As mentioned before, a higher PSA level doesn’t always indicate signs of prostate cancer. A wide array of other medical conditions can be held accountable for the abrupt increase of PSA levels in your bloodstream. Let’s check out each of these conditions in detail in this segment:
-
Age
According to experienced medical practitioners, PSA levels are higher in folks above the age group of 50 compared to the younger generation. Your ethnicity, too, plays a role in identifying the possible PSA levels. Urologists often adjust the PSA level based on your age.
For example, if you’re between the 35-45 age group, a PSA level of 4 is considered elevated; however, if you’re a senior citizen, a PSA level of 4 is considered normal.
If you’ve undertaken the PSA test, post evaluating your test results, your doctor may also take into consideration other factors like your age, ethnicity, etc., and suggest if you need more testing or not.
-
Enlarged Size of Prostate Gland (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
If you’re frequently urinating at night or facing challenges in starting to urinate, chances are that you suffer from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). It’s a medical condition wherein your prostate gland gets enlarged, elevating your PSA levels automatically. Aging and hormonal factors are common triggering points for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
BPH is common in older folks, and doctors often detect it using a digital rectal exam (DRE) and consider it while looking at your PSA test results.
-
Prostatitis
A painful medical condition wherein the prostate gland and its surrounding area experience inflammation. It is the most common urinary tract problem in folks below 50 years of age, triggered mostly by bacterial infection.
If you show any signs of prostatitis like fever, difficulty, pain during urination, unexpected pressure in your rectum, etc., your PSA level will automatically come on the higher side.
-
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Any signs of infection in your urinary tract can make the prostate gland produce more amounts of PSA. In addition, in some cases, if you undertake a medical procedure involving your urethra/bladder, it can unnecessarily irritate your prostate, which may create more PSA, thus increasing your PSA level.
-
Excessive Exertion & Physical Workout
If you’re a fitness enthusiast and indulge in heavy physical workouts constantly, it can stimulate your prostate gland, releasing more PSA. According to medical professionals, performing vigorous exercises (like cycling) and performing the digital rectal exam (DRE) can also elevate your PSA levels. In cases where you’re undertaking both the DRE and PSA test simultaneously, doctors recommend taking the blood for PSA first to be safer.