Eight things to keep in mind for prostate health: From holding back semen and urine to preventing moisture and infection.

To stay away from prostate diseases, men should take care of their prostate glands in their daily lives and pay attention to the "8 things to note" for prostate health.

**First point to note: Do not force yourself to hold back semen or urine.**

In ancient Chinese sexual techniques, there was a saying about "moving without ejaculating" and "returning essence to nourish the brain." This suggested that men could use various positions and movements during intercourse, but should try to avoid ejaculation. When using the "jade-closing" method to reach the point of near ejaculation, one should quickly press the Pingyi acupoint on the perineum with the index and middle fingers of the left hand, while simultaneously taking deep breaths and clenching the teeth, to force the semen back to the brain. It was said that there was a channel connecting the kidneys and marrow, through which unejaculated semen could flow back to the brain for health benefits. Modern anatomy has proven this to be clearly wrong. Furthermore, it easily causes congestion and irritation of the urethra and bladder neck after intercourse, leading to frequent urination. It also does not conform to normal sexual physiology and increases mental stress. Therefore, this method is neither scientific nor advisable.

In real life, some people mistakenly believe that suppressing ejaculation can prolong life, while others do it for contraception or to prolong intercourse and achieve greater sexual satisfaction. However, interrupting intercourse and suppressing ejaculation is actually very detrimental to male health. Suddenly interrupting intercourse only stops the external actions of sexual activity; the sexual central nervous system and sexual organs remain in a state of excitement and congestion, and the person's emotions are still heightened. The release of these neural reflexes and the reduction of sexual organ excitement are far less rapid than after ejaculation, thus increasing the burden on the sexual nervous system and sexual organs. The slower rate of blood flow reduction and recovery in the sexual organs, coupled with prolonged congestion of the prostate and seminal vesicles, can easily lead to nonbacterial prostatitis and seminal vesiculitis. Therefore, couples should naturally follow the natural progression of the excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution phases of sexual activity.

Forced ejaculation is often a conscious, voluntary act, while urinary retention is often an unconscious, unavoidable act. Certain professions frequently involve urinary retention, such as taxi drivers, long-distance truck drivers, construction workers working at heights, surgeons who frequently perform major surgeries, self-employed individuals running their stalls alone, and extremely busy white-collar workers. Taxi drivers say that finding public restrooms in the city is difficult, and they often can't stop, leaving them frustrated. Therefore, urinary tract infections and prostatitis have become occupational diseases for taxi drivers. Prolonged urine retention in the bladder can cause cystitis. Over time, urine reflux can allow bacteria to "go upstream," damaging the prostate and kidneys, leading to recurrent urinary tract infections, prostatitis, and urinary tract stones. Eventually, this can also cause urinary retention and incontinence. We once organized a "free physical examination for taxi drivers" event. During the examination, we found that 80% of the taxi drivers had acute or chronic prostatitis. After questioning them, we found that it was related to factors such as frequently holding their urine, overwork, prolonged sitting that compresses the prostate, drinking alcohol every night to relieve fatigue, insufficient water intake, and neglecting vulvar hygiene.

**Second point to note: Avoid overwork and take breaks proactively.**

Prostate diseases are highly prevalent among manual laborers, the reasons for which are not entirely clear, but it is estimated to be related to the prostate's location in the lower part of the genital area, where blood return is impaired. Excessive fatigue in men leads to an increase in acidic substances in the blood and a higher concentration of blood toxins. If metabolism is impaired, these toxins can adversely stimulate the prostate, leading to inflammation, edema, or hyperplasia. I once treated a 30-year-old manual laborer who came to see me for premature ejaculation. During my consultation, I asked if he experienced any incomplete urination or discomfort in the perineum, to which he replied no. In fact, some men with prostatitis do not exhibit obvious symptoms. An ultrasound examination revealed a prostate edema measuring 5.2 x 3.4 mm; a prostate fluid test showed 7-10 white blood cells per field of view, confirming that he indeed had prostatitis. Prostatitis generally leads to premature ejaculation because the prostate acts as a valve controlling ejaculation. If this valve becomes inflamed, it becomes oversensitive, leading to uncontrollable ejaculation. Hypersensitivity is essentially a lowered threshold for sexual arousal and stimulation. Therefore, treating premature ejaculation requires first treating prostatitis. His condition was closely related to overwork, so I prescribed him traditional Chinese medicine to reduce inflammation and advised him to reduce his workload and get plenty of rest. After treatment and care, his prostatitis and premature ejaculation gradually healed.

