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Author:
Anne Nickerson

Next time you see your father, your uncle, or any older gentleman over age 60 or so, ask them about their prostate. If you know the guy well enough, and he feels comfortable enough around you (some would say too comfortable), he will surely share a whole litany of the common prostate problems that are troubling him, or have troubled him, or will trouble him in the near future. That's because an enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and even prostate cancer can be in the cards for every man past a certain age.
It's the scary but true fact of getting old as a man. For instance, every man should know that prostate cancer is one of the most common prostate problems out there. It tops the list of cancers that afflict men, happening in nearly as many men, roughly speaking, as breast cancer in women. Prostate cancer doesn't get the press that breast cancer does, however, probably because most men would rather not speak about what's happening down there.
Second thing most men don't, but should, know is exactly what that prostate is. A prostate is actually part of a man's sexual organs. Located just below the bladder in a man, wrapped around the urethra, the prostate is about the size of a walnut. Its main job in the birds-and-bees scheme of things is to add fluid to your sperm during ejaculation.
And most of the time, men don't even realize they have a prostate because it's a hidden internal organ, but all men find out quickly what and where their prostate is when they suffer a common prostate problem.
For instance, all men should know that prostate issues aren't just for older men. Men under 50 can get prostatitis, or an extremely painful infection of their prostate. This is a swelling of the prostate that can cause fever, a burning sensation during urination, and fatigue.
And all men over 50 should be aware of their number one most common prostate problem, which is an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy. This benign, or nonfatal condition, is actually far more common in older men than prostate cancer, which should give some relief to older men when they know it.
Men should all be aware of the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, such as leaking and dribbling during urination, a weak urine stream, trouble getting started with urination, and even small amounts of blood in the urine.
And though benign prostatic hypertrophy is more common than prostate cancer, men should be aware that the two can go hand in hand. It's not always the case, and many men with an enlarged prostate will never develop into cancer. But it's good to keep your eyes out for both, because they can have similar symptoms.

About The Author

This article about prostate health is submitted by S.A. Nickerson, writing for http://www.prostate-help-infosite.com.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to The Prostate... How To Avoid Prostate Cancer - Naturally Copyright 2006 Wendy Owen It's much better to avoid any form of cancer than to try and treat it after it has appeared. Prostate cancer, however, is usually a slow growing form of cancer which responds well to treatment. The first step in prostate cancer prevention is to improve your general health. Weight should be within the normal range for your height. If you are very overweight, see your doctor for advice and eat a healthy diet which is low in fatty or sugary foods. This combined with daily exercise such as walking and swimming should help. Drink lots of water - water is vital for health. It prevents hunger and flushes toxins from the body. Six to eight glasses a day is ideal and tea and coffee doesn't count towards this! Cut down on alcohol. There's nothing wrong with the odd drink, just don't make it a daily habit. Lycopene - found mainly in tomatoes is an antioxidant which has a proven beneficial effect on prostate health. Studies have shown that men who consume large doses of lycopene have a much lower incidence of prostate cancer. Lycopene is not destroyed by cooking and is hence found in tomato sauce, tomato paste and in all your favorite Italian dishes! Isoflavones found in soy beans and it's products such as soy milk or tofu has a balancing effect on the body's hormones. Isoflavones can counter excess testosterone which can lead to prostate cancer. Beta-carotene found in carrots and other brightly coloured vegetables can stimulate T-helper cells which prevent the development of cancer. Selenium is an extremely important micro nutrient which is only needed in tiny amounts. Selenium can be found in certain foods, but the soils in many areas in the world are deficient in this mineral and the...