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Being diagnosed as having problems with the prostate gland can conjure up thoughts of those dreaded words, “prostate cancer.” Fortunately, most problems connected to this gland are not caused by cancer.

Problems with the prostate commonly affect men over the age of 50. The likelihood of contracting such problems does increase with age.

So what and where is the prostate gland? It is situated in the body below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra that carries urine from the bladder. The function of the prostate is to produce fluid that is a constituent of semen.

In a yougn man the prostate is as large as a walnut. The prostate gradually increases in size with age. This enlargement can cause problems with the urinary system. By the age of 70, about 40% or more of men have a prostate enlargement that can be detected by physical examination.

One prostate problem called benign prostate hyperplasia (BHP,) is caused by this enlargement and results in gradual pressure on the urethra. This ’squeezing’ sometimes causes difficulty in starting to urinate, increased frequency in urination especially at night and a tendency to dribble afterwards.

Diagnosis is usually carried out by a doctor performing a digital rectal examination.

BHP is not cancer and is not thought to increase the risk of getting it. Generally, sexual functioning is not interfered with.

Prostate enlargement is not in itself enough to warrant treatment. Instead, periodic examinations are usually performed to check on this condition. However, if the symptoms become more troublesome, then treatment may be required.

Should treatment become necessary, then medication may be used which reduces the male hormone testosterone in the body resulting in a shrinkage of the prostate gland. Another method is surgery where the enlarged tissue is removed.

Prostatitis, which is inflammation, is another problem that can affect the prostate gland. Acute bacterial prostatitis is an acute infection of the gland caused by bacteria. Symptoms can be chills and fever, pain in the lower back or rectum and some pain while urinating.

Another type of prostatitis is chronic bacterial prostatitis which is a recurrent infection of the prostate. This can be accompanied by painful urination and genital pain.

Nonbacterial prostatitis causes prostate inflammation, but without any signs of infection. Symptoms are urinary such as pain or difficulty with urination.

Diagnosis of prostatitis is usually by a digital rectal examination.

Both acute and chronic prostatitis is routinely treated by the use of antibiotics. Nonbacterial prostatitis can be treated with medications that will reduce the urinary symptoms.

Prostate cancer is a common form of cancer in men. Although early prostate cancer does not usually cause any symptoms, it may spread from the prostate to surrounding areas. Common symptoms of this cancer are: frequent need to urinate, blood in the urine, pain or burning sensation while urinating, lower back pain or pain in the upper thighs or pelvis, stopping and starting urination and being unable to urinate.

Diagnosis generally involves a number of stages. Firstly, a digital rectum examination followed by tests. The tests may suggest the need for a biopsy which can confirm the presence of prostate cancer.

Treatment options can be surgery, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy or radiation.

Should you experience any of the symptoms mentioned, then the action required is simple - VISIT YOUR DOCTOR.

The coming of spring brings with it a sense of renewal. Leaves and blossoms bud on once-bare trees, the sun returns from behind gray skies and the winter chill leaves the air. Suddenly your mood lifts, your energy returns and you have a new-found interest in life. Everything seems possible, as if a veil of gloom has been lifted.

What most people describe as the “winter blues” is actually clinically defined as SAD or “Seasonal Affective Disorder”. SAD is a depressive mood disorder brought on by the seasonal variations in light. As the days become shorter, darker and gloomier with the onset of winter, symptoms of depression can manifest.

The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association or SADA estimates that approximately 500,000 people suffer from SAD every winter. December, January and February appear to be the most difficult months.

The lack of sunshine and increasingly gloomy days can sometimes cause a chemical imbalance in the hypothalamus of the brain, which may trigger SAD. Some research suggests that a lack of the brain chemical serotonin can cause symptoms of depression. Other research indicates a link to the sleep-related hormone melatonin.

Although the exact chemical changes taking place in the brain during a bout with SAD are still unclear, symptoms can be serious and should not be taken lightly.

Signs and symptoms of SAD can include:

1. Feelings of depression during the fall or winter months.

2. Changes in sleep patterns — difficulty staying awake, oversleeping, or even early morning wakening or disturbed sleep.

