Acid Phosphatase - Prostatic Tips

Prostate specific antigen, which is more commonly known by its acronym, psa, is a protein that can be produced by both normal and cancer cells in your prostate gland. It is normal if psa is found in small amounts in your blood and semen. However, unusually high levels of psa can be a sign of something serious, such as prostate cancer.

Prostate-specific antigen (psa) tests are usually blood tests that measure the level of psa in your blood. It must be noted that elevated levels of psa in a person's blood can be an indication of prostate cancer. Doctors may prescribe a psa test as part of a routine checkup for men over the age of 50, or even sooner if you have a family history of prostate cancer or other related issues.

What should a person with high psa levels do?

If a person is at higher risk of developing prostate cancer, there are a number of things they can do to increase their chances of living a cancer-free life. Some simple lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier and exercising more, can not only improve the health of your prostate but your overall health as well. Making these changes today can help a person avoid a great deal of suffering and pain down the road.

If your psa levels are usually higher than normal or if your doctor says you are at increased risk of getting prostate cancer, it is indeed high time that you try to lower your prostate specific antigen levels as much as you possibly can. Luckily, there are numerous very effective natural ways to do that, some of which are mentioned as follows:

Eat more tomatoes

Tomatoes are a unique fruit in that they contain an ingredient called lycopene, which gives them their red color. Lycopene is not only responsible for the color of the fruit, but it has also been shown to have cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Several recent studies have indicated that lycopene can be great for people with high psa levels, especially those who have a family history of prostate cancer. Researchers have found that consuming adequate amounts of lycopene (present in tomatoes) can significantly dwindle psa levels.

There are many ways to add more tomatoes to your diet: by eating them raw in salads, by using tomato sauce, or by adding canned or sundried tomatoes to different recipes. Many people believe that cooking tomatoes may actually make them more lycopene-rich than eating them raw. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that has some other great health benefits as well, such as a reduced risk of heart disease.

Choose your protein sources carefully and wisely

Proteins are undoubtedly a vital part of a person's diet, but not all proteins are equally good for health. In general, it is better for your overall health to go for leaner proteins such as fish, chicken, soy, or other plant-based proteins. These sources of protein can not only help you maintain a healthy body weight and protect against heart disease, but they can also benefit your prostate health by lowering psa levels.

Avoid fatty or processed meats and instead choose fish that s rich in omega-3s and chicken baked or grilled without the skin. Then there is soy, which contains isoflavones. Isoflavones are basically nutrients that researchers believe can help protect against certain types of cancer. In fact, there is some evidence that drinking soy milk can actually help lower psa levels and slow the progression of prostate cancer.

So, you must keep in mind that you will actually be doing your prostate health a favor by resorting to these smarter choices when it comes to protein consumption.

Drink green tea every day

Green tea has been a popular drink in asia for centuries and has only recently become more popular in the united states as people have begun to discover its many health benefits. Green tea has actually come into the spotlight for its antioxidant properties.

There is a lot of research that already supports regular consumption of green tea for its antioxidant properties. One of the health benefits is that it is supposed to protect against prostate cancer. There is some research that supports this. Researchers in japan have identified a novel compound in green tea that could offer protection against prostate cancer.

Scientists at the national cancer institute in japan found that this was able to suppress the spread of cancer in mice. So, if you have been looking for a healthy drink that can also help protect you from cancer or lower your psa levels, green tea can be a great option for you!

Manage your stress levels

Stress can wreak havoc on your body and mind in a variety of ways, one of which may be on your prostate health. A study found that men with high stress levels were more likely to have abnormal psa scores.

In fact, stress tends to affect different people in different ways. However, it has been shown to have a huge negative impact on a person's prostate health.

There are three main things stemming from stress that may affect your prostate health: 1. Stress has been shown to increase your levels of psa; 2. Stress can inhibit the normal production of testosterone; and 3. Stress can increase the risk of inflammation. These factors can cause harm to your prostate's health as they are known to inhibit the normal production of testosterone.

If you are looking to lower your stress levels, try out some relaxation techniques, such as yoga or meditation, and make time for them in your schedule. Everyone is different, so try to figure out what actually works best for you and begin practicing it on a regular basis.

