If you’ve recently come to realize that it’s time to start paying more attention to your prostate health, you aren’t alone. As men age, this is one area to look out for. Why? When the prostate – a walnut-size gland in men that helps to make semen – grows larger can create a series of complications, such as:
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, also called cellular inflammation or BPH. This is a common condition among men older than 50 years old. The prostate becomes enlarged, which then causes bladder, urinary tract, or/and kidney complications.
- Prostatitis. A condition that causes inflammation of the prostate. It can present itself as acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, or chronic prostatitis.
- Urinary Hesitancy. This is characterized by difficulty when urinating.
- Erectile Dysfunction. A condition resulting in difficulty getting or keeping an erection.
Is Prostate Massage An Option for You?
In my practice I encounter many patients wondering if prostate massage may help with their BPH symptoms. To better understand the whole process, it’s important to know how prostate massage works and its potential impact on your prostate gland.
Doctors have practiced therapeutic prostate massage to treat prostate inflammation since the 19th century. It is similar to a DRE (digital rectal exam), which a doctor performs when checking for irregularities or bumps in the rectum by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger. (1)
When a doctor performs a DRE and finds signs of a health issue or infection in the prostate, it may suggest the need for a prostate massage, also known as drainage. This is done by rubbing or pressing the sides of the prostate which results in the release of fluid known as expressed prostatic secretion.
The seminal fluid release can alleviate the symptoms but is only temporary. Men experiencing prostate inflammation issues may be required to have this procedure done two to three times a week. Furthermore, prostate massage can be painful as some patients have noted an increased burning sensation after the procedure, probably due to the content of the fluids. As prostate massage may not be the best option for everyone, I want to share with you some other ideas.
4 Key Ways to Reduce Your Prostate Inflammation Naturally
1. Enhance Lymphatic Function to Reduce Prostate Inflammation
The lymphatic system functions as a shield against disease and infection. It helps remove impurities and pathogens from body tissues, keeping everything clean and running smoothly. The lymphatic system is formed by fine tubes known as lymphatic vessels that connect the various lymph nodes located through the body.
Dry Skin Brushing For Prostate Health
When the prostate becomes inflamed, it can obstruct the pelvic lymph nodes located deep in the abdomen next to the prostate. To reduce inflammation and fluid around the prostate, promote lymphatic flow by practicing dry skin brushing in the abdominal area. I created a free guide about dry brushing your skin to help stimulate your lymphatic system support your prostate health. You can download it here.
Rebounding For Prostate Health
When it comes to fun new exercises that you can practice in the comfort of your home, the rebounder is one type of exercise I recommend to my patients. Here you can find some of my favorite rebounders: Stamina 38-Inch Intone Plus Rebounder, 40′ Mini Rebounder with Handrail, and MaXimus Pro Gym Rebounder Mini Trampoline with handlebar. I recommend rebounding exercises 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening.
Rebounding stimulates internal organs, moves the cerebral-spinal fluid, the aqueous fluid in the eyes, it does wonders for the intestines, and it also encourages drainage of the lymphatic system. To activate the lymphatic flow in the body, the muscular contraction that comes from exercise is crucial. Gravitational pressure and the internal massage of the organs, ducts, and lymph nodes is also key. Rebounding covers all three, making it ideal for unclogging the lymphatic system and, therefore, reducing inflammation around the prostate.
Lymphatic Exercises For Prostate Health
Doing specific exercises for the abdominal area is another way to drain fluids from the lymphatic system. Moving the lymph fluid has a detoxifying effect by removing and destroying waste, debris, dead blood cells, pathogens, excess hormones and toxins. The accumulation of all these harmful elements can cause prostate inflammation. Applying lymphatic exercises in the abdominal area can help reduce the prostate’s inflammation by improving bladder function.
