Okay, gentlemen… time to talk about a somewhat delicate subject: prostate health. Think about how many times you got up last night to hit the bathroom. Have you been waking up more frequently for bathroom visits lately? You may need a prostate check.
Your prostate is a gland about the size of a walnut that is pretty important to the reproductive system. It sits under your bladder, which is why you get up to use the bathroom a hundred times a night when the gland is inflamed.
If you are experiencing prostate problems, don’t feel like you’re alone. Approximately fifty percent of all men in their 60s have prostate enlargement. That percentage goes up to 90% as men enter their 70s. Almost half of all men in their 70s have a prostate gland that is so enlarged a doctor can feel it on physical examination!
The three most common causes of prostate inflammation are:
- Prostatits — often caused by bacterial infection, prostatitis is often associated with urinary tract infections. This can be treated with antibiotics to reduce inflammation.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — a gradual enlargement of the prostate that can put pressure on the urethra, leading to increased urination. This can be treated with medications to relax inflamed muscles or surgery to remove part of the prostate.
- Prostate cancer — a malignant tumor that begins on the outside of the prostate gland, and can pass into other parts of the body. Aside from skin cancer, this is the most common form of cancer in men.
You’ll be glad to know that the survival rate for prostate cancer has increased greatly in the last twenty years. In the 1980s, only 67% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survived. These days, close to 97% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer go on to live a long time after diagnosis. Public awareness and early detection have helped make this amazing survival rate possible.
If you are experiencing frequent overnight urination (especially with a less forceful stream), you may want to talk to your doctor about your prostate.