Conclusion:

Above everything else, it is important for you to have regular prostate cancer screenings so that you can make sure that you are safe. This can help a person recognize their prostate cancer early, when it can be treated without having to face any complications. Furthermore, we hope this article was successful in answering most of your questions and that you found it interesting and informative. Keep visiting us for more content like this!

Cancer is the most dangerous disease noticeable throughout the world. The most common type of cancer that affects men is prostate cancer. Prostate is a small exocrine gland situated directly below the bladder and in front of the rectum. This is gland is approximately in size of a walnut and plays an important role in production of a milky fluid during orgasm of sex in which the semen travels. During the climax stage of the prostate gland is forced to push the fluid and remove the semen out of the reproductive structures.

Prostate gland is a slow progressive disease which makes many males left unidentified even the presence of prostate cancer even until they die. 6 out of 100 male over the age of 60 are getting prostate cancer. Though prostate cancer can be cured at a better rate when compared to other type of cancer it is always best to stay protected. Prevention is always better than cure. Here are few tips to keep your prostate healthy.

Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer:

During the early stages of prostate cancer there are usually no symptoms. Most men at this stage find out they have prostate cancer after a routine check up or blood test. When symptoms do exist, they are usually one or more of the following:

The patient urinates more often

The patient gets up at night more often to urinate

He may find it hard to start urinating

He may find it hard to keep urinating once he has started

There may be blood in the urine

Urination might be painful

Ejaculation may be painful (less common)

Achieving or maintaining an erection may be difficult (less common).

If the prostate cancer is advanced the following symptoms are also possible:

Bone pain, often in the spine (vertebrae), pelvis, or ribs

The proximal part of the femur can be painful

Leg weakness

Urinary incontinence

Fecal incontinence

Ways to have a healthy prostate:

Diet and weight the most important factor is the diet to maintain a healthy weight. Avoid fatty food items and take fats from vegetables than from animals. Avoid dairy products and increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Exercise have a regular practise of doing exercise at least for 30mins a day. This really helps you to keep your body fit.

Be precautious if you have a family history of prostate cancer or if you feel you are at high risk of getting prostate cancer talk with your doctor about it and take preventive drugs as per the doctor s advice.

Red foods research shows that men who consume red foods like watermelon, tomato and other red fruits are at lower risk of getting prostate cancer as they contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene

Caffeine three to four cups of coffee per day reduces your risk of getting prostate cancer.

Stop smoking if you are at high risk of getting prostate cancer it is best advised to quit smoking and alcohol.

The prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland located under the bladder. Its main function is to add fluid to the semen produced by the reproductive system. It does not cause any problems in men until later in life when it begins to grow. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH can affect some men, but you can reduce your risk of this condition.

Risk factors for BPH
Knowing and understanding factors that cause BPH will help you avoid or reduce your risk of this condition. In addition to age the other risk factors of BPH are:

Family history: If a close family member such as father or brother has had BPH you are more likely to have this condition
Ethnic background: According to a study published in the Journal of Urology, Black and Hispanic men are at a high risk of being affected by BPH than white men.
Diabetes: A study published in the journal Differentiation has suggested that diabetes can cause the prostate growth.
Obesity: Men who are overweight or have a high amount of body fat could also have high levels of the female hormone estrogen which causes the prostate to grow
Inactivity: Inactive men or those that do little or no exercise are at a higher risk of BPH. Exercising will help you keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check and keep your heart healthy which reduces the risk of BPH. Heart disease which can be caused due to inactivity or obesity is known to cause BPH
Preventing BPH
Although certain risk factors such as family history, age and ethnic background, are beyond your control, you can control a few others.

