At the outset, it’s crucial to know the basics of the prostate and its functions before looking into various factors affecting the prostate.The prostate is a walnut-shaped, male reproductive organ responsible for producing seminal fluid to nourish and transport sperm. The muscles of the prostate gland assist in pushing this fluid into the urethra during ejaculation. The prostate is located just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra at its exit.
During ejaculation, the prostate contracts and closes the opening between the bladder and the urethra to release fluid into the urethra, which can propel the flow of semen. This process happens after the sperms move from the testes to the prostate through tubes known as vas deferens.
The seminal fluids play a critical role in protecting the sperm, prolonging their life after ejaculation.
Despite the favorable location of the prostate, enabling this important reproductive process, it can cause minor to serious problems if it swells or grows. The swollen prostate compresses the urethra, causing bladder problems, and affects normal urination. The intensity depends on the top risk factors for prostate cancer that affect different individuals differently.
A growing prostate, including a swollen prostate, can indicate the possibility of prostate cancer. Though they grow extremely slowly and don’t cause significant harm, certain prostate cancers grow aggressively and are capable of spreading quickly.
1. Symptoms of prostate cancer
During its formative stages, there are no symptoms experienced. However, as the condition progresses, the following symptoms are common:
- Frequent urination (more at night)
- Difficulty to start or stop urinating
- Straining to urinate
- Dribbling urine
- Urinary incontinence
- Pain or a burning sensation while urinating
- Painful ejaculation
- Erectile dysfunction
- A weak or an interrupted urine stream
- Blood in urine or semen
- Abdominal, hip, pelvic, or deep lower back pain (Advanced stage)
2. Risks involved with prostate cancer
Top risk factors for prostate cancer include several ones, some out of your control and others within your control. These include:
- Age
Growing old is one of the greatest risk factors for developing prostate cancer. There’s a higher chance of men over 60 getting affected with prostate cancer. - Ethnicity
African-American face a high risk of developing prostate cancer. Even men from the Caribbean, Europe, and Australia are at high risk. Asian and Hispanic men are less likely to develop it. This could be due to diet and lifestyle. - Family history
Prostate cancer can run in families. A man is twice as likely to develop it if his father or brother has or had prostate cancer. This also increases with the number of individuals in the family affected.
3. Other leading factors
Consuming a diet with a very high amount of fats can increase the chances of developing prostate cancer. A diet very low on fruits and vegetables also plays a major role. Obesity is a leading culprit of prostate cancer, making it more difficult to treat.