**Third point to note: Avoid cold and damp environments and take precautions against moisture.**

The prostate prefers warmth and dislikes cold, which is related to its location. Located below the perineum, it's relatively safe when standing, protected by the legs. However, when sitting, it's in direct contact with a cold seat and lacks a layer of fat for protection, making it highly susceptible to cold drafts. Working outdoors or sitting for long periods in winter and spring can cause the prostate to become chilled, leading to sluggish blood circulation, congestion, and inflammation, potentially resulting in prostatitis, edema, or enlargement. Therefore, men should avoid exposing their genitals to cold. In northern regions during winter, men should wear cotton-padded or woolen trousers, and in spring, they shouldn't remove their winter clothing too early; keeping warm is beneficial for prostate health. I once treated a patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). He said that one afternoon, while playing cards at a crossroads, he was initially just watching when an elderly man walked by. The other three players asked him to join in, and unable to refuse, he sat down on a brick and started playing. Before he knew it, he had been playing for two hours. He felt a chill running down his lower body, and soon felt an urge to urinate. He went to the toilet before even going home, but after standing there for a long time, he could only manage to squeeze out a few drops of urine. Back home, he had to go to the toilet frequently, but he still couldn't urinate by evening. Later, his children took him to the hospital and inserted a catheter, but even after the catheter was removed a few days later, he still couldn't urinate. It wasn't until he came to our hospital and took some traditional Chinese medicine that his benign prostatic hyperplasia was relieved. His illness was caused by that cold brick. After recovering, his son bought him a folding chair to carry with him, and he never dared to sit on the brick again when playing cards on the street.

**Fourth point to note: Keep the vulva clean daily.**

One of the pathogenic factors of prostate disease is microbial infection, such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, which can all cause chronic infectious inflammation. The incidence rate is twice as high in married men as in unmarried men, and the bacteria in the prostate are often the same as those in the woman's vagina. In addition, infections of the reproductive and urinary systems can also affect the prostate. Men are often careless in their daily lives and neglect personal hygiene. About 80%–90% of women consistently wash their genitals daily, while only 30%–40% of men do. In fact, this simple daily effort can protect the prostate from bacteria and inflammation, keeping this delicate and vulnerable organ healthy. It is especially important to note that both men and women should wash their genitals after sexual intercourse to avoid cross-infection and maintain genital cleanliness.

**Fifth point to note: Avoid excessive consumption of spicy and rich foods.**

Spicy and fatty foods refer to numbing and spicy foods such as chili peppers, onions, garlic, black pepper, and Sichuan peppercorns, as well as foods high in fat and sugar. For prostate health, it's important to avoid high-fat meats, fried foods, and cream. The primary goal is to lower cholesterol. Cholesterol is converted into testosterone in the body, and high levels of cholesterol can be detected in swollen prostate tissue. Lowering blood cholesterol levels to 200 mg/100 ml or less can significantly improve clinical symptoms, even without a change in prostate volume. Furthermore, dietary restrictions should be maintained, limiting daily intake to no more than 85 grams of meat, fish, and poultry.

Spicy foods can also irritate the prostate, making it prone to congestion and inflammation. It's important to eat foods rich in protein, calcium, and various vitamins, such as chicken, fish, rabbit meat, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Pay particular attention to fiber-rich vegetables to promote smooth bowel movements and prevent prostate diseases. A high intake of vegetables is especially important. Vegetarians generally have lower levels of male hormones, and the incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia is generally lower among people who consume large amounts of vegetables. Tomatoes are particularly recommended, as lycopene has an inhibitory effect on prostate cancer cells; the higher the lycopene level in the blood, the lower the risk of prostate cancer.

To maintain prostate health, men should also consume sufficient zinc. Men with prostate problems generally have low zinc levels, and their daily zinc intake should not be less than 15 micrograms. Taking zinc supplements or consuming zinc-rich foods, such as seafood and oysters, can help alleviate symptoms. Oatmeal, bran, milk, peanuts, and nuts are also rich in zinc.

**Sixth point to note: Abstain from extramarital sex.**

This point is specifically about prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is a disease that men in their early fifties are very likely to get. The chance of men getting prostate cancer is 1 in 8, and the mortality rate is 1 in 20. It is the second leading cause of death among cancers.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that the more heterosexual partners a man has in his lifetime, the greater his risk of developing prostate cancer. The researchers compared 753 prostate cancer patients aged 40-64 with 703 healthy individuals of the same age. The results showed that men with two or more heterosexual partners had a higher risk of prostate cancer compared to men with only one. Men with three, four, or more heterosexual partners in their lifetime had an even greater risk. The reasons for prostate cancer include: firstly, having multiple sexual partners increases the risk of viral and bacterial infections, making it difficult to maintain prostate hygiene; secondly, excessive congestion and fatigue of the prostate can weaken its immune function; and thirdly, excessive ejaculation leads to greater zinc depletion, making it difficult to maintain normal prostate function.

**Seventh point to note: Drink plenty of water and maintain regular bowel movements.**

Some people no longer drink plain water, replacing it with beer, soft drinks, coffee, and strong tea in offices, homes, and social settings. However, for prostate health, the best drink is plain water. Plain water helps flush the urethra, helps expel prostate secretions, and reduces irritation symptoms; other drinks cannot achieve the same effect. Adequate water intake also balances the body's internal and external cellular environment, maintains proper bladder fullness and normal humidity in the large intestine, thus ensuring smooth bowel movements. A normal daily water intake for an adult male is 2500 ml, approximately 8 large glasses.

**Eighth point to note: Prevent infection and eliminate inflammation**

Preventing infection isn't just about preventing infections of the prostate itself; infections in other parts of the body and organs can also affect the prostate and cause inflammation. Because the prostate is a particularly delicate organ, often referred to as the "Lin Daiyu" of the male body, it's susceptible to inflammation and congestion wherever it's located. Therefore, men should pay special attention to eliminating all infections and shouldn't assume they're healthy and careless. When you develop prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or prostate cancer, the underlying cause could very well be untreated, frequent toothaches.