Is Stress Affecting Your Prostate? Understanding the Link & How to Protect Your Health

If you’re suffering simultaneously from anxiety and the symptoms of BPH (an enlarged prostate), you may be wondering whether the two conditions are linked in some way. In other words, can stress affect prostate health?

While stress is often associated with issues like heart disease, high blood pressure and mental health issues, growing evidence suggests it could also play a role in prostate health – particularly, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis.

Evidence suggests that stress may aggravate an enlarged prostate and on the flip side, dealing with BPH symptoms can be incredibly stressful on its own. Some men report that their BPH symptoms worsen during periods of high stress but it’s unclear whether there is a direct connection or whether stress is making existing conditions feel worse. Let’s uncover what science has to say about stress and the prostate and what men can do to relieve their stress and improve their wellbeing.

How stress may affect prostate health

Stress and the prostate have a complex relationship but researchers have identified various ways that chronic stress could contribute or worsen BPH symptoms.

     1. Stress can trigger inflammation

The body responds to constant feelings of stress and anxiety by releasing high levels of cortisol – its primary stress hormone. This, in turn, leads to inflammation throughout the body’s system, including the prostate gland. A report published by the Aging Journal, suggests this inflammation may play a key role in the development of BPH, particularly in men with metabolic syndrome.

2. Pelvic tension

When the body is under stress it activates the fight or flight response causing tension in the pelvic floor muscles supporting both the bladder and the prostate. Over time, chronic pelvic tension can irritate the prostate and surrounding nerves, potentially contributing to symptoms like urinary urgency, pain, and discomfort. These symptoms can be particularly bothersome and could worsen your anxiety.

3. Stress can aggravate urinary symptoms

Stress has also been linked to an increase in overactive bladder symptoms which often overlap with BPH symptoms. According to a 2009 Harvard study, men reporting recent high levels of stress found it harder to completely empty their bladders than men who had not experienced recent stress.

4. Weakened immune system and higher risk of infections

With advancing age, the immune system often weakens making men more likely to develop urinary tract infections and prostatitis. These infections can cause increased inflammation of the prostate, worsening urinary symptoms and discomfort.

Breaking the cycle: How anxiety and prostate symptoms feed each other

Experiencing prostate problems can naturally cause you to feel concerned about your health. Will your condition get worse?  How will it affect your quality of life? Could it develop into something more serious like prostate cancer?

This creates a loop where mental distress worsens physical discomfort, which, in turn, fuels further anxiety. Learning to manage stress effectively can help break this cycle and improve both your mental well-being and prostate health.

How to reduce stress and improve prostate health

Fortunately, there are several science-backed ways to reduce stress and support prostate health:

1. Practice stress reduction techniques

• Meditation and mindfulness: Studies show that mindfulness meditation can lower cortisol levels and improve symptoms of chronic pelvic pain and prostatitis.
• Progressive floor muscle training: Pelvic floor exercises have been shown to relieve pelvic tension and improve urinary symptoms in men with BPH
• Deep breathing exercises: Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing help relax the pelvic floor muscles and reduce tension.

2. Take regular exercise

Several studies have shown that regular exercise reduces stress and promotes better urinary function. We suggest taking around 30 minutes of moderate exercise like swimming, brisk walking or cycling daily.  Another Harvard study reports 3 ways that exercise can help the prostate.

3. Optimize your diet for prostate health

The foods you eat and beverages you consume can significantly affect your prostate both in a good and bad way.

Certain foods, for example, can help reduce inflammation and support prostate health.

Try increasing your intake of:

Tomatoes – These fruits are rich in lycopene which studies have shown to support prostate health.

Green tea – Contains anti-inflammatory antioxidants.

Salmon and walnuts – High in Omega-3 fatty acids.

While others can aggravate your symptoms.

Consider limiting your intake of the following:

Processed foods and red meat – These may increase inflammation.

Caffeine and alcohol – These can irritate the bladder and worsen urinary symptoms.

4. Prioritize sleep

Insufficient sleep can increase the risk of BHP symptoms in middle-aged and elderly men according to BMC Public Health. Getting sufficient quality sleep is essential both for your mental and physical health. Try to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep to help regulate hormones and reduce inflammation.

5. Seek professional help when necessary

If your BPH symptoms are getting you down and affecting your quality of life, it’s important to consider treatment options. While lifestyle changes and medication can help, prostate artery embolization (PAE) is an innovative, minimally invasive procedure that allows you to shrink your prostate and alleviate troublesome urinary issues without major surgery. Learn more about PAE.

Final thoughts – Managing stress for a healthier prostate

While stress may not actually cause prostate conditions, plenty of evidence points to it worsening BHP symptoms and increasing inflammation. Taking steps to lower stress through meditation, exercise, and dietary changes, can significantly improve your mental wellbeing and prostate health.

If you’re struggling with worsening BPH symptoms, don’t wait to seek help. At Mint STL, our team specializes in cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatments like prostate artery embolization (PAE) to help men reclaim their quality of life.

Contact Mint STL today to learn how we can help you manage BPH symptoms and improve your prostate health or use our online booking system to request an appointment.