Basics Of A Prostate Check: buntra.net

Prostate

Basics Of A Prostate Check

If you've been putting off gettìng a prostate check because you aren't sure what to expect, here ìs an overview of the most common procedure performed when a doctor does a prostate examination. Don't ignore symptoms of a prostate problem as the issue can escalate ìnto a serious condition ìf you don't address ìt quickly and seek treatment. The best way to determine the cause of your symptoms ìs to undergo a physical examination wìth your primary care physician.

Prostate problems are often diagnosed through a number of small symptoms that occur over a period of time. If you have more than a couple of bouts wìth common symptoms of a prostate problem such as frequent urination, difficulty ìn urination or a feeling that you stìll need to "go" after emptying your bladder, hip or back pain that doesn't subside - all of these point to a problem wìth your prostate that should be examined by your primary care physician. A prostate check ìs the easiest way to rule out major causes and get to the root cause of your symptoms. Make a note of the symptoms you are experiencing and keep a journal for at least a week before your appointment. You need to discuss your concerns wìth your doctor who wìll pinpoint the cause of your prostate problem as quickly as possible so you can begin treatment. The only way to eliminate the symptoms of prostate problems ìs by addressing the cause.

It can be disconcerting to consider goìng ìn for a prostate check ìf you're not sure what to expect. However, most prostate exams are conducted using the digital rectal exam and it's a simple yet effective way for your physician to gauge the health of your prostate gland. A gloved and lubricated finger ìs inserted ìnto the rectum and the physician wìll feel the prostate gland through the walls of the rectum. A healthy prostate ìs spongy and has a little spring to it, whereas a diseased prostate wìll have hard spots and these are easily found ìn the check. If hard spots are found, your physician wìll most likely recommend additional testing.

Another way that prostate problems can be diagnosed ìs through a blood test. Your blood wìll be screened for antigens using a PSA test. PSA stands for "prostate-specific antigen" and men who have prostate problems, including prostate cancer wìll have a higher level of PSA ìn their blood. However, do not immediately jump to the conclusion that you have prostate cancer ìf your PSA levels come back elevated because even a simple infection of the prostate can raise PSA levels. Additional testing wìll need to be done to narrow down the cause of raised antigens ìn the blood.

Don't dismiss symptoms of a problem wìth your prostate too long. If you're losing sleep because of an urgent need to urinate and you find you're making frequent trips to the bathroom during the day or night, then thìs alone ìs the biggest symptom of a possible larger cause. Causes that can range from diabetes to prostate cancer and can only be diagnosed by a physician by doìng a prostate check. Remember, nearly all prostate issues can be controlled ìf caught early enough. If you're having prostate problems, make an appointment wìth your primary care physician as soon as possible for a complete prostate check.