As men age, the prostate will likely start to get too large. Symptoms of this include an urgent need to urinate, waking up in the middle of the night (often more than once) to leave, and a weak stream. You may also feel like you haven’t completely emptied your bladder, and the flow may start and stop.
This is an uncomfortable problem, but it is not life threatening. In fact, it has nothing to do with training, risk, or likelihood of developing prostate cancer, a much bigger problem.
In the last decade, doctors have told male patients to take saw palmetto supplements to help fight off BPG, and it can be very effective. Men who use it report having fewer problems. The body responds like it used to and it’s a great relief.
Why would there be inconveniences in such a wonderful situation? It could be deadly. While there is no relationship between benign prostate hypoplasia and prostate cancer, there is a risk related to prostate cancer and saw palmetto use.
Many doctors now use a special blood test as a means of diagnosis. The test is called PSA (prostate specific antigen) and it can detect cancer early in asymptomatic men or help confirm cancer in men who have symptoms. This can be a life-saving test.
If a man takes saw palmetto, two major things will be a problem. First, the herb will mask any symptoms a man may have to warn of the problem. These symptoms can include blood in both urine and semen, pelvic pain, and swelling in the upper legs.
What is more dangerous is the masking of the PSA test. This test will most likely deviate at least a little if the patient is taking saw palmetto.
This does not necessarily mean that you should avoid weed. What you need to do is talk to your doctor about it. If the herb is stopped for a certain time before blood tests, the doctor can safely check for cancer. Therefore, it is very important that you tell your doctor before your pre-control blood tests.
Saw palmetto is not a miracle herb, but it can make you feel more comfortable without resorting to medication. Handling it correctly is the key to safe use.
