As men grow older, and if the prostate grows abnormally, men may experience signs of an unhealthy prostate. The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system and is located underneath the bladder. The prostate is equivalent to the size of a walnut. The prostate may continue to grow larger as you age, but if your prostate gets excessively large, it can produce health issues and even lead to cancer.
Prostate complications are more common in males after the age of 50. Depending on the race, family history, and diet, you may be more at risk to having an unhealthy prostate. When the prostate gets larger, it wraps around the duct that carries urine out of the bladder, blocking movement of the urine through the urethra. The blockage of that duct from the bladder out to the penis leads to health complications and discomfort.
With the signs of an unhealthy prostate, the urinary system will become weak or in some cases lead to infection. It is common to have frequent starting and stopping of urination, dribbling after urination, excessive urination at night, constant urination throughout the day, sense of incomplete bladder emptying, leakage, a weak urinary stream, blood in the urine, or foul-smelling urine.
The pressure on your reproductive system can result in pain during urination or ejaculation. Discomfort during urination or ejaculation may also be a sign of infection. Signs of an unhealthy prostate vary. You may have only experienced a few of these symptoms, or you may not have any symptoms at all. Without treatment, some males find that the symptoms of an unhealthy prostate slowly worsen over time.
If you have any sign of the indications above, you should visit your health professional to find out what is causing them. An unhealthy prostate is concerning and shouldn’t be treated lightly. Not all prostate issues are life-threatening and catching and addressing your issues early is key. Keeping a watchful eye can even help prevent the spread of prostate cancer if addressed at an early enough stage. Your doctor may even prefer “watchful waiting” (active surveillance) until there are signs that treatment is necessary.
