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A24 HEALTH
Wednesday 12 June 2019

Male Health

mone DHT has several purposes including male urges to urinate at night. The most troubling in-
sexual drive and function. clude, loss of bladder control, decreased flow
Perhaps the prostate’s most important function or velocity of urine stream and, seeing blood in
is that it filters and removes toxins to protect the urine.
sperm, which improves the sperm health. Unfor- These are also symptoms are also of enlarged
tunately, over time, a build-up of toxins in the prostate, known as BPH for Benign Prostatic Hy-
prostate has several negative effects. With the perplasia. Most men have continued prostate
increase number of pollutants and toxins in our growth throughout life. In many men, this con-
food and the environment, 5-alpha-reductase tinued growth enlarges the prostate enough
is reduced, which is then responsible for the to produce BPH problems. It isn’t entirely clear
declining sex drive in men as they age. At the what causes the prostate to enlarge. However,
same time, toxins absorbed by the prostate to it might be due to changes in the balance of
protect sperm is one of the main reasons there sex hormones, as men grow older.
By: Dr Carlos Viana is a growing epidemic of prostate disease and The secret is how to protect your prostate. The
cancer as men deal with more and more toxins. first recommendation is to use a condom. Pro-
The prostate also must protect sperm from the tecting both partners, condoms use is highly
numerous sexually transmitted diseases. The effective against the most dangerous of sexu-
epidemic of the human papilloma virus (HPV) ally transmitted infections, including HPV. The
My father, Manuel, would tell me that all men from having unprotected sex with one partner second recommendation is to reduce environ-
put their pants on one leg at a time. It was his will forever transmit this disease to all other part- mental toxins by avoiding or using protection
way of telling his son that despite the diversity ners in unprotected sex. The HPV virus which from chemicals. Eating healthy foods like blue-
in careers, life styles, backgrounds, abilities and produces cervical cancer in women, has now berries, acai berries, raspberries and cranber-
aspirations; men are more alike than different. been shown to start a reaction that will eventu- ries that have phytochemicals which protect
Their lives are governed by many of the same ally lead to prostate cancer in men decades against numerous types of cancer. Garlic, be-
desires and consequences. A man’s prostate later. sides regulating blood pressure, appears to pro-
gland is the largest, shared reality. During ejaculation, a fluid produced in the pros- tect against all types of cancer, including pros-
tate, Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is impor- tate. The more raw and cooked garlic a person
When healthy and in young men, the prostate tant for keeping sperm liquid. Keeping sperm consumed, the lower the risk of cancer.
gland, about the size of an Aruban florin has liquid makes swimming possible so the sperm The best-known supplement to protect the
many jobs. As a muscular organ that surrounds can make it into the womb. This is the same test prostate is Saw palmetto. Used mainly for uri-
the urine tube at the base of the bladder, it we ask for in blood tests to check for prostate nary symptoms associated with an enlarged
controls the release of urine. The prostate also problems, like risk or development of cancer. prostate gland (BPH), Saw palmetto is also used
has a part that secretes a fluid that makes up After an ejaculation, the amount of PSA rises for other conditions, including chronic pelvic
part of the semen and enhances the swimming naturally in the blood. It slowly returns to normal pain, bladder disorders, decreased sex drive,
ability and fertility of sperm. These secretions after a couple of days. However, the older the hair loss, and hormone imbalances. Be sure to
also play a valuable role by protecting the urine man, the longer it takes for PSA to fall back to take a zinc supplement each day also to sup-
tube, the urethra from urinary tract infections, “normal”. Thus, I tell men, before their blood port male hormones.
which seem to be much more rare in men than test, to wait as many days as their decade of Get The Point! All men have the same risk that
women. A bonus for males, the pumping action life, before checking PSA. For example a 40 increases, as they get older. For a man. it is criti-
of the prostate fluid feels good, making sex de- year old should not ejaculate for at least 4 days cally important to keep the prostate healthy.
sirable and thus helping procreation. before checking PSA. Besides a blood test checking PSA and a physi-
The prostate gland contains a crucial enzyme; All men should be concerned about prostate cal finger exam, there are medical strategies
5-alpha-reductase that converts the hormone cancer. Some prostate cancer signs related to that can help protect prostate health. If you
testosterone in the body to DHT (dihydrotestos- urination include: burning or pain during urina- are interested in a healthy prostate today for a
terone), which is at least ten times more pow- tion, difficulty urinating, or trouble starting and more successful tomorrow, call to make an ap-
erful than simple testosterone. This potent hor- stopping while urinating and more frequent pointment. q