enlarged prostate treatment

Enlarged Prostate Treatment

The following article will talk about the enlarged prostate treatment methods and help you understand the condition better.

The prostate gland is an important male organ and has a major effect on a man's health. This is because it is responsible for producing semen and secreting the fluid that helps carry the sperm from the testicles to the penis during ejaculation. Situated between the urethra and the rectum, and about the size and shape of a walnut, there are some other functions that the prostate gland is responsible for as well. Prostate enlargement is quite a common phenomenon among aging males (above 40) and is seen to be one of the foremost conditions that can affect them. An enlarged prostate is often referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the following article, we will be looking into some of the enlarged prostate treatment forms and what they mean. Symptoms Since the prostate gland is situated above the urethra, its enlargement causes a lot of pressure on the urethra (the passageway through which urine flows) and that is why prostate enlargement is directly connected to the possibility of urinary problems. Here are some of the symptoms:
  • Inability to urinate due to urine retention.
  • Urine dribbling at the end of the flow.
  • Incomplete emptying of the bladder.
  • Varied degrees of pain while urinating―which could be an indication of an infection.
  • Blood in urine. This is also an indication of an infection.
  • Having to expend too much energy while urinating.
  • A weakened urine system.
  • Having to urinate 2-3 times during the night.
  • Sudden and strong urge to urinate.
  • Urinary stream that is inconsistent. It starts and then stops just as suddenly.
  • Urinating only minutes after the last time.
  • Difficulty in starting to urinate.
All these factors can lead to several urinary infections and cause problems for the prostate health. Causes An enlarged prostate will come about due to the rapid multiplication of cells in the center of the prostate and lead to the symptoms that were mentioned above. But why do these cells grow and what causes an enlarged prostate? This has been traced to two main reasons―aging and hormonal changes. Prostate enlargement is mainly caused due to aging in men. With aging, there are hormonal changes in the estrogen, dihydrotestosterone [DHT] and testosterone levels, which can cause the multiplication of the cells and lead to enlargement, making the treatment for the same imperative. Hormonal changes are taken as one of the main reasons for this because it has been observed that men who have been castrated, do not develop BPH. The other factors that are known to affect this condition are the growth factors and other cell signaling pathways. Treatment Along with going on a specialized diet, there are certain preventive measures that can be taken―these include:
  • Avoid the consumption of coffee and other stimulants before bedtime.
  • Space out your fluid drinking and avoid consuming too many liquids at once. That will put a lot of pressure on the urethra.
  • Try to avoid cold weather, since that will worsen the pain.
  • Exercise as much as you can, especially Kegel exercises. These will strengthen the pelvic muscles.
  • Reduce the stress in your life. This has a definite effect on your health.
  • Avoid taking over-the-counter medications for cold and sinus that contain decongestants and antihistamines. These will increase BPH symptoms in your body.
There are several tests which are done to determine the extent of the problem and learn what is causing it. By means of this, a complete analysis of the urinary system is done to check the rate of urine left behind, the pressure that the bladder faces, to check for possible infections, to rule out the scope of prostate cancer or any other diseases and several others. This makes the course of treatment clear. After it is determined what is causing the enlarged prostate, then along with using a combination of the preventive measures mentioned above, there are certain medication forms that are administered as well. These would include antibiotics, alpha 1 blockers, finasteride, and dutasteride (depending on the severity and type of condition). There are also certain herbal remedies like the saw palmetto herb that may be prescribed. There is also the option of surgery used as a treatment for enlarged prostate. It is used to correct the malfunctioning and disorders. These surgeries would include―Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Simple prostatectomy, and Transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) among others. Though an enlarged prostate is one of the most common diseases that can affect a man, most of the time, it gets corrected by itself. However, there are times when there needs to be corrective measures administered and with the help of this article you now know what those options are. So, keep a look out and don't neglect your health.

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