There are no quick fix treatments for prostate disorders. The specific prostate treatment that needs to be adopted depends upon individual symptoms and the specific type of prostate condition that the patient may suffer from. For example, prostatitis is a simple infection or inflammation of the prostate gland and can be easily cured with the aid of mild antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), a condition where the prostate is enlarged and interferes with the free flow of urine requires symptomatic treatment as it is an incurable condition.
Prostate medicine attempts to act on the prostate in two ways:
* It reduces the size of the prostate gland.
* It facilitates easy flow of urine.
One set of drugs blocks an enzyme works on the male hormone, testosterone, so that the growth of the organ can be checked. Regular treatment lasting up to a year is necessary to achieve the desired level of shrinkage of the prostate to its original size. The other set of drugs called the adrenergic drugs stimulate autonomic nerve action and help in free flow of urine by relaxing the prostate muscle and the bladder neck.
Conventional drugs work on the premise that the condition is cured if the external symptoms can be suppressed. A natural approach to treating prostate disorders is more likely to aim at the root cause of the problem. You can also take herbs for restricting prostate enlargement. Other natural procedures that have a proven track record are yoga, massages and homeopathy.
Some therapies approach the prostate via urethra with the aid of approved devices. Such therapies are called minimally invasive therapies and these can also help in curing an enlarged prostate. These therapies attempt to reduce the size of the enlarged prostate by vaporizing or melting excess tissue. Methods used for this include the use of microwaves, hot water, laser and electric current.
Two other types of trans-urethral treatments involve trimming the extra prostate tissue and widening the urethra. These treatments are effective in cases where the prostate has not enlarged to a large extent. In other cases where the prostate has enlarged to the extent that it causes severe obstruction these procedures cannot be used. Open prostatectomy is then needed for complete cure. This procedure involves removing the prostate completely after opening up the area between the anus and the scrotum.
Unfortunately, prostate cancer generally comes to notice in the late stages. If the prostate cancer has not metastasized (spread), the condition is not life threatening. Depending upon the age of the patient and the extent of metastasis a decision has to be taken on which treatment to opt for. There are various that one can choose from:
* Hormonal therapy or Chemotherapy medicines to treat prostate cancer.
* Surgically remove the entire prostate gland and surrounding cancerous tissue.
* Killing the cancerous tissue with radiation therapy.
It is highly advisable that all men above forty consult their doctors about the health of their prostate. Most men above 60 and almost all men above 70 have some kind of an enlargement of the prostate. The risk of prostate cancer increases with advancing age. A regular monitoring of prostate health will go a long way in allowing you to have a good life even in old age.
References:
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/306_prostate.html
1 Comment Received
March 29th, 2010 @6:29 am
- Over 50% of men in their 60s and as many as 90% in their 70s or older have symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH).
- Each year over 230,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 30,000 will die of it.
- Prostatitis is an issue for men of all ages and affects 35% of men aged 50 and older.
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