You may not think about your prostate, the walnut-sized gland between the penis and urinary bladder, until you have trouble voiding, pelvic pain, or blood in your urine. However, prostate health is vital. Here is a guide to passing prostate exams, why you should have one, how you can improve your prostate health, and where you can go for this exam in Phoenix, Arizona.
Reasons to Get an In-office Prostate Exam
Men between the ages of 50 and 75 should get annual digital rectal exams (DREs) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests to screen for prostate cancer. About 288,000 new cases of this men-only cancer are discovered annually in the United States alone.
While slow-growing, prostate cancer can be deadly. Early detection helps the chances for remission.
Cancer is not the only problem these easy in-office exams can detect. Other common prostate health issues are:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, in which the gland enlarges significantly, blocking urine flow and causing infection, frequency, and urgency
- Prostatitis, a common genito-urinary tract infection
Symptoms of Prostate Problems
Whether you fall within or outside the ages for professional prostate cancer screening, you should see your primary care physician or your urologist for a quick DRE and PSA if you exhibit symptoms of:
- Pelvic or lower back pain
- Urine dribbling
- Urgency
- Frequent urination, particularly at night
- Fever, body aches, and chills
- Pain in or near the scrotum or penis
Also, it is important to note that some men with prostate cancer may have no symptoms at all, or if they do, they chalk them up to simple aging. That’s why men should get screened routinely.
Passing the Prostate Examination
Can men take steps to keep their prostates healthy and cancer-free? While some degree of benign overgrowth of prostate tissue seems inevitable, you can reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer by employing a healthy lifestyle. Here’s how to “pass” your exam.
1. Keep Good Overall Health
That means quitting smoking, exercising, trimming down, and staying hydrated. Whatever you do for your cardiovascular and digestive health also benefits all aspects of your sexual and urinary tract health and function.
Get an annual wellness check-up with your PCP. He or she will monitor your weight, vital signs, and blood levels of glucose, cholesterol, thyroid hormones, and more. The doctor also will discuss the genetic factors which may predispose you to prostate and other kinds of cancers.
2. Take Vitamins and Supplements
Your men’s health physician in Phoenix can tell you what would benefit your prostate health. But, in general, up your intake of Vitamins C and D and also Omega-3 fatty acids. These are powerful antioxidants that help prevent prostate and other kinds of cancers from developing in the first place.
3. Eat Prostate-healthy Foods
These include:
- Tomatoes–fresh or canned–as they contain beneficial lycopene
- Nuts which are high in antioxidants
- Dark green vegetables, such as broccoli and kale
- Green tea which contains flavonoids known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties
Get Your Prostate Exam in Phoenix, Arizona
If you are age 50 or over or have risk factors for prostate cancer, book your annual prostate exam with the compassionate, highly skilled provider at Ironwood Urology. Our men’s health expert, Dr. Desi Avila, can detect any problem with the prostate sooner during an annual prostate exam and increase your chances of successful treatment. He also guides men toward proper sexual and urinary function and better prostate health.
To schedule a consultation with our expert urologist, call us today at (480) 961-2323 or fill out our online appointment request form.
