BodyTrac Health & Fitness

More than 218,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. Getting the facts before being diagnosed makes it possible to face prostate cancer head on. Here is what men should know before going in for a prostate examination.

What causes prostate cancer?

Despite all of the advances of modern science, it is unknown what exactly causes prostate cancer. However, a number of risk factors are known. Increased age, family history of prostate cancer, and lack of exercise all seem to be tied to a diagnosis of this common cancer.

Can prostate cancer be prevented?

Some risk factors, such as age and a family history of prostate cancer, can’t be changed. Those that can be modified included should. By getting regular exercise and eating a balanced diet complete with fruits and vegetables today, men may reduce their likelihood of a diagnosis of prostate cancer later in life. Studies are currently ongoing to determine if Vitamin E or selenium aid in preventing prostate cancer.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

A couple of simple, annual tests are used to aid in the detection of prostate cancer.

1. During a digital rectal examination (DRE), a physician manually feels for abnormalities in the prostate through the rectum. Any growths alert the physician that cancer may be present.

2. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is a simple blood test that requires a small sample of blood to be taken from the prostate. The blood is then sent to a laboratory and tested for elevated levels of PSA, a chemical that can be an indicator of prostate cancer.

The American Cancer Society recommends men undergo both tests beginning at age 50. Men with a family history of prostate cancer-particularly men with family members who were diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age-are often recommended to undergo DRE and PSA testing prior to turning 50.

What if the test comes back positive?

Like many medical tests, DRE and PSA are not foolproof. Though both tests are beneficial in detecting potential cancers, there is the potential for a “false positive” result. This occurs when a DRE or PSA indicates cancer when no cancer is actually present.

For a definitive diagnosis of prostate cancer, a biopsy is needed. A small amount of tissue is removed from the prostate for laboratory tests. The results of this test are the only way to determine whether cancer is actually present.

What treatment options are available for prostate cancer?

Today, an array of treatment is available. Here are a few of them.

Watchful waiting is exactly what it sounds like-keeping track of prostate cancer’s growth and not beginning treatment unless it metastasizes (spreads) or begins causing symptoms, such as difficulty or pain during urination or lower back pain. Since prostate cancer is typically a very slow-moving cancer that causes no symptoms whatsoever, this is an ideal option for men who want to avoid the cost and inconvenience often associated with other treatments.

Prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the prostate. Depending on the extent of cancer and the choice of the patient, the entire prostate can be removed (radical prostatectomy) or just the region affected by the cancer (partial prostatectomy).

External radiation therapy involves using a machine to shoot radioactive beams at the cancerous area. This requires multiple visits to a radiation therapy center and is considered inconvenient by many men.

Internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy, is a less invasive radiation therapy option. Small, radioactive pellets are inserted in the prostate and destroy the cancerous cells as the individual goes about his day.

A significant part of your body is made up of water. In addition to a large part of your body being made up of water, several daily body functions use water. Don’t think water deserves so much credit? Consider these wet-and-wild facts.

• In a day, your lungs expel about two to four cups of water just through normal breathing (even more on a cold day).
• You can lose up to a cup of water if your feet sweat.
• In just six trips to the bathroom a day, you can lose about six cups of water.
• Your body can expel about two cups of water a day if you perspire (and that doesn’t include exercise-induced sweat).
• For these reasons and many more, it’s obvious that you need to replenish your body with liquids regularly.

How to Do It

Okay, so if your body is losing all of this water every day, what do you have to do to replenish it? The best thing you can do is drink a little bit of water all day long. Try sipping down about four ounces of water every hour when you’re awake. Take a water bottle with you when you’re driving, grab a glass of water before you sit down in front of the television, and bring something to drink when you go to that marathon meeting during your workday. If you don’t like the taste of water, try drinking extremely cold water or twist a lemon or lime in your water. If none of those options sound good, other liquids such as diluted fruit juices, skim milk, coffee, and diet soft drinks also provide the liquid your body needs.