Exercising such as swimming, cycling and walking for just half an hour can help lower your risk of BPH. Diet too plays an important role in keeping your weight in check and preventing conditions such as diabetes which can cause BPH.
Certain foods too are said to slow the rate of prostate growth. A diet low in sugar and saturated fats but rich in healthy fats such as that found in nuts and oily fish is usually recommended.
Supplements can also help. If you feel you are not getting all the nutrition you require from your diet it might be advisable to take supplements. There are many different types of natural supplements available. Ensure that you discuss this with your doctor before starting on a daily supplement.
Limiting or reducing your intake of caffeine can be beneficial for not only the prostate but also the bladder. Drink plenty of water instead.
Stress can trigger and worsen symptoms of BPH such as the frequency to urinate and pain
Discussing the risk factors of BPH with your doctor and working with them to set up diet or meal plans will help you reduce your risk of this condition.

One of the most common issues with old age in men is the enlarged prostate. Any difficulty with urination (no constant stream, difficulty initiating, or incomplete emptying of the bladder for instance), and the first suspect is an enlarged prostate. These symptoms are followed by a digital rectal exam to check for an enlarged prostate. Once confirmed, the next step is to check for levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). If both the exam and the PSA are positive, it could mean prostate cancer. As with any cancer, it is believed that sooner it is diagnosed and the treatment is started, the better.

Historically, the best way to rule out prostate cancer had been to do a prostate biopsy. This is a minor invasive procedure, wherein biopsies are taken from various regions of the prostate which are known to develop cancer (about 12). A disadvantage of this procedure includes missing out on the front part of the prostate which can also develop cancer. Secondly, it is not a very pleasant experience and given a chance, most men would not want to have it done.

There is good news for these men who would like to avoid prostate biopsies. The first is the multiparametric MRI which uses no x-rays and is considered very safe with extremely accurate results. This MRI exam requires about an hour, and once the images are obtained, the doctor will analyse these images and check for several parameters to assess for prostate cancer. The absence of cancer can be confirmed with up to 90% accuracy, which is far greater than with usual biopsies. If there is a possibility of cancer, then a biopsy can be done to confirm it.

Also, these images indicate the exact region where cancer likely is, and this guides the doctor to biopsy only where absolutely essential. The chances of false positive and false negative results are reduced drastically.
As cancer prostate is treatable so no need to panic. Depending on the stage the treatment is offered, which can be Robotic surgery, radiotherapy, hormonal treatment in the form of injection once a month/3 monthly.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia(BPH) is the enlargement of the prostate gland which can lead to other serious problems of the urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys.

It might be the result of an infection of the urinary tract or a scar in the bladder from an earlier surgery. Prostrate inflammation or urethral narrowing can also cause an enlargement of the gland. Kidney or bladder stones may also be responsible for prostate enlargement.

Age also plays a role in the enlargement of the gland. The hormonal changes that are natural with advances in age can cause the gland to grow in size. The prostate, in fact, doubles in size when men enter puberty, and later when they are about 25 years of age, it begins to grow again. In most cases, this growth continues for the rest of their lives.

Symptoms of BPH
As the prostate gland continues to grow, it can begin to exert pressure on the urethra. This affects the flow of urine and leads to some of the most common symptoms of BPH. These include-

A difficulty in starting urination.
A weak or irregular stream of urine.
A sudden and urgent need to urinate.
An inability to empty the bladder completely.
An increase in the frequency of urination during the night.
Dribbling after one finishes.
Though quite rare, you might find yourself unable to urinate or notice blood in your urine. If you notice one or more of the above-mentioned symptoms, consult a physician at your earliest possible. BPH can lead to a number of serious ailments that include bladder stones, severe damage to the bladder and even damage to the kidneys.

Role of Homeopathy
Given that in most men the prostate gland continues to grow throughout their lives, it is best to take the necessary preventive measures to ensure that it doesn t progress to a serious health condition. Homeopathy, being both natural and effective, is one of the most popular methods of prevention.

A practitioner of homeopathy will evaluate all aspects of your lifestyle and health and prescribe a combination of medications designed to both reduce the inflammation of the prostate and regulate your urinary problems. You might even be prescribed natural pain relievers that will help manage any pain that you might be experiencing during urination. A pro-active approach is advised when it comes to the treatment of the prostate gland.