3. Feelings of fatigue or difficulty participating in normal routines.

4. Irritability, tension and low tolerance for stress.

5. A disappearance of depressive symptoms during the spring and summer months.

6. Seasonal depressive episodes outnumber non-seasonal episodes.

7. Cravings for sweet and/or starchy foods, which can lead to weight gain.

There are ways to combat the effects of seasonal affective disorder. For severe SAD symptoms, treatment may include antidepressant medication.

But if you are inclined toward more natural remedies without the risk of possible side effects, phototherapy or bright light therapy has proven effective. So effective that, according to the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association, 85% of those diagnosed with SAD are helped by bright light therapy.

Common household lighting is not sufficiently bright to have a positive effect on SAD. Specially designed full-spectrum lighting with up to ten times the brightness of regular indoor light is recommended.

Of course, nothing beats the real thing. So during the winter, if the sun peaks out from behind gray clouds, go outdoors to catch as much of its healing light as possible. Add that to regular exercise and a healthy diet, and the winter blues may become easier to manage.

Good nutrition is vital to a strong and healthy mind and body. It’s true what they say - you are what you eat.

This statement points out very effectively that if you feed your body with low nutritional and sugary garbage, your body has nothing to work with and you’ll end up eventually feeling like garbage.

On the other hand, if you nourish your body with food that is packed with nutrients such as vitamins, fiber, healthy fats, whole grains and omega-3’s, you’ll notice a huge difference in how you look and feel…especially if you make this type of food a dietary habit.

Right now we’re at a crossroad - we know we should be eating better, but there are so many restaurants available offering “bad” food and it’s making the obesity rate skyrocket. Even restaurants that offer fish platters and other health-conscious meals end up not so good because of the amount of calories you ingest between the bread, large portions and dessert.

You have two options:

1. Stay away from fast rood restaurants - and when you eat out at restaurants, be strict about what you eat. Stay away from the bread and don’t finish everything on your plate…bring the rest home for a meal you can eat the next day.

2. Make a meal at home yourself using ingredients you buy at the grocery store, not frozen entrees.

The focus of this article is on number two because by making your own meal, you can control exactly what goes into it. The end result is a meal that you know is nutritious and NOT packed with health-deteriorating ingredients.

Here’s an example of the perfect meal you can make at home. It has everything you need for better health.

What you’ll need is:

1 9-10 ounce bag of baby spinach
1 can of wild Alaskan pink salmon
1-2 teaspoons of olive oil
1-2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
1/2-3/4 cup of brown rice

Here’s a breakdown of each food’s health benefits:

Spinach - this green leaf is packed with phytonutrients, vitamins and fiber - and it’s low in calories.

Wild Alaskan Pink Salmon - yes, canned! It tastes better than you think. The reason this is recommended is because the food is a powerhouse of good fats, protein and omega-3’s and is low in calories and carbohydrates. The salmon you would normally buy is potentially high in mercury, which is bad. This Wild Alaskan form is free of mercury…and it’s inexpensive.

In case you’re wondering, Omega-3’s are vital for healthy weight loss, brain health and a healthy cardiovascular system.

Olive Oil - full of good fat which your body does need. When you buy olive oil, make sure it’s 100% authentic. Some brands are now mixing olive oil with refined oils…the end result is olive oil, but not really.

Balsamic Vinegar - vinegar reportedly controls your blood sugar level when eating which is important for overall health. Furthermore, it gives the meal more taste.

Brown Rice - whole grains are full of vitamins and fiber. Check out Uncle Ben’s instant brown rice…it’s pretty good and quick to make.

Making the meal is easy. You simply lay the spinach out on a platter- you can more or less use however much you want- and drizzle 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the spinach.

Let this sit for 10 minutes or so- this gives the spinach a chance to soak up the oil and vinegar. While this is sitting, cook the brown rice and open up the can of salmon.

When ready, simply spread the salmon over the spinach and put the brown rice either on the side or in a separate bowl.

And now the best part of all - ENJOY!

This meal will take you 15 minutes max to make and each bite will nourish your body from the inside out. And once you get used to eating healthy, you’ll find yourself experimenting with all types of different meals.

This article shared with you one example of a perfect meal, but there are many many more!