PROSTATE GLAND

By Christopher · Monday, February 21st, 2011

PROSTATE GLAND

PROSTATE GLAND

A man’s prostate gland usually starts to enlarge after he reaches age 40 years or middle age. This condition is called Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate gland, which is normally about the size and shape of a walnut, wraps around the urethra between the pubic bone and the rectum, below the bladder. In the early stage of prostate enlargement, the bladder muscle forces urine through the narrowed urethra by contracting more powerfully. As a result, the bladder muscle becomes thicker and more sensitive, causing a need to urinate more often.

The prostate gland secretes a fluid that is discharged with sperm. The gland itself surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the tip of the penis. As the prostate grows larger, it may press on the urethra. This narrowing of the urethra can cause some men with prostate enlargement to have trouble with urination. Prostate enlargement may be the most common health problem in men older than 60 years.

FUNCTION OF PROSTATE GLAND
The main function of the prostate gland is to store and produce seminal fluid. Seminal fluid is a milky liquid that nourishes sperm.

SYMPTOMS OF ENLARGED PROSTATE
Many men with an enlarged prostate have no symptoms. Common symptoms may include the following:

Difficulty starting urination
Dribbling of urine, especially after urinating
A sense of not emptying the bladder
Leaking of urine
More frequent urination and a strong and sudden desire to urinate, especially at night
Blood in the urine

CAUSES OF ENLARGED PROSTATE:

Prostate enlargement is caused by an imbalance in Vata dosha, it’s important to avoid Vata-aggravating foods. These include dry, cold, and light foods and bitter, astringent, and pungent tastes. Instead, favor the Vata-pacifying diet, which includes sweet, sour, and salty tastes and warm, oily foods.

The specific cause of most of these problems is unknown although they may be related to hormonal changes brought on by aging. As a man ages an increased amount of hormones such as estrogen and prolactin decrease the rate at which testosterone and the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into which testosterone is converted by 5-alpha-reductase are eliminated from the prostate. This excessive accumulation of DHT is thought to be responsible for the problems of the prostate gland.

As the prostate grows larger and the urethra is squeezed more tightly, the bladder might not be able to fully compensate for the problem and completely empty. Rarely, blockage from prostate enlargement may cause repeated urinary tract infections and gradually result in bladder or kidney damage.

B.Sc.(Med.), B.Ed., M.A.(Edu.), M.Litt.(Edu.), Ph.D.(Edu.Psy.), PGDCA. Served as Science Master, Employment Department as Vocational Guidance Officer. Retired from Employment Department, Punjab India as Dy. Director (Off.) and Remained Incharge of Overseas Employment Cell of Punjab Govt. for 5 yeras.

More than 120 articles published in Punjabi News Papers like Punjabi Tribune, Daily Ajit, G-Asia, Jagbani and Chardhikala. Serving now Arihant Computer Center

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