Now that you know how to get the water your body needs, let’s talk about how much water your body needs. Many experts say that drinking between 8 and 10 glasses of water a day is a good rule of thumb. However, other factors, such as your body size, your body type (muscle holds more water than fat), your activity level, your age, and your diet, all play into the amount of water your body needs. If you have any questions about how much water your body needs or if you experience any symptoms of dehydration, touch base with your physician.

When You’re Not Getting Enough to Drink

Dehydration is one of the most common ways your body lets you know it’s not getting enough water. When dehydration occurs, your body has lost more fluids than it has taken in. This condition is not often life-threatening, but it can have serious consequences in babies and older adults. Symptoms of dehydration include feeling dizzy or lightheaded, having a dry or sticky feeling in your mouth, or producing less urine. If you experience any of these symptoms, take a moment to rest and get a drink. It’s also a good idea to get out of the sun and relax for the rest of the day. If symptoms continue, contact your physician.

Here’s the bottom line: your body needs water and it needs it every day, so try to keep a water bottle close by and refill it often. Your body will thank you for it.

H2O in Your F-O-O-D

Thankfully for the water haters out there, water can be found in a variety of places beyond the sink-including your dinner. The following are just a few of the foods that have high water content:

• apples
• broccoli
• cantaloupe
• carrots
• celery
• cooked cereal
• cottage cheese
• gelatin
• grapes
• grapefruit
• iceberg lettuce
• oranges
• radishes
• rice
• soup
• strawberries
• tomatoes
• tuna
• watermelon
• yogurt

No matter if it causes you to double over or simply feel uncomfortable, stomach pain is trying to tell you something. Before you dismiss it as nothing major or take medication to resolve the issue, you should figure out what’s bringing on the pain. Doing this will allow you to get to the root of the problem and get a real cure instead of a cover-up.

Here are seven things that may cause your stomach to get in knots.

1. Hernias

Hernias occur when the intestines protrude beyond the stomach muscles. Even the description makes you cringe. It’s no wonder hernia sufferers are miserable. A little extra precaution today will lead to years of living without this painful condition.

2. Heartburn

Eat the wrong foods or even too much of the right foods, and you could be in for pain that radiates through the chest and enters the abdomen. Know your body and how it reacts to certain foods, and you’ll be prepared to sidestep heartburn. That is, as long as you can withstand the temptation of those delicious spicy dishes.

3. Constipation

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of life and forget to answer the call of nature. Do it long enough and you’ll be hurting for a good bowel movement. In the event this occurs to you, call a time-out to relax in the bathroom. You’ll be glad you did.

4. Kidney Stones

If you don’t eat right or drink right or just have the wrong genes, kidney stones will bring you to your knees. They cause a sharp, sudden pain starting from the back near the ribs and moving toward the groin. Considered by many to be more painful than childbirth, kidney stones require immediate medical treatment.

“Pain (any pain-emotional, physical, mental) has a message. The information it has about our life can be remarkably specific, but it usually falls into one of two categories: “We would be more alive if we did more of this,” and, “Life would be more lovely if we did less of that.” Once we get the pain’s message, and follow its advice, the pain goes away.”
– Peter McWilliams

5. Anxiety

Butterflies in the stomach are cute. They occur when you’re a little nervous about your next date. Excessive anxiety, on the other hand, is nothing but a pain in the gut. When the demands of work and life raise your anxiety level too high, take a step back to reprioritize and relax.

6. Sedentary Lifestyle

Sit around a lot without exercising? You’re more likely to have weakened abdominal muscles, putting you at risk for injuries that cause stomach pains. You’re also more likely to eat unhealthy foods that cause stomach aches. So get up and get feeling better.

7. Addictions

Believe it or not, an addiction to alcohol, tranquilizers, or other chemical substances put you at a higher risk for chronic pain of all kinds. So while you may be attempting to escape the pain through another drink or shot, you may actually be adding to the pain you’re suffering. The good news is that all of the above causes of stomach pain can be resolved with the assistance of an experienced physician. If you’re not sure why your stomach is causing you pain, talk with your physician today.

