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Are You Experiencing Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate?

Although the most striking changes in the body tend to end when an individual finishes growing, the process of aging has its own toll on a person, and changes both internal and external occur. For men in middle age, one thing they need to remain very aware of is the health of their prostate. Because of the function of the prostate as well as its location, proper health of it has been linked to both good health of the reproductive system as well as of the urinary system. Understanding the symptoms of an enlarged prostate and of prostate cancer will help males to stay on top of their health as well as avoid some misconceptions.

Aging and the Prostate

As men grow older, particularly those leading Western lifestyles, the prostate sometimes enlarges, with the likelihood of this happening becoming more common the older a man is. Most of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate are related to the bladder, as the prostate gland presses against it. The increased pressure on a bladder serves as the source of most symptoms of an enlarged prostate, including trouble starting the urination process, difficulty completely emptying the bladder, and occasional, small releases of urine uncontrollably.

If you are suffering from such symptoms, proper diagnosis usually involves a rectal exam, which is usually conducted during physicals for most men over the age of 50 years old. If you do suffer from an enlarged prostate, a doctor may perform other tests to determine if there's any increased risk of prostate cancer, but you will also likely be put on medication. If that does not reduce the symptoms of your enlarged prostate, your doctor may also discuss the possibility of surgery to reduce the size of the prostate.

Relation to Cancer

While the symptoms of an enlarged prostate overlap somewhat with those of prostate cancer, an enlarged prostate does not often mean that an individual is suffering from cancer. Just as with an enlarged prostate, symptoms of prostate cancer include the urination problems previously listed, but may also include sexual impotency or painful ejaculation during sex. Prostate cancer isn't as easily detected as an enlarged prostate, as it takes a sizable tumor to be detected through a rectal exam.

Frequently, prostate cancer is most easily detected and found at its earliest through blood tests. By understanding the differences in the two, you can worry less at an enlarged prostate, rather than follow the popular misconception that it automatically means cancer. If you do show the symptoms of an enlarged prostate or of prostate cancer, be sure to discuss them with your physician and have a blood test done. With a little attention to your body and some education, you and your prostate will be healthy for years to come.