Things to Know For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients

Does every BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) patient really know what he should be paying attention to? Why is it common for older males to become affected with this disease? 

BPH is usually a common disease in older men. Because different people have different health problems, and each experience is very different, men who are affected with BPH should treat any disease as soon as possible. BPH patients should pay attention to their everyday lifestyle habits, as it will be beneficial to their health and helpful in treatment. 

It is usually suggested that BPH patients give up alcohol, as drinking can make men develop Uroschesis, the congestion and swelling of the prostate gland and bladder. 

Secondly, exercise is recommended for BPH patients, but also make sure they are getting plenty of rest, and to wear comfortable clothes to protect against cold weather. Cold weather can make the signs of BPH more severe.

Thirdly, benign prostatic hyperplasia patients should stay away from spicy foods, which can contribute to congestion. Constipation, along with hemorrhoids, may be aggravated by spicy foods as well, and can cause problems with urination. 

Men are urged to quit the bad practice of holding urine, and to urinate as soon as possible, when the need arises. Holding urine will always weaken the detrusor muscle of the bladder, creating problems with urination as well as Uroschesis. It's vital for men to be able to urinate in a timely fashion.

To mitigate BPH, men should avoid sitting for long periods. Long periods of sitting can create hemorrhoids and congestion in the perineum. Frequent moving, standing, and walking can prevent symptoms from developing quickly and getting worse. It is also suggested that Men boost their water intake; dehydration can cause the urinary tract to not flush out all toxins. 

Actual treatments for BPH are varied, but some are more effective than others. Surgery is the most extreme and only recommended as a last resort, since the very sensitive nerve endings in this region can become damaged, affecting a man's ability to achieve an erection. Drugs are also not often recommended, due to potential side effects. Generally, the most common treatments are heat treatment on the prostate, to lessen its size, as well as prostate massage.

A Short Overview of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Non-cancerous prostatic hyperplasia, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a histologic diagnosis seen as a proliferation of the cellular elements of the prostate. Chronic bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), which has similar symptoms to BPH, may cause urinary blockage, renal deficiency, recurrent urinary infections, bladder calculi and gross hematuria.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a common condition that affects older adult men. The prostate is a small gland located only within men, located between the penis and bladder. In the event the prostate becomes enlarged, it can put pressure on the bladder and urethra, the tube through which urine is released. BPH is generally not a critical threat to health.

The root cause of BPH is not clear. Research has shown testosterone, the male hormone, or dihydrotestosterone, a chemical produced when testosterone stops working on the man's body, may be responsible for prostate growth.

Diagnosis
Your medical provider can check the size of your prostate gland by placing a gloved finger inside your rectum and feeling the rear wall of the prostate. There are other tests your physician can run to test your prostate health:

Urinary Flow Test – The doctor can use a device that measures urine flow.
Intravenous pyelography – The physician can inject a dye to make urine flow visible via X-ray.
Trans-Rectal ultrasound – The physician can insert an ultrasound probe in the rectum of the patient, to get an image of the prostate gland.

Treatment of BPH depends on age, severity of symptoms, and overall health. Symptoms may come and go, so it is important to get checked up regularly to monitor your health. There are numerous ways to successfully take care of BPH, including some simple lifestyle changes and several herbs and medicines. If none of these treatments work, and the symptoms severe enough, there are also various kinds of surgery available to treat the problem.

The most effective Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia treatment, other than medication, is to simply change your lifestyle:

Urinate as often as possible
Go to the washroom often, even if you do not need to urinate
Avoid alcohol or caffeine, especially after dinner
Avoid drinking liquids within two hours before going to sleep
Avoid drinking a large amount of fluid at once; instead drink smaller amounts over time
Exercise daily
Strengthen your pelvic floor with specific exercises daily
Diminish Stress

Prostate enlargement can be quite common as men age -- symptoms usually develop around age 50 - 60. By age 85, men possess a 90% chance of having urinary complications caused by BPH. It’s important to note that BPH is not cancer; it will also not put an individual at increased risk for developing prostate melanoma.