Don’t feel bad if you don’t know much about your prostate - most men don’t. Heck, many men even pronounce wrong and say it’s their ‘pros-trate’. No matter how you say it, prostate health is a major concern for men, especially those over age 59. A healthy prostate is essential for lifelong sexual pleasure and function.

Your prostate is a small gland about the size of a walnut that is part of your reproductive system. Problems stem from genetic, hormonal and dietary factors. Chances are, at some point in any man’s life, he will experience prostate problems. Health problems stem from genetic, hormonal and dietary factors.

The three major problems are:

• Enlargement of the prostate gland
• Inflammation or infection of the prostate gland
• Cancer of the prostate gland

Prostate Enlargement

Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older. It varies in severity from man to man and doesn’t always cause a problem. Only your doctor can tell you if the enlargement is normal or a sign of something more serious such as cancer. Prostate enlargement is also known as ‘benign prostatic hyperplasia’ or BHP.

Prostate elargement is a non-cancerous condition in which the narrowing of the urethra makes urination more difficult. You may find that urination becomes an effort and that your stream of urine isn’t as strong. It may also become difficult to start and an inability to empty your bladder. Feeling an urgent and frequent need to go is also a common symptom.

Inflammation or Infection of the Prostate

Some unhealthy conditions of the prostate can be treated successfully with a course of antibiotics. Prostate disorders caused by an inflamed or enlarged prostate are amazingly common and the consequence is most often a relatively harmless, albeit nagging, urinary tract infection.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men. It’s not normally found until after the problem becomes major. Preventative measures are very important. Regular checks allow the disease to be detected at a stage when it can generally be resolved. At the very least, early detection allows you to have more treatment options.

As a man, monitoring your prostate health is essential throughout your lifetime.