Prostate Gland – Causes, Treatment and Remedies
The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and is found at the base of the bladder. A thin tube that allows the passage of urine out of the penis (urethra) runs through the prostate gland. Fluid produced by this gland helps to nourish and support sperm, which come from the seminal vesicles via the ejaculatory ducts into the urethra.
Prostate cancer is a disease in which the cells of the prostate become abnormal. They start to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. A tumor is a mass or lump of tissue made of abnormal cells. Tumors may be malignant or benign. A malignant tumor can spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors cannot spread to other parts of the body.
Causes
Increasing age and the presence of normal male hormones (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) are the best-known factors that contribute to BPH. A hormone known as 5?-reductase converts testosterone into DHT in the prostate gland, which results in prostate enlargement. DHT concentrations in BPH tissue have been shown to be increased when compared with normal prostate tissue.
The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. It is believed that factors linked to aging and the testicles themselves may play a role in the growth of the gland. Men who have had their testicles removed at a young age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop BPH.
For some men, it suddenly becomes impossible to urinate (known as acute retention). Studies have shown that acute retention affects between 1 and 2 per cent of men with BPH each year. This condition is very painful and demands immediate medical treatment to avoid damage to the kidneys, among other things.
Treatment
The surgeon (urologist) must first prove that the prostatic enlargement is the cause of the symptoms. He may find it helpful to measure the urinary flow rate. This is a simple test: you pass urine into a large funnel and the time taken for a particular volume of urine to pass is calculated electronically. The urologist will also arrange an x-ray or ultrasound scan to make a picture of the bladder after an attempt at emptying. This will reveal whether the prostate is causing obstruction to the urethra. The ultrasound scan will also check that the kidneys are normal. In some hospitals, the size and the shape of the prostate can also be measured by ultrasound.
Medications
Alpha blockers. These drugs were originally developed to treat high blood pressure. They relax muscles around your bladder neck and make it easier to urinate. Four alpha blockers have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of BPH: terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax) and alfuzosin (Uroxatral).
Remedies
Pumpkin seeds are an effective home remedy for prostate problems and many patients have been helped by their use. These seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids which are essential to the health of the prostate. Persons beyond the age of fifty, who have any signs of prostate trouble; or those who suffer from urinary disorders of some kind, namely, burning or difficulty in passing urine freely, should take sixty to ninety grams of pumpkin steeds per day.
Prostate cancer is a disease in which the cells of the prostate become abnormal. They start to grow uncontrollably, forming tumors. A tumor is a mass or lump of tissue made of abnormal cells. Tumors may be malignant or benign. A malignant tumor can spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors cannot spread to other parts of the body.
Causes
Increasing age and the presence of normal male hormones (testosterone and dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) are the best-known factors that contribute to BPH. A hormone known as 5?-reductase converts testosterone into DHT in the prostate gland, which results in prostate enlargement. DHT concentrations in BPH tissue have been shown to be increased when compared with normal prostate tissue.
The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. It is believed that factors linked to aging and the testicles themselves may play a role in the growth of the gland. Men who have had their testicles removed at a young age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop BPH.
For some men, it suddenly becomes impossible to urinate (known as acute retention). Studies have shown that acute retention affects between 1 and 2 per cent of men with BPH each year. This condition is very painful and demands immediate medical treatment to avoid damage to the kidneys, among other things.
Treatment
The surgeon (urologist) must first prove that the prostatic enlargement is the cause of the symptoms. He may find it helpful to measure the urinary flow rate. This is a simple test: you pass urine into a large funnel and the time taken for a particular volume of urine to pass is calculated electronically. The urologist will also arrange an x-ray or ultrasound scan to make a picture of the bladder after an attempt at emptying. This will reveal whether the prostate is causing obstruction to the urethra. The ultrasound scan will also check that the kidneys are normal. In some hospitals, the size and the shape of the prostate can also be measured by ultrasound.
Medications
Alpha blockers. These drugs were originally developed to treat high blood pressure. They relax muscles around your bladder neck and make it easier to urinate. Four alpha blockers have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of BPH: terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax) and alfuzosin (Uroxatral).
Remedies
Pumpkin seeds are an effective home remedy for prostate problems and many patients have been helped by their use. These seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids which are essential to the health of the prostate. Persons beyond the age of fifty, who have any signs of prostate trouble; or those who suffer from urinary disorders of some kind, namely, burning or difficulty in passing urine freely, should take sixty to ninety grams of pumpkin steeds per day.
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