How Can I Improve My Prostate Health?

The prostate is found in people who are AMAB (assigned male at birth). It's a small gland with some big responsibilities. Learning about your prostate and how to keep it happy and healthy is the best way to keep yourself safe from any potential complications.

https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/understanding-prostate-changes

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/10-diet-and-exercise-tips-for-prostate-health

https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/prostate-health

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/risk-and-symptoms/trans-women-and-prostate-cancer#:~:text=Yes%2C%20trans%20women%20have%20a,were%20assigned%20male%20at%20birth)

Here are a few steps to improve your prostate health:

1. Understand your risk & inform your primary care physician if you think you are high risk.

A male with at least one close relative who has had the disease has twice the risk of having prostate cancer compared to the general population.

Another risk factor is race. As stated above, African American, caucasian, and Hispanic/Latino males have the highest risk of developing prostate cancer.

Diet is another important risk factor to recognize. Men who have a diet that is particularly high in animal fats, meat, and dairy products are more likely to develop prostate cancer (Zero: The End of Prostate Cancer).

2. Stay active & maintain a healthy weight.

Obese men are slightly more likely to develop prostate cancer than men who have a healthy BMI. However, obese men are two times more likely to die from prostate cancer than men of a healthy weight. And, the degree of aggressiveness of the cancer is said to be less in men of a healthy weight as well.

A healthy lifestyle and diet are proven to make cancer treatments more effective and make the recovery process easier as well. Check out these resources if you are currently struggling with your exercise and/or diet habits.

3. Schedule regular checkups with your doctor, & know the symptoms.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation reports that many times, signs of prostate cancer are first detected by a primary care provider during a routine check-up.

Here are symptoms of prostate cancer that you can keep an eye out for yourself:

• A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
• Painful or burning urination
• Difficulty in having an erection
• Painful ejaculation
• Blood in urine or semen
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

If you think some of these risks apply to you, take action! The best early prevention method is to get regular checkups by a primary care provider.

How Apicha CHC can help you

If you do not have a primary healthcare provider at this time, consider learning more about Apicha Community Health Center. We have many providers who are experts in their fields and can provide screenings for prostate cancer as well as many other types of anal cancer at our clinic.

Last Updated: October 27, 2023