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As a man, your prostate is one of the most important organs in the body. So, when things go wrong, it can be concerning and lead many men to fear for their health. Prostate cancer is a health issue more guys need to be aware of because of the impact it can have on people’s lives.

The best way to keep tabs on your prostate is to analyse the PSA levels in your blood. PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein secreted by cells in the gland that has many functions, including liquidising semen. Of course, numbers don’t mean much without context, so please continue reading if you want to learn more about healthy levels of PSA.

Normal PSA Levels

It’s worth noting that there isn’t a one-rule-fits-all policy regarding the prostate, because every individual is different. Therefore, you probably won’t have the same number as other men in your family, yet that doesn’t mean you require treatment.

However, guys who suffer from prostate cancer are known to have higher levels of PSA in the blood, which is why a high rate is worth treating with caution. The following are widely considered to be safe:

– 0 to 2.5 ng/mL

– 2.6 to 4 ng/mL

– 4 to 10 ng/mL

But just because your levels fall into one of these categories doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods. For instance, 2.6 to 4 nanograms per millilitre mean most doctors would recommend a consultation to talk about risk factors affecting PSA. 4 to 10 ng/mL, on the other hand, means there’s a 25% chance you might have or contract prostate cancer… although it also means there’s a 75% chance you won’t.

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What’s an Unhealthy PSA Level?

10 ng/mL is dangerous, since 50% of men with a PSA rating of 10 or above will deal with prostate cancer. That’s a flip of a coin. And the higher the levels rise over 10, the greater the likelihood of dealing with prostate cancer at some point in your life.

How to Tell If Your Levels Are High

A PSA test will tell your doctor everything they need to know regarding whether you require further tests. There are two options. The first is standard practice and involves your physician giving you a rectal exam to feel for irregularities. Although there are no specific numbers involved, a doctor can tell from experience how a prostate should feel.

A more scientific and less-invasive test is to opt for prostate-specific antigen function treatment that highlights the actual levels of PSA in your blood. Doctors do this by performing blood tests and evaluating the results using the same numbered categories outlined above.

Can High PSA Levels Mean Anything Else?

Yes. While cancer is the first thing that springs to mind, several different scenarios can explain high levels of prostate-specific antigen. A common one is a scar-tissue on the prostate that forms as the organ ages. This happens often because it’s a natural process that is tough to eliminate entirely since the prostate can grow larger over time.

It’s not worth panicking until you can see the full picture. However, it is essential to keep on top of your prostate by watching out for the warning signs and consulting a physician if there are any problems. All it takes is a selection of basic examinations to put your mind at ease.

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