Having an enlarged prostate was once thought to be the result of aging, genetics and hormones, but that view is changing. The new view is that benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), another term for prostate enlargement, may be somewhat preventable.
A recent study showed that, in aging men, physical activity can maintain prostate health and reduce the risk of developing BPH by up to 25%, compared to those who are sedentary. Light activity had some effect, but the strongest prostate protection came from regular moderate-to-vigorous activity.
Researchers think it’s cardiovascular fitness that makes the difference, by reducing body-wide inflammation. Men who have metabolic syndrome or heart disease are more likely to have BPH, as are those who suffer from erectile dysfunction. All three problems are associated with inflammation. And regular exercise helps prevent all three, in part by reducing the abdominal fat that feeds inflammation.
The anti-aging benefits of exercise can improve almost every aspect of health, and as this study shows, these benefits may be especially relevant to inflammation control and prostate health. So lace up your walking shoes, dust off your bike — whatever form of exercise you find most appealing—to walk away from the inflammation-related problems of aging.
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