Health Essentials
What is in your prostate?
The abrofo-nkatie sized gland found only in men wants to be known and referred to as the prostate gland and not prostrate gland as many of us choose to call it. It has also made a strong case that it has more to it than the feared prostate cancer.
The prostate gland is lodged comfortably between the bladder and the penis and behind it is the rectum. The urethra that carries urine and semen passes through the centre of the prostate gland. Many of the problems associated with this gland start with the structures listed above that are close to it.
The prostate is not useless as some may refer to it as. It toils to secrete fluid that nourishes, protects and transports sperm.
A brief look at Prostatitis, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and Prostate Cancer will put things in the right perspective. These three conditions share some symptoms.
PROSTATITIS
This is an infection of the prostate gland and may present with
• Chills and a fever, pus-like urethral discharge
• Frequent urin ation, painful urination, pain in groin and testes
• Painful orgasms, new onset erectile dysfunction
Seek professional help. Do not self-medicate or second guess yourself.
BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA (BPH)
This condition is an increase in size of the prostate but it is not cancerous. The actual cause of this enlargement not known but male hormones may play a role.
MEN WITH BPH MAY SHOW SYMPTOMS SUCH AS:
• Frequent urination especially at night, urge incontinence ( where one may soil self if you don’t quickly urinate when you feel the urge)
• Difficulty starting to urinate (straining), poor urine stream
• Painful urination, blood in urine
• Terminal dribbling (urine continues to drip after one finishes urinating)
• May end up with not being able to pass urine (referred to in emergency rooms in Accra as sham) baa i.e. the urine won’t or can’t come). This is extremely painful and you will find men sweat, scream and do all sorts of things. In fact some have compared it to labour pains.
PROSTATE CANCER
It is one of the commonly diagnosed cancers in men and many of these cancers are slow growing. In general it is commoner among black men and has an earlier age of onset and quite often more aggressive and lethal.
WHO IS AT RISK?
• Age; the older you are the higher the chance
• Race ; blacks at more risk
• Family History ; higher risk if a family member has had it
• Obesity
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS?
• Urinating frequently including at night, straining to urinate, blood in urine /semen
• Weak or interrupted urine flow
• New onset erectile dysfunction
WHEN THERE IS SPREAD
• Fatigue, unexplained weight loss, change in bowel habits
• Pin in back, hips, shoulders, thighs etc.
DIAGNOSIS
This will require proper history taking from the client and then an examination and tests
• Digital rectal examination, where the doctor inserts a gloved lubricated finger through your anus to feel the prostate. It often will have an irregular , hard surface if cancerous
• PSA (prostate specific antigen) may also be elevated in a few other circumstances
• Biopsy, Ultrasound Scan
• CT Scan/MRI/PET Scan
• Bone Scan
MANAGEMENT
A holistic approach including watchful waiting, medication, surgery, radiation, cryotherapy. Always ask that all the options are discussed with you.
RISK REDUCTION
• Screening
• Healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Carrots and tomatoes seem to have been discussed quite often. But variety is key. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale and a few others may also be worth having in your healthy diet.
• Choose healthy foods over supplements
• Keep weight in check
• Exercise at least five days a week
Do remember to go the extra mile and share the information. The prostate too needs support!!!
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Mobissel
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “This year, World Heart Day (29th September) aims to encourage people to look after themselves, others, and nature as well. Putting in coordinated efforts to improve one’s own lifestyle and diet and motivating others to do the same can lead to a reduced number of people with heart and blood vessel disease.”
I look forward to interacting with you at The La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Corporate Healthy Lifestyle Programme on Saturday 30th September 2023 at 6am.
Let’s walk, exercise, network and share ideas that will keep us healthy.
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
A good relationship with your boss is critical for job success and career development. Supervisors have a great influence on your stress level, your team and company culture, and ultimately, whether you succeed or fail in a role.
They are also your best resource for support, problem-solving, and personal development. Building a strong relationship with them can be transformative for your work experience and professional growth, but navigating this connection can be complex.
Here are some key values and characteristics that will help you along the way.
- Be authentic
It is important to be yourself when building any new relationship. Do not be over-the-top trying to impress or kiss up to a manager. Be authentic and try to build a genuine connection with them instead. This will be incredibly helpful when it comes to dealing with personal issues, having difficult conversations, and building trust.
