The prostate is a gland in men that plays a role in urinary and sexual functioning. Maintaining good prostate health is very important to your overall health. Find out how exercise affects your prostate health?
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| Exercise for Prostate Health |
How Does Exercise Affect Your Prostate Health?
We all know how important it is to take care of our heart health, right? But when’s the last time you thought about your prostate? This small gland plays a role in the urinary and sexual functioning for men, and although its small, is rather prone to health problems. Luckily, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and even taking prostate health supplements, can help you maintain good prostate health for years to come.
Here, we’re taking a closer look at prostate health and identifying the three primary threats to a healthy prostate: benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and prostate cancer. We then investigate the connection between exercise and prostate health and learn more about how exercise can play a key role in maintaining quality prostate health—even as you grow older. For men entering their 40’s, regular prostate screenings should become an integral part of your annual doctor visits to catch potential prostate health risks.
What is the Prostate, Anyway?
While this gland may be small, a healthy prostate is essential for the wellness of every man. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. While just the size of a walnut, this gland plays an important role in both urinary health and sexual functioning. The main job of the prostate is to produce fluid that helps to protect and transport semen following an ejaculation.
For such a small gland, the prostate is uniquely prone to various health problems that become especially common with older age. One of the most prevalent prostate health issues, an enlarged prostate, is especially common for older men. In fact, research shows that roughly 80 percent of men will develop an enlarged prostate at some point in their lives. While this specific health problem isn’t life threatening, it can still lead to problematic symptoms, such as painful difficulties with urinating or issues with sexual performance.
Top Threats to Your Prostate Health
There are three primary threats to prostate health: benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer. While each of these prostate health problems is unique, they tend to be associated with similar symptoms. This, of course, is just one more reason why it’s so important to visit your doctor for a complete diagnosis. If you’re experiencing urinary problems or sexual performance issues, it could be a range of health issues that may require different types of treatment. Speaking with your doctor is your best bet to identify the source of your prostate health issues.
Here's a closer look at the top threats to a healthy prostate:
1. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): commonly referred to as BPH, this prostate health problem is understood as a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate. Common symptoms of BPH may include difficulty urinating, an urge to urinate when you may not need to go, and also frequent urination throughout the day and night.
2. Prostatitis: this prostate health problem is classified as an inflammation of the prostate. This inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection that luckily can be treated for most patients with simple antibiotics. Prostatitis can occur in men at any age and symptoms include frequent urination, painful urination, and difficulty urinating.
3. Prostate cancer: believe it or not, but prostate cancer is actually the second leading cause of cancer for men in the United States. Following only skin cancer, prostate cancer is especially common as you grow older. In most cases, prostate cancer is not one of the most aggressive forms of cancer.
If caught early, it can be a very treatable form of cancer. In its early stages, you may not even experience noticeable symptoms. Regular screenings, especially when you hit your 40s, become an important way to catch prostate cancer early. Some of the most common types of treatment for this prostate health problem include radiation therapy, surgery, hormone therapy, or cryotherapy that uses cold gas to freeze prostate tissue.
Does Exercise Affect Your Prostate Health?
While many of us may find it difficult to find time to exercise amidst our busy schedules, it should still be a priority. Regular exercise benefits every single aspect of both your physical and mental health—including your prostate health. Studies have shown links between regular exercise and a lower risk level for men developing all three of the major primary health threats. One study showed that men who exercise regularly were less likely to suffer from BPH and men who engaged in aerobic exercise reported less prostatitis pain.
Additionally, research shows that men who exercise may also lessen the severity of prostate cancer. One study showed that men who walked briskly for roughly three hours a week (which isn’t that long if you think about it) lowered the chance of their prostate cancer from spreading by 57 percent.
And that’s the silver lining here. You don’t necessarily need to bulk up or exercise vigorously every single day. Doctors recommend about 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day to show a range of health benefits. Some of these exercise can include walking briskly or jogging, swimming, light weights, yoga, or a physical activity or sport.
Conclusion – Does Exercise Affect Your Prostate Health?
Protecting the health of your prostate should be the priority for every man—no matter your age. However, this does become an increasingly important concern as you grow older because prostate health problems, like BPH or prostate cancer, become much more common as you age. Luckily, there are many ways you can work to protect the health of your prostate.
In addition to regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet, you can also take a daily prostate health supplement. These specialized health supplements, such as Prostate 911, can give your body the vitamins and nutrients you need to naturally protect your prostate and maintain good prostate health for years to come.