It is possible to maintain a healthy prostate by incorporating good habits, such as regular check-ups with a urologist and preventive exams. These actions can help prevent inflammation, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and also reduce the risk of cancer. Check out practical tips to keep your prostate healthy in your daily routine.
Keeping the prostate healthy is a concern all men should have. After all, it is important for reproduction, erectile function, and sexual pleasure, in addition to helping regulate urine flow.
With simple daily habits, prostate health can be preserved, which can help reduce the risk of problems. Find out how to take care of your prostate in everyday life!
How to take care of prostate health?
Some care is essential not only to maintain the health of the prostate, but also for overall health. Check out:
1. Include vegetables and fruits in your diet
Foods that can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer contain antioxidants, compounds that prevent free radicals from damaging cells.
Among the foods that are good for the prostate, tomatoes stand out for containing lycopene, a substance that may help reduce the risk of benign hyperplasia and tumors by reducing inflammation and eliminating abnormal cells before they multiply.
In addition to tomatoes, lycopene is found in watermelon, guava, papaya, and red bell pepper.
Onions may also be associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
According to this literature review, it inhibits tumor growth and also reduces the risk of prostate sarcoma, a rare type that affects the smooth muscle of the gland.
2. Avoid processed foods
Processed foods, especially those of animal origin, are linked to prostate, colon, and breast cancers, according to this article on the influence of diet on cancer.
Therefore, avoiding ham, sausage, bologna, salami, and turkey breast is important to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
3. Exercise regularly
Having a regular exercise routine helps maintain prostate health. Exercise can stimulate the body’s immune cells to detect and eliminate abnormal cells, according to an article published by the Paulista Association of Medicine.
The general recommendation is 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. Remember that the quantity and intensity vary according to age, clinical conditions, and individual goals, which requires guidance from a specialist.
4. Quit smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
This case study highlights the relationship between past smoking and prostate cancer. Around 319 men over 50 were analyzed. Researchers concluded that former smokers are at higher risk of developing malignant tumors in the prostate.
Excessive drinking can also be harmful, as shown in a study by the Anatomy Department of the Institute of Biology at Unicamp conducted on rodents. Researcher Valéria Helena Alves Cagnon explains that the genitals of rodents are similar to those of humans, and animals exposed to alcohol showed signs of inflammation.
5. Visit your doctor regularly
Seeing a urologist annually from the age of 30 is a habit men should adopt to take care of their health.
The doctor will request the rectal exam and the PSA test starting at age 45, or 40 if there is a family history of cancer.
If the results show abnormalities in the prostate, the patient will undergo a biopsy to determine the cause.
6. Watch your weight
The effects of obesity on prostate cancer have been studied since the 1950s.
This article explains that a study conducted in 1959 and then again in 1982 by the American Cancer Society concluded that obese men had a 34% higher risk of dying from prostate cancer. The same study concluded that adolescent obesity also increases the risk of death from a malignant tumor.
7. Maintain an active sex life
Having an active sex life can be beneficial for both mental and physical health, and it may also be linked to prostate health.
According to a 2018 article by European Urology, ejaculating 21 times per month may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 31%. The research did not determine the exact link between ejaculation and cancer prevention, but the theory is that this process helps eliminate toxins that inflame the prostate.
Routine care prevents prostate cancer
Incorporate the following habits into your daily routine:
- Regular check-ups;
- A balanced diet;
- Exercise regularly;
- Avoid smoking, excessive drinking, or using illegal drugs.
How to know if your prostate is healthy?
To know if your prostate is healthy, you need to have an annual check-up with a urologist.
Starting at age 50, or 45 if there is a family history of cancer, the following exams are recommended:
- A rectal exam to assess the size, shape, and texture of the prostate
- And a PSA test to measure the levels of Prostate-Specific Antigen, a protein produced in the gland.
This screening is important because routine exams can guarantee early diagnosis, which increases the chances of cure.
What is the normal weight of a healthy prostate?
To answer what the normal weight of a healthy prostate is, we need to consider age. The prostate does not grow much until puberty, and from that moment on, it is more strongly influenced by testosterone. From age 20:
- 20 years: 15 to 20 grams, remaining at this level until around age 30;
- 40 years: 25 to 30 grams;
- 50 years: 30 to 40 grams;
- 60 years: 35 to 45 grams.
Signs that the prostate is not healthy
Among the main symptoms that indicate prostate problems are:
- Pain or burning during urination;
- Frequent need to urinate, especially at night (nocturia);
- Weak or interrupted urine stream;
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination;
- Feeling that the bladder is not completely empty;
- Pain during ejaculation;
- Blood in the urine or semen;
- Pain in the thigh, lower back, pelvis, or testicles.
If you notice more than one clinical sign, it’s time to seek medical help.
What to do in case of problems?
As soon as you notice changes in the prostate, you should immediately seek a urologist. Early detection increases the chances of cure and the treatment can be much less aggressive.
Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference to your health
Incorporating healthy habits to prevent prostate cancer benefits the overall health of the body. Don’t neglect your health. Taking care of yourself is simple and doesn’t require much effort.
By following Dr. Paulo on TikTok and Kwai, you get access to the best tips on how to maintain a healthy prostate, among other information to take care of yourself all year long. Take care of yourself!
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