Your Prostate Gland
The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male reproductive system. Its main function is to store and secrete a clear fluid that constitutes up to one-third of the volume of semen.
The prostate gland has four distinct glandular regions:
1. The Peripheral Zone (PZ) - The sub-capsular portion of the posterior aspect
of the prostate gland which surrounds the distal urethra and comprises
up to 70% of the normal prostate gland in young men. It is from
this portion of the gland that more than 70% of prostatic cancers
originate.
2. The Central Zone (CZ) - This zone constitutes approximately 25% of the
normal prostate gland and surrounds the ejaculatory ducts.
Central zone tumors account for more than 25% of all prostate cancers.
3. The Transition Zone (TZ) - This zone is responsible for 5% of the prostate
volume and very rarely is associated with carcinoma. The
transition zone surrounds the proximal urethra and is the region of the
prostate gland which grows throughout your lifetime. It is
involved in benign prostatic enlargement.
4. The Anterior Fibro-muscular zone - This zone accounts for approximately 5%
of the prostatic weight, is usually devoid of glandular components, and
composed only, as its name suggests, of muscle and fibrous tissue.
Prostate Disorders
Three types of disorders can occur in the prostate gland:
inflammation or infection (prostatitis), enlargement (benign prostatic
hyperplasia - BPH), and cancer.
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Normal | Inflamed | Enlarged |
1) Prostatitis is a clinical term used to describe a wide spectrum of disorders ranging from bacterial infection to chronic pain syndromes. It is not contagious (generally not spread through sexual contact):
2) BPH, or benign prostatic
hyperplasia, is the second common problem that can occur in the
prostate. "Benign" means "not cancerous" and "hyperplasia"
means "too much growth."
As men age,
the prostate gland slowly enlarges. The
gland tends to expand in an area that doesn't expand with it, causing
pressure on the urethra, which can lead to urinary problems. The
urge to urinate frequently, a weak urine flow, breaks in urine stream,
and dribbling are all symptoms of an enlarged prostate. At its
worst, BPH can lead to a weak bladder, bladder or kidney infections,
complete blockage in the flow of urine, and kidney failure.
Since the prostate has propensity to grow once
manhood is reached, BPH is the most common prostate problem for men
older than 50.
The American Urological Association assesses that by age 60, more than half
of American men will have BPH.
By age 70, almost all men have some prostate enlargement. By age 85, about
90 percent of men have BPH but only 30 percent will exhibit symptoms!
3) Prostate Cancer is one of the most common
cancers in American men. There are no warning signs of symptoms
of early prostate cancer. Once a malignant tumor causes the
prostate gland to swell significantly, or once cancer spreads beyond
the prostate, the following symptoms may be present:
Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer include:
There are 4 stages of Prostate Cancer:
Prostate cancer
is the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in American
men. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in American
men, behind only lung cancer, and accounts for 9% of cancer-related
deaths in men. The American Cancer Society estimates that during
2009, about 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in
the United States. 30% of prostate
cancers occur in men under age 65. About 1
man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime,
but only 1 man in 35 will die of it. More than 2 million men in
the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some
point are still alive today.
Prostate Disorder Symptoms
Different prostate problems sometimes have
similar symptoms. For example, one man with prostatitis and
another with BPH may both have a frequent, urgent need to
urinate. A man with BPH may have trouble beginning a stream of
urine; another may have to urinate frequently at night. Or, a man
in the early stages of prostate cancer may have no symptoms at all.
Common symptoms of prostate disorders are:
One prostate problem does not lead to another.
For example, having prostatitis or an enlarged prostate does not
increase the chance for prostate cancer.
It is true that some men with prostate cancer also have BPH, but the
two conditions are not automatically linked. Most men with BPH do
not develop prostate cancer. But because the early symptoms for
both conditions could be the same, a doctor would need to evaluate
them. It is also possible to have more than one condition at a
time. This confusing array of potential scenarios makes a case
for all men, especially after age 45, to have a thorough medical exam
that includes the PSA test and DRE every year.
Diagnostic Tests
The PSA blood test determines whether you have cancer of the
prostate. The test measures how much of a protein essential to
human reproduction, PSA (prostate-specific antigen), is in your
blood. PSA turns your gelatinous pre-semen into a liquid, thus
supporting ejaculation. If your PSA is below 4, most doctors
agree that you needn't be tested again for a year. During annual
tests, remember that it is normal for your reading to go up by a few
tenths of a point every year. In general, only a drastic increase
in PSA (an increase of at least 0.75 points or 20 percent) is
considered a reason to worry. This test is recommended on an
annual basis for all men over 50 (and for men above 45 if there is a
family history of prostate problems).
A digital rectal examination (DRE) is a quick and safe screening
technique in which a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into
the rectum to feel the size and shape of the prostate. The
prostate should feel soft, smooth, and even. The doctor checks
for lumps or hard, irregular areas of the prostate that may indicate
the presence of prostate cancer. The entire prostate cannot be felt
during a DRE, but most of it can be examined, including the area where
most prostate cancers are found.
Western Medicine
Western medicine relies on aggressive and costly prescription drugs and
prohibitively-expensive surgery to deal with problems related to
prostate and reproductive disorders. These methods generally
address only the symptoms of prostate disorder and not the underlying
causes. As soon as you stop using the drugs, the problem
returns! And these prescription drugs often result in unwanted
and even dangerous side effects.
