Although men talk easily about cardiovascular risk and general health as they age, they do not often discuss one of the most frequent problems that age brings to men: an enlarged prostate.

This is probably due to what they have to talk about. The prostate is located below the bladder, and it surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine flows from the bladder. When it is enlarged, it can push against the urethra, pinching it and causing it to narrow. This results in a number of urinary discomforts.

• An urgent feeling of the need to urinate
• An increased frequency of urination; waking multiple times during the night to urinate
• Some difficulty when beginning to urinate
• A urine stream that is weak and thin
• Difficulty stopping urinating; often followed by dribbles
• A feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied; urinary retention

Stagnant urine residue, can lead to infection and blockage of the bladder outlet and prostatitis (infection of the prostate)

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The prostate
In male gender specific health issues an extremely common problem is the Prostate gland. If you are over 40 you have already experienced some type of problem specifically related to this walnut-sized organ located behind and below the bladder.

It is comprised of muscle, glandular and fibrous tissue and ducts and produces prostatic fluids which enables sperm the ability to travel and survive in the body. The Prostate surrounds the urethra which carries urine from the bladder through the penis and the muscle tissue of the Prostate helps in bodily functions such as urination. These muscles also push prostatic fluid and sperm from the testicles, through the urethra and out the penis during orgasm.

No one has determined why the Prostate often enlarges, compressing the urethra and restricting the flow of urine. But they have named it. It is called BPH which stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The most common symptoms reported are divided into two categories: dynamic and variable. Dynamic symptoms are more severe. They center on the obstruction or compression of the nerves of the Prostate and the effects on the urethra. Variable symptoms relate directly to the urgent need and frequency of urination, especially at night when men with BPH may have to get up three or four times a night.

What to do
Drink water:
Although the natural reaction to frequent and urgent urination is to cut back on fluid intake, this is a mistake. You risk dehydration, and the likelihood of developing a bladder infection increases because the urine becomes stronger. Drinking lots of fluid keeps the retained urine in the bladder fairly diluted and reduces the risk of bladder infection and dehydration.

Change your diet:
Caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and/or acidic foods may irritate the prostate, and most doctors recommend either eliminating them or consuming very little of them. Diets with an emphasis on soy are helpful.

Watch your weight:
At least one study (American Journal of Epidemiolgy, December 1994) has shown that men with larger than a 43-inch (109 cm) waist are more than twice as likely to have enlarged prostates.

Avoid decongestants and antihistamines:
Sudafed, Tavist-D, Contact, etc., all carry warnings in fine print not to use them if you have an enlarged prostate or BPH. These medications appear to cause the prostate to contract, which decreases urine flow. There is also some evidence that these tend to make the prostatic secretion thicker and more prone to forming clogs.

Exercise:
Walking will often help relieve prostate problem symptoms.

Stay in love:
Making love can also help forestall prostate problems.

Use supplements:
Dietary supplements can help general prostate health. Make sure you get sufficient amounts of zinc and B vitamins. These nutrients regulate the hormonal processes that may contribute to BPH.

There have been a number of animal and clinical trials on the use of pollen extracts for BPH.

Pollen extracts appear to relieve BPH in three ways:

1. They may act as a smooth muscle relaxant. Because muscle contraction plays a role in allowing the bladder to void, it may improve urine discharge. Clinical studies have indicated that using pollen extracts results in less nighttime urinating and improved bladder emptying.
     
2. They may prevent the hormone DHT from binding to the prostatic receptor site. Clinical studies have shown that pollen extracts reduce the size of the prostate in men with BPH. Experiments have indicated that they do this by inhibiting the binding of DHT to the receptor site. Reduced prostate size results in less pressure on the urethra and fewer urinary problems.
    
3. They have anti-inflammatory action. Clinical studies have shown that pollen extracts reduce prostate inflammation, which in turn reduces prostate size.