About half of America’s population is busy making New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and start exercising.
But if you are at risk for prostate cancer or suffering from an enlarged prostate (prostatitis), you may wish to personalize your resolution to something that suits your needs. Maintaining a healthy prostate is just as important as remembering to brush your teeth in the morning.
Here are a few of our best tips for maintaining a healthy prostate in the new year:
- Maintain a healthy weight. This one is pretty obvious, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s easy. Obesity has been proven to lead to many different complications with several different body systems. In the case of prostate health, obesity can play a large part in the development of prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). Both of these conditions can lead to severe complications, such as a complete blockage of urine flow leading to kidney failure. The preventative measure would be to make sure to exercise every day to keep your body’s metabolism up and eat healthy food in appropriate portions.
- Eat more greens. Diets high in red meat and dairy and low in fruits and vegetables are linked with higher risks of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that the risk of developing prostate cancer is significantly lower in those with vegetarian diets. This isn’t to say that you should give up meat and dairy altogether, but keeping a healthy balance of foods high in fiber and low in fat content is important to maintaining a healthy prostate.
- Stop smoking/using tobacco products. Not quite as obvious as the previous two, but smoking is linked with increasing your risk of developing prostate cancer. This is because the nicotine found in tobacco is a vasoconstrictor. This means that it closes your veins and arteries and constricts the flow of oxygen- and nutrient-carrying blood. You can help prevent complications by staying away from nicotine in all of its forms.
- Schedule an annual prostate exam. Around age 45, you should begin seeing Dr. Avila on an annual basis for a prostate exam. Just as annual mammograms are essential for women’s health, prostate exams are essential for men’s health. An exam will check for any indication of cancer, enlarged prostate, or other complications that would need attention. The best thing you can do for your prostate health is to schedule your next annual prostate exam with board-certified urologist Dr. Desi Avila.
If you’re resolving to take better care of your prostate, now is the time to schedule your next annual prostate exam in Phoenix. Request an appointment online or call Ironwood Urology at (480) 961-2323 today.
