary-tract symptoms. You should also speak to your healthcare provider about the need for regular prostate exams. Recognizing symptoms early may help you receive treatment earlier, reducing long-term complications.
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Alpha Rise Ultimate Prostate Support
Alpha Rise packs a powerful herbal punch with the flagship prostate-shrinking ingredients, saw palmetto and pumpkin seed.
These are supported by less-common supplements like gravel root powder and juniper berry. Its also got supplements to support sexual health, like zinc and pygeum africanumfor many men, prostate problems and sexual dysfunction go hand-in-hand as they get older.
Choose The Mediterranean Diet
A healthy diet for everyone, the Mediterranean diet is especially beneficial for prostate health.
Fresh vegetables, fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids, olive oil, and fresh fruits, along with whole grains are all heart healthy and prostate healthy. Nuts and avocados are better than carbs and fatty foods, therefore reduce the amount of red meat and processed foods.
One tablespoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or Italian dressings reduce insulin levels and inflammations.
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A Guide To Superfoods For A Healthy Prostate In Men
In our opinion, the best treatment will always be prevention! This rings especially true when it comes to preventing almost every type of urological issue like urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, low testosterone and sperm count, kidney stones, and prostate concerns.
Did you know, eating well could significantly reduce your risk against prostate problems? An enlarged prostate is extremely common in older men and can have adverse health symptoms. Even worse, it may lead to prostate cancer, which is one of the most common cancers among men.
In this blog post, we are going over why a proper diet consisting of superfoods for a healthy prostate is essential for men. Plus, we will share some easy ideas on how you can make sure you are eating these six superfoods every day.
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Good For Blood Sugar Balance
Pistachios have a , so they do not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar after someone has eaten them.
In a of 10 people, eating pistachios reduced high blood sugar when eaten with a carbohydrate-rich meal, such as white bread. The researchers suggest that this is one of the ways that nuts lower the risk of diabetes.
For people with diabetes, another suggests that eating pistachios as a snack is beneficial for blood sugar levels, blood pressure, obesity, and inflammation markers.
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Saw Palmetto For Prostate Health
Saw palmetto is a palm that can reach up to three meters in height and is very famous for the medicinal properties offered by its date. Recent studies have shown that frequent consumption of saw palmetto berries improves symptoms related to conditions of the prostate, such as prostatitis and symptoms of BPH , although some question the effectiveness and saw palmetto and the validity of such studies.
In the case of prostatitis it was shown that the consumption of saw palmetto berries allows to decrease the inflammation of the prostate tissue, because it is able to regenerate it and fight the infection that may be affecting it. In addition, saw palmetto relieves the main symptoms of prostatitis, such as difficulty urinating, urgent urge to urinate, burning during urination, feeling of not emptying the bladder and stinging.
As for prostatic hyperplasia, or benign enlargement of the prostate, it was determined that consumption of saw palmetto berries, like cat’s claw, help by avoiding the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a substance that is largely responsible for the enlargement of this gland, since it stimulates the growth of prostate cells. In addition, it helps to improve the symptoms caused by prostatic hyperplasia. Although it was verified that the plant does not reduce the size of the gland, it does not keep it growing.
What Is The Best Treatment For Enlarged Prostate
The best treatment is the one that works for you, and that will depend on the nature of your BPH and your current health status, as well as other factors, like your access to insurance and your household health budget.
Dr. John F. Fellerâ½Â¹â°â¾ is Chief Medical Officer at HALO Dxâ½Â¹Â¹â¾, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Radiology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California. Dr. Feller is also one of the inventors of a patent-pending surgical procedure to treat prostate cancer in outpatient settings using MRI-guided laser focal therapy.
Dr.Feller stresses the importance of seeking medical care, particularly if youâre experiencing pain or discomfort. â
âSee your doctor rather than suffering the symptoms of this, because between medication, surgery, and emerging focal therapiesâ½Â¹Â²â¾, there are many good options to improve quality of life,âhe says.
âIn addition to pharmaceutical and surgical treatments, there are many natural remedies believed to benefit prostate patients. Although these therapies are generally safe, and have quite a bit of historical and anecdotal support, there is limited clinical evidence to suggest they work.
âThat’s why randomized controlled trials or double blinded studies are so important,”â½Â¹Â²â¾notes Dr. Feller, emphasizing that the best studies test natural supplements against placebos.
With that in mind, here are the most popular natural remedies for an enlarged prostate, or BPH.
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Cranberries And Prostate Health
Limited research has suggested cranberry may be beneficial for managing an enlarged prostate and prostatitis. One study included men who had lower urinary tract symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate. Study participants who took 1,500 mg of dried powdered cranberries every day for six months experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms when compared with men who took a placebo.
In another study, rats with chronic bacterial prostatitis were given either cranberry, ciprofloxacin, E. coli extract, or no treatment . Rats given cranberry showed a significant reduction in inflammation of the prostate and in bacterial growth when compared with the control group.
Its also possible that cranberries may help with side effects following a prostate biopsy, which may include trouble urinating and urinary urgency. Proanthocyanidins are potent antioxidants, and their immune-boosting abilities can help avoid possible infection after a prostate biopsy.
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Foods To Avoid: Sugary Foods
Refined sugar is another no-go for those with prostate problems as this can increase inflammation.
Sugar is abundant in some obvious sources such as fizzy juice and cake, but don’t forget it is also added to processed foods to give them extra flavour. This includes ready meals, crisps, some cereals, white bread and ready-made sauces. You could try cutting down your intake of these things in order to reduce the pressure on your prostate.
They say fresh is best for a reason, so try swapping these processed foods for wholegrain products, fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Not only are these better for the prostate, they are also highly nutritious and healthy too!
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Foods To Avoid: Eggs & Poultry
A study published in the January 2006 issue of Urology explored the connection between diet and BPH symptoms.1 It found that eating eggs and poultry appeared to increase symptoms. This may be to do with the fact that egg yolks have high levels of arachidonic acid, which, as mentioned earlier, increases inflammation.
Now, I’m not suggesting that you must cut eggs and chicken out of your diet completely this is just one study and more research would be needed to make a more thorough conclusion on the issue. However, I would advise you not to focus your diet around these foods and to get more variety instead. Vegetables are an excellent option as they contain and array of nutrients and can be incorporated into meals like curries and soups, as well as snacks.
Does Sexual Activity Improve Prostate Health
Regular ejaculation enhances the immune systems response to the presence of cancer cells.
According to a report published in JAMA, men who reported having more than 20 ejaculations per month were 33% less likely to develop prostate cancer.
These measured ejaculations included sexual intercourse, nocturnal emissions, and masturbation. Researchers evaluated nearly 30,000 patients, of whom 1,449 developed prostate cancer.
Assuming the men answered the survey questions honestly, the results indicated that active sex life is not associated with higher cancer risk in most men.
An Australian study of 2,338 men also came to a similar conclusion. This study found that men who averaged 4.6 to seven ejaculations a week were 36% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 70 compared to men who ejaculated less than 2.3 times a week on average.
The study found no connection between prostate cancer and the number of sex partners.
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