Why men need to start looking after their prostate today.

It is vital to start thinking about your prostate care early in order to avoid unpleasant symptoms and treatments. An enlarged prostate, called Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), is very common in men over 50, and it was demonstrated it is fuelled by chronic inflammation (1) an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.

Common symptoms of an enlarged prostate can greatly affect a man’s daily routine, intimacy, as well as a good night’s sleep. Symptoms include:

  • frequent urination,
  • urgent uncontrolled need to empty the bladder,
  • incomplete emptying of the bladder,
  • sleep interruptions due to multiple bathroom visits.

An enlarged prostate also increases the risk of certain prostate-related health conditions such as:

  • urinary tract infections
  • urinary retention
  • kidney damage
  • prostate infection (prostatitis)
  • impotence
  • prostate cancer

How many men have prostate problems?

Around half of men over 50 will have at least some of these symptoms, with the most common reason for this being BPH (2). Once a man hits a certain age, there is a higher chance of experiencing problems with his prostate gland. Prostate enlargement starts gradually once a man reaches 40, it is insidious, and symptoms are felt once the enlarged prostate already presses on the bladder and disrupts the urine flow. Data show you are more likely to develop BPH if other men in your family do too (2). An enlarged prostate increases the risk of getting prostate cancer, as today one in 6 men are affected by prostate cancer(3).

Why are we not talking about prevention?

It is clear that prostate problems affect a large proportion of the male population, so why does no-one talk about prevention? Men are not always aware that by taking care of their prostate health once they hit 40, they can avoid serious complications and recurring urinary tract infections.

The sooner you start taking care of your prostate health, the better the outcome and quality of life for decades.

What does the research say?

 Research has proven that imbalances at the cellular level accumulate over time leading to cellular damage, loss of function and gradually, prostate enlargement starts causing symptoms. This process can take many years until men start being affected and it is a main health issue affecting men’s lives for decades.

In practical terms, a man living well in his 80’s will be affected by prostate symptoms for decades, in fact for almost half of his life.

This is why it is crucial to benefit from the extensive research available to protect men from avoidable symptoms for as long as possible. While we cannot do anything about aging, we can take the necessary steps in order to maintain a healthy prostate function. Prevention remains the best approach and in order to accomplish that, men need to start developing a healthier lifestyle.

Read our blog about ‘prostate symptoms and how to avoid them’ (hyperlink here) for more info about what YOU can do to support YOUR prostate health TODAY!

Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart, PhD

Nutritionist (BSc) & Chartered Psychologist specialising in Health (PhD)