The prostate gland is a small walnut-shaped organ that produces seminal fluid which carries the sperm and also provides them nourishment.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of prostate cancer in men. The progress of prostate may take years and so symptoms may not be evident until it has reached an advanced stage. Also, prostate enlargement is an extremely common condition in most elderly men. This condition is known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The symptoms produced by prostate enlargement are similar to those of prostate cancer in the earlier stages. Therefore, men may confuse the cancer symptoms with BPH symptoms and often ignore the same. For most men, BPH is part of ageing and night-time visits to the bathroom are quite common.

Symptoms of prostate cancer can be clubbed into two broad categories urinary and others.
Urinary symptoms are due to the enlarged prostate gland pressing on the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside. These include:

Burning sensation with urination
Painful urination
Difficulty in starting and stopping a urine stream
Dribbling in between a stream
Inability to control a stream, often causing urine to leak before reaching the toilet
Increased urgency to urinate, especially at night
A reduced flow of urine
Lack of control over bladder
Presence of blood in the urine, often giving it a pinkish hue
Non-urinary symptoms include:

Presence of blood in the semen, which again may have a pinkish tinge
Erectile dysfunction
Delayed ejaculation
Painful ejaculation
Numbness in the legs, feet, or hips
In addition, there would also be generalized symptoms of cancer, including:

Generalized lethargy and weakness
Anemia
Uncontrolled weight loss
Lack of appetite
Back pain
As noted above, these symptoms are not indicative of prostate cancer. Even prostate infection or in older men prostate enlargement can cause these symptoms. Therefore, it is essential to correlate these symptoms with risk factors and clinical diagnosis.

Risk factors include age, family history, poor diet choices, higher testosterone levels, prostatic neoplasia, and presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

Clinically, when a patient experience any of the above symptoms, the doctor would need to confirm the diagnosis via:

Digital rectal examination, which will confirm that the prostate is enlarged indeed
Chemical tests to check for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) which is often increased with any disease of the prostate
A biopsy to identify the presence of cancerous cells
A combination of clinical presentation, lab, and imaging will help in confirming the diagnosis. Earlier the diagnosis, better is the prognosis.

Even though Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among men and a lot of research has been conducted towards its understanding, it still remains one of the least talked about forms of cancer. This can lead to a lot of confusion and misinformation that gives rise to a number of myths associated with the disease. Some of the most common myths about prostate cancer are:

1. It occurs only in old men

Although the risk of developing prostate cancer does increase with age, especially after 60-65 years of age, it can develop at any age in a man s life. Ageing cells are more susceptible to mutations and hence more susceptible to cancer but other factors such as genetics, geographic location, overall health, lifestyle, etc. can play a major role in whether someone stands a chance to get prostate cancer.

2. It is a slow-growing cancer

Research has discovered 29 different types of prostate cancers, each of which behaves a little differently from others some are very fast growing and aggressive while others are slower in developing. Prostate cancer also tends to be more aggressive in younger men than older men; aggressive cancers metastasize faster, i.e. spread to other parts of the body quicker and progress rapidly. Therefore, it is important not to ignore any initial symptoms and consult a doctor as quickly as possible to have the best shot at successful treatment.

3. You can t get prostate cancer if no one in your family had it

While having a family history of prostate cancer does significantly increase the risk of a man developing prostate cancer himself, it can also be diagnosed in men who have no genetic history or predisposition. It depends not only on genetics but also on a number of other factors which can contribute to prostate cancer.

4. If you don t have any symptoms, you don t have cancer

Prostate cancer is known to be one of the most asymptomatic forms of cancer and even when symptoms are present, they are very often misinterpreted as something else. The most common symptoms are: needing to urinate frequently, difficulty in urinating, blood in urine or semen, erectile dysfunction and pain in the pelvic area. Although all of these symptoms don t always mean cancer, it is best to go to the doctor in case you experience these symptoms.

5. Prostate cancer is inevitable you can t prevent it

It is true that genetics, ethnicity and age do increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. However, research has shown that lifestyle changes such as avoiding red meat in your diet, regular exercise and preventing stress, do have an effect on the genes that regulate growth of tumours.