When It’s an Emergency

For the most part, stomach pains can be dealt with by your primary care physician, with home remedies, or by using over-the-counter medications. However, some bouts of stomach pain mean something is seriously wrong.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

• sudden, sharp onset of abdominal pain
• stomach pain that is accompanied by pains in the chest, neck, or shoulder
• in addition to stomach pain, you vomit blood or have bloody stools
• your abdomen feels stiff and is hard and tender to the touch
• stomach pain that is associated with an inability to have a bowel movement (especially if you’re also vomiting)

Read a newspaper, watch the nightly news, or go to your physician, and you’ll hear the same thing: Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions with far-reaching consequences. From diabetes to future heart disease, childhood obesity puts children in harm’s way on a daily basis.

With the right tools, parents can give their children the upper hand against this big issue. Here are a few items to put in your health toolbox.

Tool #1: Understanding

No, childhood obesity isn’t about kids walking around with leftover baby fat. It’s not about toddlers with those wonderfully cute, chunky legs. Rather, childhood obesity is when a child is greatly overweight for his or her age. The causes of obesity in children are the same as in adults. Most children who battle obesity live in an environment where overeating is made easy and exercise is rarely encouraged.

Tool #2: Perspective

Believe it or not, today’s kid’s meal was at one point an adult portion. That means when you stop at a fast food restaurant, your child is being served an adult-sized meal. With this in mind, it’s no wonder our children are growing larger than ever before.

What has happened over the years to bring about this change? There are as many theories as there are fast food restaurants, but it’s likely due to people simply wanting more. Americans have ready access to foods of all sorts and have grown accustomed to thinking more is better. With this mentality, many feel there is no reason to not eat as much as you can. Unfortunately, many children are learning the hard way that there are a number of reasons to not eat as much as possible, as they suffer from diseases once confined to adults.

“Childhood obesity has doubled for children ages 6 to 11 in the past 20 years, making it one of the most common and dangerous conditions today’s youth face. What are you doing to keep your children from becoming a statistic?”
Tool #3: Sweat

Only two decades ago, seeing children play outside was the norm. It didn’t matter if it was hot, cold, rainy, or snowy, kids were outside playing. They rode their bikes, played tag, and sprinted through the sprinklers. When kids played, they weren’t out to exercise. They just wanted to have fun! Being able to stay fit and thin was an added perk that most kids didn’t even acknowledge.

Today’s parents can learn a lot from the days of old by building a barrier against obesity with a solid wall of fun and sweat. Parents should also remember that exercise for kids doesn’t mean going to the gym. It’s unstructured play, and it’s something most kids love when given the opportunity.

Tool #4: Family Focus

Have a child on the verge of obesity? Putting your child on a special diet and forcing him or her to perform activities no one else in the family has to do is an exercise in futility. If you want to see change in one member of the family, the entire family has to be involved. That means from dietary changes to regular exercise, mom, dad, sisters, and brothers should all be involved.

Tool #5: Perseverance

There is no quick-fix to being obese. Losing weight requires patience, dedication, and being content with small changes over a long period of time. Parents should note and celebrate small victories in their children to encourage them to continue newly established healthy lifestyles.

Once it’s time to celebrate, choose wisely. While you may want to indulge your child with a three-scoop sundae, shoot for something a little more moderate, like a single-scoop cone. It’ll be more than enough to fulfill your child’s sweet tooth without leading down the path to overeating.

Chill Out, Mom and Dad

If you have kids, you’ve probably heard this sentiment a few times. Now, it seems your kids are on to something. According to research from the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, stressed out parents can actually prevent obese children from being able to shed pounds and make healthy lifestyle changes.

When parents deal with stressful situations, they often block other areas of their lives out. When this occurs, they may forget to help their children continue in their obesity-fighting lifestyles or may stress out the child, causing depression and unhealthy behaviors that enable the child to continue in unhealthy activities that result in obesity.

So remember-if you’re trying to help your child stay thin for the long run, relax. It’ll make everyone feel better.