- Be empathetic and respectful
Bosses are human beings with their own professional pressures and personal lives, so it is important to maintain empathy toward them. Strive to get to know them on a personal level; you do not need to be best friends, but knowing the basics, like their family and hobbies, can be meaningful.
Also, help your supervisor look good. Every leader wants a high-performing and successful team. By developing trust, understanding, and excellent communication, you can help your boss achieve their goals.
- Build trust and add value
Showing initiative will win you big points with almost any boss. Whether setting up regular one-on-ones, volunteering for new projects, or offering help, the benefits of this dedication are twofold.
Proactivity makes leaders feel supported-like you are looking out for them. It also provides opportunities for your individual growth.
Whenever possible, add value beyond the limitations of your job description. Whether you have a special interest or extra capacity, find ways to support your team and relieve pressure. – Source:careers.vikingservice.com
..To be continued
This week I bumped into Deborah, one of my avid readers and I promised her I will be writing this weekend. So Deborah, this is for your reading pleasure and to pick some golden nuggets for the future.
The quest to find the best way to make one’s golden years, happy, exciting, healthy and a time most people look forward to continues unabated. One factor that keeps popping up is the need to grow friendships with people more than 20 years younger than yourself.
Do not take this for granted. It is a form of “social security” since these close friends who are much younger than you will step in to support you in more ways than you can ever imagine.
Some conditions may make life challenging for older adults but knowing these Geriatric Giants helps us to take the necessary steps to reduce our risk.
“Geriatric Giants” refers to a group of chronic health conditions that are common in the elderly, typically 65-year-olds and older.
These conditions quite often co-occur and can impact on the independence, dignity and overall wellbeing and quality of life of an elderly person.
These Geriatric Giants include:
- Impaired Intellect/ Memory (e.g. Dementia)
- one of the major battles we need to deal with is challenges with memory
- Exercise, adopt the Mind Diet, build a great social network and enjoy time outdoors
- Keep reading and solving puzzles for as long as possible
- Instability – leading to much feared falls
- A good reason to indulge in Balance Training and Core Strengthening exercises from today
- Ensure your home is safe; avoid clutter such as cables crisscrossing floors, toys etc. These are all trip hazards and should be avoided
- Many healthy, happy and fun-loving older adults have died soon after a fall with its attendant complications.
- Do whatever it takes to avoid falling
- Immobility (opening the doors to pressure sores, joint stiffness)
- Even when you are unable to move about on your own it is important to get support to change positions as often as possible or get an appropriate mattress or bed that prevents prolonged pressure over any single point.
- Make sure you passively or actively move joints daily.
- Incontinence (urine, faeces or both)
- This is one of the reasons older adults prefer to stay at home and avoid going out to meet friends etc.
- Iatrogenic Disorders – adverse effect of medication
- Quite often most older adults are on several medications and some side effects such as drowsiness may seem to cause more unhappiness and may even lead to falls.
- Inappetite – this may result in poor nutrition
- This may also be linked to loss of teeth thus making chewing very difficult or limited.
- The loss of smell and taste may also reduce the amount of food one may willingly eat.
The power to reduce the impact of the Geriatric Giants starts now and should be a lifetime commitment. It is never too early to start making the appropriate lifestyle modifications, nor is it too late to reduce the impact of the giants on one’s life.
Other conditions that significantly impact on the lives especially of the elderly are:
- Sleep Disorders
- Good sleep has the power to give us energy, improve our thought pattern and even helps us to make good choices.
- Good sleep sets the tone for a healthy life
- Constipation
- This is a challenge that confronts quite a number of older adults.
- Movement, fibre and lots of water go a long way to reduce the stress that frequent constipation generates.
- Fraility
- Muscle loss is real and as we age, we lose a significant percentage of our muscle plus our bones also become brittle.
- Make sure strength training is part of your exercise schedule
- Polypharmacy
- Another headache that needs to be confronted head-on
- Everyone especially older adults need a good primary care physician or a general practitioner who can coordinate all medicines from the different Specialists who may be attending to an elderly person. This ensures that unnecessary medicines are dropped
The goal of care at all times is to optimise the quality of life. As family, professional caregivers and friends we should always show respect so that the dignity of the elderly is preserved at all times. For those of us who are not yet in the age group with such challenges, we need to start the conversation about the type of care we will prefer and take steps to stay healthy and independent for as long as possible. The goal should be a long Healthspan and not just a long Lifespan.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Esse
