Prostate Health
Author: Dr. Lee
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Time: 2011/3/25 10:26:53
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. As you get older, changes in your prostate can lead to serious health problems.
1.What is the prostate?
The prostate is a gland that is normally the size of a walnut. It is located close to the base of the bladder, in front of the rectum. It produces fluids that nourish and protect sperm and which are an important ingredient in semen.
The prostate gland is wrapped around the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. Because of its location it is difficult to examine the prostate directly.
All men's prostate glands get bigger as they get older. Your prostate will probably start to enlarge when you are in your 40s and will continue to do so for the rest of your life. This is the cause of the condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
2.Causes and prevention of prostate cancer
There is no single cause of prostate cancer, but there are several factors that can affect the likelihood of you developing it.
These are:
(1) Your diet
(2) Your genes
(3) Your ethnic background
1) Your diet
Prostate cancer is most common in Western countries. Research indicates that prostate cancer is associated with eating high levels of saturated fat, in particular red meat and processed meat products. We know that eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and cereals, and reducing fat, salt and sugar intakes help to keep your general risk of cancer low. Our healthy eating section contains advice on the benefits that healthy food can bring.
2) Your genes
Prostate canceris more likely to develop in certain families than others, which shows that inherited faulty or altered genes can play a role in causing it. This is probably only a factor in about 9 per cent of prostate cancers, however.
Statistics show that:
(1) a man whose father or brother has had prostate cancer is about twice as likely to develop the condition as a man who has no close relatives with it.
(2) the risk of having prostate cancer increases according to the number of people in your family who have developed it.
(3) having a relative who developed prostate cancer below the age of 65 increases your chances of developing it.
(4) there is a genetic link between breast cancer and prostate cancer in some families. If close female relatives have developed breast cancer, particularly below the age of 40, you may be at increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
3) Your ethnic background
Your ethnic background can be a factor in how likely it is that you will develop prostate cancer:
(1) men from Afro-Caribbean backgrounds are more likely to develop prostate cancer.
(2) men from Asian backgrounds are less likely to develop prostate cancer.
Keywords: prostate; prostate cancer ; causes of prostate cancer ; prostate health