While prostatitis caused by infection can be treated with antibiotics, there
are no drugs for treating chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Its
symptoms are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.
FDA-approved drugs only relieve the symptoms of BPH - they do not cure it. The
5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, Proscar (Finasteride) and Avodart
(Dutasteride), work by blocking an enzyme that acts on the male
hormone, testosterone, to boost organ growth. When the enzyme is
blocked, growth slows down and the gland may shrink. This
treatment may not produce a positive effect until after six to 12
months of treatment. It also works best for advanced cases of
prostate enlargement.
Alpha-adrenergic
receptor blockers, which work by blocking adrenergic nerve receptors in
the lower urinary tract, basically help relax the smooth muscle of the
prostate and bladder neck to relieve pressure and to improve urine
flow. These drugs, which do not shrink the size of the prostate,
include: Cardura (Doxazosin), Flomax (Tamsulosin), Hytrin (Terazosin),
and Uroxatral (Alfuzosin). For many men, these alpha-blockers can
improve urine flow and can reduce symptoms within days. But since
the underlying cause is not addressed, symptoms will return once you
stop using the drugs.
The combined side effects of Alpha-Blockers and 5-Alpha Reductase
Inhibitors include breast tenderness and enlargement, decreased sex
drive, difficulty getting an erection, dizziness, fainting, headache,
heart failure, increased ejaculatory dysfunction, lightheadedness,
nasal congestion, retrograde ejaculation (ejaculation back into the
bladder), sudden drop in blood pressure, tiredness, and upper
respiratory tract infection.
Surgical options include Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA), Transurethral
Vaporization (TUVP), Laser Surgery, Transurethral Resection (TURP),
Transurethral Incision (TUIP) and Open
Prostatectomy. All of these procedures often require patients to
wear a catheter for 3 to 4 days after surgery and carry some risk of
incontinence, impotence, infection, and complications.
An alternative treatment that has become popular is saw palmetto which is
used by millions of men in the United States to treat BPH. Saw
palmetto, however, was recently found to have no effect in reducing the
frequent urge to urinate or other annoying symptoms of an enlarged
prostate. Published in the Feb. 9, 2006, New England Journal of
Medicine, a yearlong study found that the plant extract was no more
effective than inactive pills (placebos) in easing symptoms of BPH.
Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurveda,
the science of life, prevention, and longevity, is the oldest and most
holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its
fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the
ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago.
Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain health
in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in
perfect equilibrium with nature.
India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in
Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda.
Vajikarana is "a process or a drug, which make a man as healthy as a ox
and able to undergo many hours of physical rigors." Vajikarana
prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations
for enhancing the capabilities and vigor of the your reproductive and
urogenital system while strengthening the body and overall well-being.
India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula
based on centuries' old wisdom with
advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help
men address their prostate health concerns through safe, natural means.
Recommendations
You can optimize your long-term prostate health by:
1) Providing Phytonutrient Nourishment - Years of stressful living caused
damage to your
body. To help address this, Ayurstate
releases hundreds of phytonutrients
that act at the molecular level to promote Prostate Health.
2) Increasing Soy Intake - Researchers believe that the increasing
estrogen-to-testosterone ratio brought on by aging is one of the
factors that adversely affects the size of the prostate gland. 2
ounces or more of soy in your daily diet will help decrease estrogen
levels and restore proper estrogen-to-testosterone ratio that becomes
skewed as men get into their 60s and beyond. Good sources of soy
include tofu (soybean curd), miso, tempeh, roasted soy nuts, and soy
flour or powder.
3) Increasing Selenium Intake - Selenium is
essential for good prostate health. Selenium-rich foods include
wheat germ, tuna, herring and other seafood and shellfish, beef liver
and kidney, eggs, sunflower and sesame seeds, cashews, Brazil nuts,
mushrooms, garlic, onions, and kelp.
4) Increasing Zinc Intake - 15 mg of zinc are
needed daily for healthy prostate function. Pumpkin seed in the
shell, oysters, beans, and nuts are excellent sources of zinc.
5) Minimizing Alcohol Consumption - Alcohol
depletes both zinc and vitamin B6 (which is necessary for zinc
absorption).
6) Eating Healthy - Eat lots of fruits and
vegetables to get the necessary antioxidants in your diet. Avoid
saturated fats, sugars and processed foods. High-fat foods like
meats and dairy products can elevate testosterone level which
stimulates prostate cell growth and enlargement.
7) Supplementing Diet - Take a daily multivitamin
supplement which includes at least the following for supporting
prostate health - Vitamin A (25,000 IU), Vitamin E (1,200 IU), and
Lycopene (10 mg).
8) Improving Circulation - Perform Kegel exercises
to improve blood flow to the prostate and urogenital tissues.
Kegel exercises are done by pulling up all the muscles around the
scrotum and anus, holding, and releasing. 10 repetitions of this
movement, 5-6 times daily will maximize blood flow to your prostate
gland.
9) Adopting Healthy Lifestyle - Get sufficient rest and exercise
regularly. Regular exercise has been shown to strengthen the
immune system and improve digestion, circulation, and the removal of
waste matter from the body. Exercise also prevents obesity, which
is a risk factor for many diseases, including cancer. Regular
exercise may also reduce the risk of prostate gland enlargement.
Results: The precise combination of ingredients
in Ayurstate along with a
mind-body focus precisely addresses your prostate and urogenital
concerns!