Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a chemical protein produced by the normal as well as malignant cells of the prostate gland. Higher PSA levels may raise the chances of prostate cancer, a noncancerous ailment such as prostatitis or an enlarged prostate.
In most cases, men with PSA levels below 4 ng/mL (nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood) bear a minimum risk of prostate cancer. Also, men diagnosed with prostate cancer usually have PSA levels higher than four. However, this is not an established fact and cancer can occur at any PSA level.
Understanding the PSA Levels Chart
Usually, a lot of experts consider PSA levels under 4 ng/mL to be normal. However, owing to some modern conclusions, a lot of experts now recommend dropping the cutoff levels to less than 2.5 or 3 ng/mL as a limit for normal values, particularly in the case of young patients. It is because younger patients have smaller prostates and consequently lower PSA values. Therefore, PSA levels greater than 2.5 ng/mL can be a reason for apprehension. To determine if you conform to the normal PSA levels age chart, a PSA test is conducted.
What is a PSA Test?
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the PSA levels in a person’s blood. It is conducted for detecting prostate cancer and for monitoring its treatment. PSA is only produced by the male prostate gland. In rare cases, it is found in some breast tissues in women. Hence, prostate cancer is mostly found in men. PSA is released into the semen, where it serves to liquefy the semen after ejaculation. Most of this PSA is ejected from the body via semen, but a very small amount of it enters the bloodstream. So normally, PSA is found in small quantity in the blood.
Normal PSA Levels Age Chart
As per the PSA levels chart, the normal range tends to increase with age. Higher PSA levels generally serve as the first indication of prostate cancer. After the blood test analysis, the resulting levels show much of the chemical is being produced by the body and the probability of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
As per the PSA levels chart, the age-specific reference ranges for PSA are as follows:
- 40 to 49 years
0 to 2.0 ng/mL in Asian Americans and 0 to 2.0 ng/mL in African Americans. - 50 to 59 years
0 to 3.0 ng/mL in Asian Americans and 0 to 4.0 ng/mL in African Americans. - 60 to 69 years
0 to 4.0 ng/mL in Asian Americans and 0 to 4.5 ng/mL in African Americans. - 70 to 79 years
0 to 5.0 ng/mL in Asian Americans and 0 to 5.5 ng/mL in African Americans.
This PSA Levels Chart helps in understanding and determining the diagnosis of your PSA test. However, it is important to note that higher results do not necessarily mean you have prostate cancer. It just indicates a greater risk of developing it.
-
3 popular models from the Samsung Galaxy mobile series
Read moreSamsung has been one of most popular smartphone companies. The brand offers some of the best phones, tablets, and other gadgets from time to time. The Samsung Galaxy series is one such set of amazing smartphones from Samsung that has taken over the cell phone market.
Here are a few of the top models of the Samsung Galaxy mobile series.
- Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus: The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is ideal for those who like a large screen. The phone comes with a 6.2-inch large screen and looks every bit elegant despite the big size of it. What makes the Samsung Galaxy mobile series phone so attractive is that it has a very sleek design. The phone’s large display and super efficient processor are some of the features that make it stand out. It comes with an 8MP front camera and a 12MP rear camera.
- Samsung Galaxy S7: This is another popular smartphone from the Samsung Galaxy mobile series; it has a Super AMOLED like its other S series counterparts. It is worth every buck with its superb display and impressive camera. The phone comes with a 12MP rear camera with dual pixel and a 5MP front camera. It is water resistant and offers an expandable memory slot of up to 256GB. If you like a curvier phone, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge from the Samsung Galaxy mobile series offers all the features of the S7 but with a curvier design.
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge: The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge offers an efficient performance with the Samsung Exynos® 7420 Octa-core 64-bit processor. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge with 32GB memory and 5.1-inch display make it one of the best phones for entertainment. The phone comes with a brilliant 16 MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera.
These are just a few of models from the S series; you can explore the rest of them to find out which one best suits your needs.
-
What Are the Causes of Blood in Urine
Read moreBlood in the urine which is medically known as hematuria can be either microscopic (when the blood is not visible) or gross (when the blood is visible). It can come from kidneys, bladder, ureters or urethra. It is always advisable to seek a healthcare professional’s medical guidance even if you are have found blood in your urine with no pain so that you can know the actual reasons behind hematuria. Also, it will help you to get the necessary treatment and avoid further issues. Read on to know the causes of hematuria (blood in the urine)along with the necessary treatments.
Causes of hematuria (blood in the urine)
Do not immediately get panic-stricken if you have spotted blood in your urine. It does not necessarily indicate you have severe kidney disease. It can happen due to some of the following common causes.- Strenuous exercise
- Menstruation
- Sexual activity
- Injury
- Any infection like UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
Other than all the aforementioned reasons, following are some serious issues that can cause hematuria.
- Bladder or kidney cancer
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Swelling or irritation in the kidneys, prostate (in the case of men), other parts of the urinary tract
- Sickle cell disease is also a cause of hematuria (blood in the urine)
Symptoms of hematuria (blood in the urine)
Red, pink, tea-colored, or brownish-red urine is one common hematuria (blood in the urine) symptom. Other symptoms may include a pain while urinating, weakness, body swelling, high blood pressure, etc. Sometimes, it is associated with a fever as well. The symptoms may vary depending on the actual causes of hematuria (blood in urine).How is it treated?
You will be able to get the best treatment only when the underlying reason causing blood in the urine is found. If you are not diagnosed with a serious condition causing it, do not panic. It is also possible that you might not feel any pain when you suffer from hematuria (blood in the urine).However, the healthcare expert may ask you to undergo urine testing along with blood pressure checking. Depending on the reports of this testing, your doctor will decide whether you need to do more tests or you can start with the treatment process.
So, if you notice blood in your urine, it is always advisable to consult a medical expert at the earliest. Also, a regular health checkup irrespective of the age is recommended to stay fit and healthy and avoiding problems like hematuria.