Chronic Diseases

7 Prostate Symptoms Which You Need To Watch For

The majority of men will develop prostate problems of some description as they get older, with the first signs of trouble appearing for some men at around 50 years of age or perhaps a little earlier. By 60 about fifty percent of all men will be experiencing prostate gland symptoms and this figure will have increased to about ninety percent by the age of 80.

For the majority of men any prostate symptoms will be quite mild and, as many men begin to develop a range of medical problems at this point in life, it is not uncommon for men to merely ignore prostate symptoms as nothing more than a normal part of ageing. As a lot of prostate problems are not serious, and symptoms can frequently be very mild, this is not necessarily a problem and you can live with many prostate problems quite happily and without them doing you any real harm.

But, not all prostate problems are harmless and if your prostate problem happens to be prostate cancer and you ignore it then it will spread and may well eventually kill you. In fact, ignoring prostate symptoms is the key reason why prostate cancer represents the second highest cause of cancer death among men the United States.

There are several symptoms that might suggest a developing prostate problem and one difficulty we have in recognizing the cause of these symptoms is that they are generally symptoms which can appear for many different reasons. However, if your symptoms are not being caused by prostate problems then they will generally to be short lived and will clear up in a few days without the need for intervention. But, when the symptoms remain with you for some time then it is likely that they are being caused by a problem with the prostate gland.

Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty beginning urination and the need to strain in order to initiate urination.
• A loss of strength in the urine flow.
• A flow of urine which has a tendency to start and stop.
• A feeling that you need to urinate even just after you have been to the bathroom.
• A requirement to visit the bathroom urgently and difficulty in ‘waiting’.
• A requirement to urinate more frequently and a need to get up to urinate during the night.
• A tendency to continue dribbling urine for a while after you have finished urinating.

These symptoms can all indicate that prostate problems may be developing and although, in most cases, these problems are not serious this is not always the case.

So, the moment these symptoms appear, you ought to consult your doctor who will be able to tell you precisely what the problem is and how to treat it. Most importantly, if the problem does turn out to be prostate cancer, he will be able recommend treatment while the problem is in its early stages and can be relatively easily treated and, with any luck, removed altogether. The prostate gland may well be a small organ but it kills thousands of men each year so take a moment to think about your prostate health.