Prostate Cancer Prevention Tips
Guest Post by Margaret Keely
Medical experts say that prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among American men. In fact, it falls second to lung cancer as being the most common men killer. Prostate cancer usually occurs in men aged 40 and above, although younger men might also be at risk. The exact cause of prostate cancer has yet to be identified, but experts have concluded that certain changes in lifestyle and diet can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. But how exactly can you prevent it? Let’s discuss it here.
Undergo prostate exam. If you are at least 40 years old, you are advised to go through a prostate exam once a year. This will monitor your prostate health and determine if you have prostate cancer. You have two exam choices: digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA). DRE involves checking your prostate for signs of cancer through the rectum, while PSA measures the PSA level in the blood. Talk to your doctor about the exams and what needs to be done if you’re found to have prostate cancer.
Improve your diet. Eat lots of fruits of vegetables. Incorporate whole grain, soy products, and omega-3-rich foods into your diet as well. Make sure to consume foods with high levels of folate like cabbage and broccoli. And remember to lower your intake of high-caloric and fatty foods.
Have a regular time for exercise. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce the risks of virtually all kinds of illnesses, cancer included. So try incorporating exercise routines into your daily activities. If you’re a busy person, thirty minutes to one hour of exercise will already do a lot. You can try running, cycling, and other aero exercises. Morning is the best time to exercise, but you can choose any time of the day, for as long as you religiously commit to your exercise schedule.
Quit smoking. Smoking is one of the risk factors of prostate cancer. In fact, it is a risk factor of other types of cancer and diseases. Quitting, however, is somewhat difficult to do, so it requires persistent effort and dedication. If you find it extremely hard to quit, you might want to seek professional help.
Increase your selenium intake. Selenium has antioxidant properties that are believed to lower the risk of prostate cancer. It is found in eggs, sunflower seeds, brown rice, and chicken, although selenium supplements are also now available. If you decide to take supplements, make sure to consult your doctor. The doctor needs to ensure that you will benefit from supplements and that your existing medical conditions, if there is any, won’t be affected.
Have enough Vitamin D. Vitamin D can be found in cheese and fish liver oil, but sunlight is the most abundant source. A 15-minute exposure to morning sunlight is recommended. Make sure, however, not to overexpose yourself to sun. Overexposure, especially to afternoon sunlight, can be damaging and can eventually cause skin cancer.
Prostate cancer often doesn’t manifest itself. This is why you need to constantly monitor your prostate health. Partner with your doctor to make sure you will never be a candidate for prostate cancer.
Margaret Keely, a health writer and a nursing education course provider, hopes to increase people’s cancer awareness level.
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