When your loved one turns 50 or is several years beyond they may start having trouble with their prostate as an older man. It is natural for a prostate to become larger as a person ages but with that comes health problems. Each senior man needs to go to their primary care doctor regularly for the appropriate checkups. This helps not only monitor things like their prostate but also other potentially deadly health problems. If your loved one needs help getting to the doctor, this is something that home care providers may be able to help with. Home care can also help remind a senior when a checkup is necessary and manage their calendars to match what a doctor wants for a senior as well.
Here is everything you need to know about prostate issues, what’s normal, and what is abnormal.
First Understand What The Role of The Prostate Plays
The prostate is a very small gland that helps men produce semen. This important gland wraps around the tube that produces urine, which is why when it becomes too enlarged it can cause problems. For most young men, this gland is the size of a walnut. As a man ages it becomes much bigger to the point it causes them problems.
For many men whether or not they are elderly, this can be a sensitive subject or they may not want a checkup from a doctor. However, it is an important part of healthy living to get this gland checked especially for senior men. If your senior loved one is not comfortable with their doctor enough to check their prostate they may need to think about finding someone they are more comfortable with.
Below are some common issues that come with an aging prostate.
Infections
One of the most common things a man can experience with his prostate is bacterial infections. When a man develops a bacterial infection it can lead to acute bacterial prostatitis. This means their prostate becomes fully inflamed and it can physically hurt to even go to the bathroom, sit, or anything. The good news is, when this happens, and if your loved one trusts their doctor enough to talk about this problem, the pain and problems can go away with the right medication. They will need antibiotics to cure this problem and it will go away as quickly as it appeared.
Pelvic Pain
It is normal to experience some type of pelvic pain but when it happens for too long this is known as chronic prostatitis. When a senior experiences this they may develop lower back pain and groin pain which can make it harder to do daily things. This also may lead them to take more ibuprofen or over-the-counter pain relievers but that is not always good for the seniors’ body. If they are experiencing chronic pain, this is another reason they need to have a doctor they trust. With normal checkups, this can all usually be avoided.
Prostate Cancer
In very severe cases a senior man can develop prostate cancer, which can be deadly. Unfortunately, men over 50 are at a greater risk of developing this kind of cancer which is why they need to get regular checkups and get screened. Some prostate cancer grows slowly while others spread rapidly.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Lexington OH, please get in touch with the caring staff at Central Star Home Health today. Call 419-756-9449
Central Star Home Health is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Ohio including Ashland, Bellville, Bucyrus, Crestline, Galion, Lexington, Mansfield, Marion, Mt. Vernon, Ontario, Shelby, and Willard.
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