Researchers have been telling us for some time now that telomere length is a marker of age-related chronic diseases, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer, among others. It’s not clear, however, if there is an association between telomere length and cardiovascular risk. This uncertainty was the focus of a study published in BMJ…
Symptoms of BPH (enlarged prostate) will affect most men at some point as they age. By age 50, one-third of men will experience BPH-related symptoms, and by age 70, that number is 70 percent. Symptoms of BPH are unpredictable: some men who have an enlarged prostate experience mild symptoms while others may have only a minor…
Taking cranberry for prostatitis treatment can be useful to men with both bacterial and nonbacterial types of prostatitis. For centuries, people have valued using cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon, the American cranberry) for their healing abilities, and Native Americans have long since used them to treat bladder and kidney conditions. Cranberries are related to blueberries, buckberries, and…
Investigators from the University of Bristol evaluated vitamin D levels and prostate cancer risk and determined that the risk of developing the disease does not appear to depend on a man’s levels of this nutrient. The authors presented their findings in the Journal of Cancer Causes and Control. To arrive at this conclusion, Rebecca Gilbert…
A team of researchers from several institutions have discovered a new subtype of prostate cancer which they say involves mutations in the SPOP gene. The scientists suspect the mutations cause changes that are involved in the growth of prostate cancer, perhaps from the earliest stage. Over the years, scientists have made a number of discoveries…
If you are like most men looking for ways to shrink your prostate, you probably have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, otherwise known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Symptoms of BPH can include nocturia (nighttime urination), urinary hesitation, a urine stream that stops and goes, a weaker urine stream, and not being able to empty…
Let’s say you’ve been experiencing symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) —you know, urinary frequency, painful urination, dribbling, urinating during the night—and your doctor confirms the diagnosis. Then he or she whips out a prescription pad to write a script for one of several drugs for BPH on the market. If you’ve done your homework,…
The problem with stress is that we are no longer being chased by ferocious lions on the African plain. Stress can be beneficial when it stimulates the fight or flight response and allows you to outwit a predator, but not so much in everyday life. Stress can affect your body in so many ways –…
Men who like their red meat and hamburgers well done or very well done may be at increased risk of advanced prostate cancer, according to a study presented at the 2011 American Urological Association Annual Meeting. This finding is in addition to previous research suggesting an increased risk of prostate cancer from eating meats cooked…
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is the most common form of a disease known generally as prostatitis, a prostate condition that affects about 50% of men at some point during their lifetime and causes a number of sexual health and other symptoms. Interstitial cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, and the majority of cases develop in women. Symptoms…
Experts have discovered strong evidence that there is a relationship between insulin-like growth factor and prostate cancer. This finding may make it possible for men to take steps to reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by lowering their levels of this hormone if it is elevated. What is insulin-like growth factor? Insulin-like growth factor…
Using a sitz bath treatment for prostatitis is an effective way to relieve pain associated with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). You can do this easy and affordable alternative prostatitis treatment at home. Sitz baths work by keeping the area clean and increasing blood flow to the treatment area. The use of sitz baths…
Men who are experiencing urine leakage and urinary symptoms need to consult a healthcare professional to help uncover the cause of these concerns. Doctors diagnose urinary incontinence using a variety of methods. For example, your doctor will ask you about your urinary habits, what urinary incontinence symptoms you have been experiencing, and whether you have…
Microwave therapy for BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) is a minimally invasive treatment for the urinary problems caused by an enlarged prostate. The procedure, called transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), uses a combination of heat and cold to destroy excess prostate tissue. In microwave therapy for BPH, the targeted tissue is heated to a very high temperature….
If you have an upcoming PSA test, be aware that certain activities and conditions can temporarily raise your PSA. Here are six things to do before a PSA test. 1. Make sure you don’t have a urinary tract infection. A bacterial infection in your urinary tract can cause PSA levels to rise temporarily, so if…
Urinary incontinence symptoms differ somewhat among the different types of urinary incontinence. However, all the different types of urinary incontinence share a common symptom: urine leakage. If you have stress incontinence, you will leak a small amount of urine when you laugh, strain, cough, sneeze, lift something, change position (e.g., stand from a seated position,…
A diagnosis of prostate cancer is almost certainly one of the most significant events in any man’s life. Becoming an informed patient is one way that you can regain control over your life. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options, which may include hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is also sometimes called androgen deprivation therapy….
After prostate cancer surgery, it is quite common for patients to use catheters for men during the recovery process. Typically, the use of a catheter is temporary. In these circumstances, the doctor will insert the catheter, and it will remain in place until the doctor removes it. But some men may need to use a…
The risk of urinary incontinence with radiation therapy is a real concern for men who are considering this treatment approach. Use of image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) as a treatment for prostate cancer is associated with a low risk of urinary incontinence, according to a new study of more than 1,000 men who underwent this treatment…
A new study involved bringing together two uncommon treatment options for a common prostate problem. In that study, investigators evaluated the use of pumpkin seed oil phonophoresis for prostatitis. More specifically, the men who participated had chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, aka chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). What about pumpkin seed oil phonophoresis for prostatitis? First,…
