Needmore Road Primary Care - September Highlights the Importance of Prostate Health
Area Physicians Remind Men about the Importance of Yearly Physicals during National Prostate Health Month
Prostate health is something many men try to ignore as long as possible rather than face those problems head-on.
“Men are prone to ignore the symptoms they experience related to prostate health due to embarrassment, or to protect private matters or personal issues,” said Dr. Robert Linn of Needmore Road Primary Care. “The longer they delay presenting these problems to their primary care doctors, the more their quality of life suffers.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 30,000 die each year as a result. Even though prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, in many cases it is not terminal if detected and treated early.
“Some men are overly fearful of the ‘C’ word when it comes to prostate cancer,” said Linn. “In reality, men have a 16 percent chance of getting prostate cancer— 2.9 percent of those cases are actually fatal. The odds are in most men’s favor, especially when detected early.”
In addition to prostate cancer, there are two other common prostate problems experienced by men. The first is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. According to Men’s Health Network, more than 50 percent of men in their 60s, and as many as 90 percent of men in their 70s or older have symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The third common prostate problem is prostatitis, which is the inflammation of the prostate and is often caused by a bacterial infection. This is the most common prostate problem for men under 50 and can affect men of all ages.
“Prostate health is a concern for all adult males,” said Linn. “Younger men need to be aware of prostate problems and the symptoms that accompany them so they can identify issues early.”
Certain healthy habits can help prevent prostate problems from developing. These include: eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables; maintaining a healthy weight; exercising regularly; limiting alcohol intake; engaging in safe sexual practices; and making yearly well visits to a primary care physician.
“The more educated men are about prostate health, the better prepared they’ll be to seek a physician’s help when problems arise,” said Linn. “Men of all ages should make it a priority to see their primary care physician at least once a year to make sure they’re doing everything possible to lead a long, healthy life.”
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