2. Reduce Cellular Inflammation
Inflammation plays a central role in the development of BPH. While it is not clear the origin of inflammation in the prostate, what researchers can agree is that the inflammation represents a chronic process of wound healing that activates a rapid proliferation of BPH nodules (2)
When the prostate is enlarged, fluid can cut off the flow from the bladder, which can result in an urgent visit to the ER to perform a catheterization. Because of the seriousness of this condition and willingness to alleviate the problem by applying a natural approach, I have created the Prostate Fix Guide to get your prostate back to health.
3. Stop Conversion of Testosterone to Estrogen
While studying BPH, researchers analyzed how hormones, specifically estrogen, can affect the condition. The results have pointed out that the overproduction of estrogen may contribute to the high incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia among the aging male population. (3)
You may not associate the prostate gland with estrogen, but the fact is that the prostate is highly receptive to estrogen. When men experience a hormonal, glandular or neuro-endocrine imbalance, their bodies can convert the testosterone into estrogen. I suggest many ways to resolve this issue on my Prostate Fix Guide. Additionally, it’s important to become aware of the amounts of chemicals and hormones you may be consuming in your food.
4. Lower, Balance & Manage Cortisol Levels For Men’s Prostate Health
Cortisol is also known as the “stress hormone”. Its primary function is to regulate the body’s stress response and, when present at high levels, can negatively affect the male reproductive system. This can cause inflammation and stagnancy of the lymphatic system resulting in an inflamed prostate gland.
Some studies have determined the close relationship between high-stress levels and the development or aggravation of BPH in men. Therefore, the need to lower and manage cortisol levels to increase prostate health is a must. (4)
As a way of helping my male patients get a better idea of where they are when it comes to their inflamed prostate and how to reduce it, I offer this test kit. The kit examines the saliva to discover if your cortisol levels may be responsible for your prostate inflammation.
Timing is crucial if you want to efficiently measure cortisol levels because they vary throughout the day. Therefore the best time to test it is in the morning, at lunchtime, at dinnertime, and before bedtime. I offer a test kit here for $195. Testing your cortisol levels is vital for tackling the cause of your enlarged prostate gland due to higher PSA levels.
In addition to the development of BPH, studies have found another side effect of a high cortisol level. The increase in cortisol can affect the male reproductive system by lowering testosterone levels, resulting in decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. (5)
By adequately testing and managing cortisol levels, you will be able to improve your prostate health and your sexual health too. The latter is undoubtedly an added benefit that results from the increase in libido.
Men Prostate Health Recommendations
Is Riding a Bike Beneficial Exercise For Male Prostate Health?
While any form of exercise is beneficial, riding a bike and prostate health is in a gray area. Some experts note that you have nothing to worry about if you ride your bike for less than 8 hours a week. But for those who cross that threshold, some problems can appear.
The traditional saddle on a bike can cause pain in the perineum located between the base of the penis and the anus, put pressure on the pudendal nerve, and possibly on the prostate. Prolonged compression of the prudential nerve can cause erectile problems. Riding a bike is certainly not recommended for those already experiencing enlarged prostate or erection problems.
Other experts recommend riding a bike in moderation while taking certain precautions such as:
- Choosing a wider saddle with extra padding or gel-filled and anatomy-friendly seats.
- Avoid tilting the bike saddle forward to decrease pressure on the perineum.
- Use padded bike shorts
- Raise your handlebars for a more upright position
- Be sure your seat is at an appropriate height for you
- Check that the frame’s top bar is at least two inches below your crotch. Cover the bar with padding so that you will not hurt your genitals if you fall.
Exercising can alleviate many health conditions, and a lack of activity can worsen any disorder. Health professionals warn men who spend more than five hours a day sitting in their couches watching TV or playing video games are at twice the risk of developing an enlarged prostate than those who spend less time sitting. Even more alarming is that the risk goes up the longer you spend on the couch, regardless of the amount of exercise you do.
With these tips, you can take steps now to protect your prostate health. Whether you need to reduce inflammation or just be aware that it could happen, the more you know, the better you can help yourself.
