How To Detect A Potential Enlarged Prostate
When it comes to Men’s Health, one of the main areas to pay attention to is the Prostate.
An enlarged prostate typically occurs when the Prostate gland grows bigger as the male ages, and many men near the age of 60 experience this in their lifetime according to WebMD. So how do you detect when you could potentially have an enlarged Prostate?
According to EMedicineHealth, the Prostate gland is about the shape of a walnut and wraps around the urethra between the pubic bone and the rectum, and in its early stages of enlargement, the bladder muscle becomes thicker and forces urine through a more narrowed urethra. So basically, men will start to have to use the restroom quicker and more often than normal.
With that in mind, if the urethra is squeezed tightly, the bladder may back up, and cause urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and will potentially cause kidney damage, which is why you have to stay on top of what your body is telling you.
Prostate.net shares the following options on how to test for an Enlarged Prostate:
- Go to the doctor and have them test with a Digital Rectal Examination.
- Have a blood test done to detect prostate problems – more specifically, checking the PSA levels.
- Urinalysis examination, which is typically done during a physical. It detects red blood cells.
- The “Long And Strong” test – which is checking to see how your urinary flow is working. You will urinate into a funnel that is attached to a device that measures the flow rate and the flow time of your urine.
- Getting a cystoscopy, where a tube is inserted into the penis and pushed through the urethra until it hits the bladder, and the doctor will inspect the inside and get an idea of how the prostate is working.
- Doctors can also do an ultrasound or use imaging tests to see how your prostate, bladder and kidneys look.
The Mayo Clinic also notes that keeping up on your physical exams when your doctor does a rectal exam will help catch an Enlarged Prostate before it becomes a problem. Be sure to listen to your body, and don’t let things go too long without visiting a doctor!
