Enlarged Prostrate

For most men, the "golden years" mean difficult urination. Seventy-five percent of men over the age of 50 have measurable enlargement of the prostrate gland, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As the gland enlarges, it constricts the urethra, blocking the passage of urine from the bladder. Urination becomes painful, the stream is weak, there is dribbling and men often have to get up three to five times a night.

As you get older, your prostate gland grows larger in size. This process is called benign hypertrophy, or BPH. As a result of this enlargement, your bladder has to work harder to force urine past the large prostate gland.

A quarter of all men, aged 40-60 will suffer from some symptoms of BPH. By the time they are 70, 70% will have symptoms, and by the time they are 80, 80% will have symptoms.

Cancer of the prostate is surprisingly common in elderly men. If you manage to live until the age of 80, it is highly likely you will have a small nodule of cancer in your prostate gland. It may also surprise you to know that most men with prostate cancer never have any trouble from their cancer, and never even know they have it.

For more information visit:
Prostate Health - www.prostatehealth.com

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Glaucoma

Everyone should be concerned about glaucoma and its effects. It is important for each of us, from infants to senior citizens, to have our eyes checked regularly because early detection and treatment of glaucoma are the only ways to prevent vision impairment and blindness.

Glaucoma is a specific pattern of optic nerve damage and visual field loss caused by a number of different eye diseases which can effect the eye. Most, but not all of these diseases, are characterized by elevated intraocular pressure, which is not the disease itself, but the most important risk factor for the development of glaucoma.

Glaucoma strikes without obvious symptoms, Therefore, the person with glaucoma is usually unaware of it until serious loss of vision has occurred. In fact, half of those suffering damage from glaucoma do not know it.

For more information visit:

www.glaucomafoundation.org

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