Hence, you should stop believing everything you hear or read on the internet, they may not always be true. Any symptoms out of the ordinary should be immediately checked out by your doctor. Do not ignore unusual symptoms they might prove to be very costly later in life.

The bones in our body are constantly renewing themselves. The old bone tissue is broken down and absorbed by the body while new tissue takes its place. This process is known as 'remodelling'. Paget's disease is a condition that interferes with this process. Over time it can lead to the disfiguring of bones and a loss of bone density. The bones most affected by this condition are the bones of the legs, spine, pelvis and skull.

Diagnosis
Many patients suffering from this condition do not exhibit any characteristic symptoms. One of the most common complaints that can lead to a diagnosis of Paget s disease is bone pain. Other symptoms, if any, depends on the part of the body that is affected. A physical examination and imaging tests help determine a diagnosis in such cases. This includes X-rays, bone scans and blood tests. X-rays are used to look for abnormalities in the bone structure. These can be seen in the form of enlarged bones, bowing of the bones or other deformities. Similarly, a bone scan provides a clear picture of the affected bones and allows the doctor to determine the severity of the case. Blood tests are used to look for elevated alkaline phosphatase levels that are also symptomatic of this condition.

Treatment
There are two aspects to the treatment of this condition; medication and surgery.

Medication can take the form of oral or injectable osteoporosis drugs. These are usually well tolerated but in some cases, it may irritate the digestive system. In rare cases, it may also be connected to joint pain and muscle pain. It may also increase the risk of suffering from deterioration of the jaw bone. In such cases, the medication is usually withdrawn and calcitonin may be prescribed as an alternative. This can be administered as a nasal spray or as an injection.

Surgery is advised only in rare cases. This is aimed at healing fractures, replacing damaged joints, realigning deformed bones and reducing pressure on surrounding nerves. Before the patient undergoes surgery for Paget s disease, he or she may be advised to take a certain medication that helps reduce the severity of the disease. This, in turn, helps control blood loss during the surgery.

In addition to this, patients are also advised to be careful and use a cane or walker. This can help reduce the risk of fracturing a bone. A diet rich in vitamin D and calcium is also recommended.

One of the most common issues with old age in men is the enlarged prostate. Any difficulty with urination (no constant stream, difficulty initiating, or incomplete emptying of the bladder for instance), and the first suspect is an enlarged prostate. These symptoms are followed by a digital rectal exam to check for an enlarged prostate. Once confirmed, the next step is to check for levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). If both the exam and the PSA are positive, it could mean prostate cancer. As with any cancer, it is believed that sooner it is diagnosed and the treatment is started, the better.

Historically, the best way to rule out prostate cancer had been to do a prostate biopsy. This is a minor invasive procedure, wherein biopsies are taken from various regions of the prostate which are known to develop cancer (about 12). A disadvantage of this procedure includes missing out on the front part of the prostate which can also develop cancer. Secondly, it is not a very pleasant experience and given a chance, most men would not want to have it done.

There is good news for these men who would like to avoid prostate biopsies. The first is the multiparametric MRI which uses no x-rays and is considered very safe with extremely accurate results. This MRI exam requires about an hour, and once the images are obtained, the doctor will analyse these images and check for several parameters to assess for prostate cancer. The absence of cancer can be confirmed with up to 90% accuracy, which is far greater than with usual biopsies. If there is a possibility of cancer, then a biopsy can be done to confirm it.



Also, these images indicate the exact region where cancer likely is, and this guides the doctor to biopsy only where absolutely essential. The chances of false positive and false negative results are reduced drastically. The one disadvantage here is that MRI detected biopsies usually tend to be of a higher grade which requires immediate treatment.

Another way to reduce the chances of the biopsy by 30% to 50% is by the 4K test. It helps to detect a variety of prostate issues including cancer. It can be used once higher levels of PSA is identified and before going for a biopsy. It combined 4 prostate-specific biomarkers with clinical information to accurately provide men with a risk of developing prostate cancer. It can be used even after negative biopsies to confirm the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

These two measures can drastically reduce the incidence of prostate biopsies, which is neither pleasant for the patient nor very effective for the doctor.

Check your prostate regularly, check PSA to detect prostate cancer.