The prostate gland is a small,
walnut-shaped gland that sits behind the bladder in men. During sexual
activity, the prostate gland helps produce semen, the nutrient-rich fluid that
carries the sperm during ejaculation. Essentially, what this context will be doing
today is health promotion; and therefore, responsible health promotion must
provide these three things:
1. Information
2. Reassurance
3. A plan of action.
2. Reassurance
3. A plan of action.
Everyone
has a pair of kidneys. The job of the kidney is to remove waste. It is the
LAWMA (waste management company) of your body. Everyday your blood passes
through the kidney several times to be filtered. As the blood is filtered,
urine is formed and stored in a temporary storage tank called the urinary
bladder.
If
there were to be no urinary bladder, as a man walks on the road, urine will be
dropping.
Now
think of the plumbing work in your house. Think of the urinary bladder as the
overhead storage tank. From the storage tank, a good plumber will run pipes to
other parts of the house, including the kitchen. God in His wisdom ran pipes
from our urinary bladder to the tip of the penis. The pipe is called the
urethra. Just below the bladder and surrounding the urethra is a little organ
called the prostate gland.
The
prostate gland is the size of a walnut and weighs about 20grams. Its job is to
make the seminal fluid which is stored in the seminal vesicle. During sexual
intercourse, seminal fluid comes down the urethra and mixes with the sperms
produced in the testicles to form the semen. So semen technically is not sperm.
It is sperm + seminal fluid. The seminal fluid lubricates the sperm.
After
age 40, for reasons that may be hormonal, the prostate gland begins to enlarge.
From 20 grams it may grow to almost 100 grams. As it enlarges, it squeezes the
urethra and the man begins to notice changes in the way he urinates.
TERMINAL DRIPPLING:
The
man begins to notice that after urinating and repacking, urine still drops on
his pants. This is the reason why after an older man urinates, he has to ring
bell. A younger man simply delivers to the last drop and walks away. Just see
an older man coming from the bathroom. Sometimes he may clutch the newspaper
closely to hide the urine stains, particularly on plain colored trousers.
HESISTANCY
At
this point you wait longer for the urine flow to start. There are 2 valves that
must open for you to urinate – the internal and external sphincters. Both open
but because of obstructions in the urethra, you wait longer for the flow to
start.
INCOMPLETE EMPTYING
You
have this feeling immediately after urinating that there is still something
left.
As
all these things happen, the bladder begins to work harder to compensate for
the obstruction in the urethra. The frequency of urination goes up. Urgency
sets in. Sometimes you have to practically run into the toilet. Nocturia also
becomes common. You wake up more than 2 times at night to urinate. Your wife
begins to complain.
Men
being men may not talk to anyone even at this point. Then the more serious
complications start.
Stored
urine forms crystals. Crystals come together to form stone either in the
bladder or in the kidney. Stones may block the urethra.
Chronic
urinary retention sets in. The bladder stores more and more urine. The size of
the bladder is 40 - 60cl. A bottle of coke is 50cl. As the bladder stores more
urine it can enlarge up to 300cl. An overfilled bladder may leak and this leads
to wetting / urinary incontinence. Also the volume may put pressure on the
kidney and may lead to kidney damage.
What
may likely bring the man to hospital is acute urinary retention. He wakes up
one day and he is not able to pass urine.
Everything
I have described above is associated with prostate enlargement, technically
called benign prostate hyperplasia.
There
are other diseases of the prostate like:
1. Prostatitis – inflammation of the
prostate
2. Prostate cancer – cancer of the prostate.
This
discussion is on prostate enlargement.
I
have bad news and good news.
The
bad news is that every man will have prostate enlargement if he lives long
enough.
The
good news is that there are life style changes that can help the man after 40
to maintain optimum prostate health.
NUTRITION
Look
at what you eat. 33% of all cancers, according to the US National Cancer
Institute is related to what we eat.
Red meat everyday triples your chances of prostate disease. Milk everyday doubles your risk. Not taking fruits / vegetables daily quadruples your risk.
Red meat everyday triples your chances of prostate disease. Milk everyday doubles your risk. Not taking fruits / vegetables daily quadruples your risk.
Foods that are rich in zinc are also good for men. We recommend pumpkin seeds (ugbogulu).
Zinc is about the most essential element for male sexuality and fertility.
Men
need more zinc than women. Every time a man ejaculates he loses 15mg of zinc.
Zinc is also important for alcohol metabolism. Your liver needs zinc to
metabolize alcohol.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
As
men begin to have urinary symptoms associated with prostate enlargement, it is
important they look at alcohol consumption. More fluid in means more fluid out.
Drink
less. Drink slowly.
EXERCISE
Exercise
helps build the muscle tone. Every man should exercise. Men over 40 should
avoid high impact exercise like jogging. It puts pressure on the knees. Cycling
is bad news for the prostate. We recommend brisk walking.
When we sit, two-third of our weight rests on the pelvic bones. Men who sit longer are more prone to prostate symptoms. Do not sit for long hours. Walk around as often as you can. Sit on comfortable chairs. We recommend a divided saddle chair if you must sit long hours.
DRESSING
Men
should avoid tight underwear. It impacts circulation around the groin and heats
it up a bit. While the physiological temperature is 37 degrees, the groin has
an optimal temperature of about 33 degrees. Pant is a no - no for men. Wear
boxers. Wear breathable clothing.
SMOKING
Avoid
smoking. It affects blood vessels and impact circulation around the groin.
SEX
Regular
sex is good for the prostate.
Celibates
are more pronenn to prostate illness. While celibacy is a moral decision, it is
not a biological adaptation. Your prostate gland is designed to empty its
contents regularly.
"Pieces
of lemon in a glass of hot water can save you for the rest of your life,"
says Professor Chen Horin, chief executive of the Beijing Military Hospital.
Hot
lemons can kill cancer cells!
Cut
the lemon into three pieces and place it in a cup, then pour hot water, it will
become (alkaline water), drink it every day will certainly benefit everyone.
Hot
lemons can once again release an anti-cancer drug.
Hot
lemon juice has an effect on cancerous tumors and has shown treatment for all
types of cancer.
Treatment
with this extract will only destroy the malignant cells and will not affect
healthy cells.
Second:
The acids and mono-carboxylic acid in lemon juice can regulate hypertension and
protect narrow arteries, adjust blood circulation and reduce blood clotting.
Tags:
Health