Give Your Prostate a Caffeine Break

In recent years the condition known as Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE) has been more consistently publicized as a treatable problem for men. Benign Prostate Enlargement means that a gland located under the pelvis and surrounding a duct through which men urinate can become inflated and cause discomfort. The condition differs greatly from prostate cancer in that it is not typically life-threatening. But BPE can create troublesome issues for men. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), BPH affects more than 50% of men over age 60 and as many as 90% of men over the age of 70. (Source: www.urologychannel.com)

The medical community of course focuses on the hormonal causes of BPE and the resultant cellular growth that can make life uncomfortable for men. It is not entirely clear, but some causes of prostate growth can be hormonal or from other causes. Prostate inflammation can be brought on by diet, infection or by stimulants. These disturbances can sometimes result in painful, distracting infections of the urinary tract and the prostate itself. Any man who has suffered a prostate infection can tell you it is a miserable, deep-seated pain that does not go away easily. You may recall that an astronaut on Apollo 13 came down with a prostate infection. The condition can lead to severe pain, fever and other symptoms. Usually treatment requires some sort of anti-biotic prescribed by a doctor.

Speaking of doctors, the standard test for prostate enlargement involves a doctor inserting a rubber-gloved finger up the rectum to feel the prostate. Many men dread this test even worse than the old "turn your head and cough" hernia test, but an experienced doctor can tell you quickly whether your prostate feels "normal" or whether it seems oversized and in need of treatment.

I had the misfortune 15 years ago to pick up a prostate infection. It woke me up in the middle of the night with throbbing pain emanating from my lower groin. I called the doctor's office and drove bent over to an all-night pharmacy to get medicine. The infection went away fairly quickly, but the enlargement of my prostate persisted after the episode.

That meant a trip back to the doctor because I was up half the night urinating in weak little streams that never seemed to empty the bladder.

My doctor checked me out with the digital inspection and informed me that my prostate felt "boggy," overblown and soft. Then he started asking questions and making suggestions.

"How often do you have sex?" he asked.

"Not often enough," I joked.

"We'll have to talk to your wife about that," he laughed.

"Will you write me a prescription?" I begged.

"Honestly," he informed me. "You need to make sure you ejaculate frequently. That may mean taking care of yourself."

"Understood," I nodded.

"Most men have been looking for a good excuse their whole life," he panned. "Now you have one."

"Anything else?" I asked.

"Yes, one more thing," he told me. "You might try cutting out caffeine. Do you drink coffee or soda?"

"Just a Coke a day," I told him.

"Let's cut out all caffeine," he advised. " And stay away from cold medicines with anti-histamines. They both can cause your prostate to enlarge. Both caffeine and antihistamines affect the soft tissue of the body, like your prostate gland."

The results of quitting caffeine were immediate. I stopped drinking caffeinated beverages of all types. Having never been a coffee drinker, that was not an issue. But my Coke a day habit was hard to break. I had a headache for two full weeks. Then like magic, the withdrawal stopped, and so did my craving for soda.

The first couple times I came down with a cold, it was difficult to avoid taking cold medicine. But I realized that my cold lasted the same period of time as they had when I was taking cold medicines. So I didn't miss them all that much either. Strange enough, my colds were less severe after a year or so. Now I hardly get colds at all by relying on zinc and Vitamin C when the symptoms come along. It was almost like my colds were worse from taking the medicines.

For many men with inflamed prostates the first point of treatment might best involve cutting out caffeine and antihistamines. The same holds true for women suffering yeast infections and other inflammations of soft tissues in the body. We take for granted these stimulants in our diet and cold medicines, but they are far from benign. Especially down where it counts.

Sources:
kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostateenlargement/
www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-gland-enlargement/DS00027
www.urologychannel.com/prostate/bph/index.shtml