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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
The prostate has two main periods of growth.
In male early puberty, it doubles in size. Then, around age 25, the prostate begins to grow again and still
grows most of a man’s life.
When the gland becomes very enlarged the man gets benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHH). It may compress the urethra
which courses through the center of the prostate. In this condition urine goes slow from the bladder through the urethra to the outside.
In many cases BHP can cause urine retention (urine accumulation in the bladder) and the need for frequent urination.
When is severe enough, BHP may complete block of the urethra which can damage the kidneys.
At what age is BHP likely?
BPH occurs more often in the West countries compared to Japan and China, and may be more common among blacks.
Based on study of a representative sample of men the estimations for the Untied States are:
- Over 30% of men in their 50s- and 46% of men in their 70s experience moderate to severe BPH.
- Over half men who have had their bladder function tested, are unable to fully empty their bladder or urinary flow have diminished.
- More than one in three Caucasian men over the age of 50 may have some symptomatic BPH.
In European men, it has been estimated that 24% aged 50-59 and 40% aged 70-79 have symptoms of BPH.
The symptoms of BPH
The symptoms are the consquences of compressing the tube (urethra) that goes from the bladder to the penis
- difficulty initiating urination, long wait for the stream of urine to begin
- weak, poorly and decreased force of the urinary stream
- straining to urinate
- dribbling after urination has finished
- feeling that the bladder is not quite empty
- retention complete inability to urinate
- urination occurs a second time within two hours of the previous one
How dangerous is BPH?
First of all you must know that BHP is not a type of cancer. There are men with both prostate cancer and BHP.
BPH is extremely common. With an adequate health care any man with BHP can have a long and happy live. If left untreated, it may cause serious injury and even death.
Mortality from BPH is most commonly related to kidney failure, infection, and complications of surgery.
Treatment for BPH:
Despite of evidency that half of all men over 50 develop symptoms of BPH, only 10% need medical or surgical intervention.
A doctor usually can detect an enlarged prostate by rectal exam. The doctor also may examine the urethra, prostate,
and bladder using a cytoscope, an instrument that is inserted through the penis.
Having BHP is very uncomfortable but not a tragedy. There is effective tratment function of your age, overall health, extent of the disease,
and medical history. You may have opinions or preferences according to your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Treatment for BPH may include
dietary factors
Avoiding or decreasing the intake of alcohol, coffee, and other fluids, particularly after dinner, is often helpful.
Avoid diet high in zinc, butter, and margarine, and eat lots of fruits. Although this is not yet proven, intake of soy and drinking green tea may benefit the prostate
medications that worsen symptoms
You should consult your physician. He will decide what is best for you.
Kegel exercises
Physicians recommend practicing this exercise while urinating in order to isolate the specific muscle: contract the
muscle until the flow of urine decreases or stops, and then release the muscle. It is recommended that men with BPH repeat five to 15 contractions,
holding each for 10 seconds, three to five times a day
nonsurgical treatments
They may include investigative procedures in order to widen narrowed portion of the urethra or
to destroy excess prostate tissue. In many cases macrowave heat is used.
surgical treatments
Surgical treatment aims to remove only the enlarged tissue that is pressing against the urethra. It varies from
an open surgery when prostate is very much enlarged, to no external incision, including laser technology.
NOTE: The Information on this site is provided for information only, and is not meant to substitute for
the advice of your own physician or other medical professional.
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