My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Prostate Health
Overview
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. It is a walnut-sized gland located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. It wraps around the tube (the urethra) that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis. The prostate makes most of the fluid in semen.
Your risk of prostate problems increases with age. Like most organs, the prostate gland continuously grows new cells to replace old or injured cells. Normally, this process is regulated so that new cells grow at the same rate that old cells die. As you grow older, your prostate gland tends to grow larger.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
The most common prostate problem is an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia), which may cause narrowing or blockage of the urethra. This can cause problems with urination. In most cases, prostate enlargement is noncancerous and watchful waiting is recommended when symptoms are mild and not affecting your quality of life.
Prostate cancer
If cells in the prostate gland begin to grow abnormally at an uncontrolled rate, this can lead to cancer. A cancerous growth may damage the normal tissue where it is growing and can even enter the bloodstream and/or the lymph system and spread elsewhere.
Prostate gland
Preventing Prostate Problems
It's important to get your prostate checked yearly after age 40.
The good news is that eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular exercise can keep your prostate healthy.
You can lower your risk of prostate problems with:
- Regular physical activity
- Staying trim and avoiding "belly fat"
- Eating a low-fat diet
- Eating at least 5 servings of vegetables each day
- Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol (2 glasses a day)
Learning how to manage the stress in your life may also keep your prostate healthy. Being sexually active is good for your prostate and can reduce stress, too.
Screening for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Normally, it grows very slowly, and most men with prostate cancer will die from other causes not related to prostate cancer.
Depending on your age, health issues, and other factors, we may encourage regular screenings for prostate cancer.
After the age of 75, however, we recommend that you discuss prostate cancer screening with your personal physician, as the risk of evaluation and treatment may outweigh the benefit of finding the cancer.
Although there is some controversy about screening and treating prostate cancer, we know that:
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and rectal exams help save lives and prevent future illnesses related to cancer.
- These tests are not 100 percent accurate.
- An enlarged, infected, or inflamed prostate can cause abnormal results.
If your test results are not normal, we may refer you to a urologist for more tests.
Related Health Tools:
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- Exercise Smart Exercise Smart
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- Nutrition Mini-Series Nutrition Mini-Series
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- Weight Loss Weight Loss
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only.