Prostate Enlargement BPH
BPH or Benign Prostatic hyperplasia is the medical condition in which the prostate in males swell up and the flow of urine is limited, which occurs due to the multiplication of cells of the prostate. This medical condition is often seen in men above 50 years of age. Although swelling of the gland is considered a part of the natural aging process. The prostate is a small muscular gland that surrounds the male urethra and is part of the male reproductive system. The gland is also responsible for the development of the majority of the fluid contained in semen. Due to swelling, several problems arise with complications and symptoms which can be treated.
Symptoms:
Few common symptoms of BPH, or prostate enlargement which require due attention, are as follows:
- Pain while urinating
- Blood in urine
- Incomplete bladder emptying
- Slowed/ delayed urination and weak urinary system
- Leakage of urine or incontinence
- Sudden urge to urinate with the requirement of strain while urinating
- Dribbling at the end of urination
- The requirement to urinate more than twice per night or nocturia
- Hard to start urinating
BPH is different from prostate cancer and most importantly doesn’t increment the risk of cancer. Sometimes, patients having slightly enlarged prostate suffer major symptoms, while some people having very enlarged prostates suffer minor symptoms. These symptoms are often observed to stabilize and improve over time in patients.
Causes:
Following are the conditions lead to the development of symptoms, which are similar to those emerging when the patient suffers from BPH:
- UTI’s or Urinary Tract Infection
- Stones in bladder or kidney
- Prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate
- Bladder cancer or prostate cancer
- Urethral stricture or narrowing of the urethra
- Issues with nerves that control bladder
- Previous surgery scarring in the bladder neck
Although enlargement of the bladder after the age of 50 years is a natural process, complications aren’t. People who are more than 80 years of age, start developing these symptoms as they turn 50. As per medical resources, the root cause of the disease is yet unknown. Some studies have shown that changes in the sex hormones of males, which are a result of aging, are somewhat related to it. Those people whose parents have histories of prostate problems are more prone to develop BPH. Interestingly, those men who have their testicles removed at a young age are not likely to develop BPH.
Treatment:
It has been observed by medical resources that primarily doctors recommend self-care, failing which medical treatments are recommended. The nature of the recommended treatment is entirely dependent upon the age and general health of the patient. Some of these medical treatments widely recommended by doctors in the world are as follows:
- Antibiotics: In the case of chronic inflammation of the prostate due to bacterial prostatitis antibiotics are recommended by doctors for improving symptoms of BPH.
- Alpha-1 blockers: These medications recommended by physicians after self-care fails, help in relaxation of the bladder and prostate muscles which makes urination easier for patients. Some of these drugs are doxazosin, prazosin, alfuzosin, terazosin, tamsulosin.
- Hormone reduction medicines: In some cases, it has been observed that doctors recommend dutasteride and finasteride to the BPH patients to reduce the level of hormones produced due to the prostate, i.e. testosterone. Some side-effects of the medication are impotence and decreased sex drive.
- Inpatient procedures: These procedures are recommended in situations where the patient is suffering from the following conditions: kidney failure, bladder stones, incontinence, blood episodes in urine, etc.
