Top 10 Facts to Cure Enlarged Prostate – A Comprehensive Study on Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Or BPH
Prostate problem is faced around the world by almost 90 percent of men population. Prostate enlargement can generate certain complications with urination which many men find annoying. Usually, enlarged prostate causes problems like trouble in emptying the bladder, decreased stream of urine, frequent urge to pass urine, etc.
Enlarged prostate also occurs due to fluctuations in the hormone levels as a man gets older. A bit enlargement of the prostate with the age is the normal part of the aging process.
It is not at all dangerous. Many men want to improve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate to minimize the discomforts it causes. This article will tell you about a comprehensive study on benign prostate hyperplasia or BPH and facts to cure enlarged prostate.
Table of Contents
What Is Prostate Gland?
The prostate is a small gland in men that helps make semen. Located just below the bladder in front of the rectum, it wraps around the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body.
It tends to grow larger as you get older. If your prostate gets too large, it can cause several health issues.
The prostate is a gland that produces some of the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. The prostate surrounds the urethra which is a tube that takes the urine out of the body via the bladder.
The prostate gland is about the size of the walnut. It is a crucial part of a man’s reproductive system.
What Is Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Or BPH?
An enlarged prostate is often called benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). It is not cancer, and most of the time it does not elevates your risk for prostate cancer.
When the prostate enlarges, it puts pressure on the urethra. Thus enlargement of the prostate makes it harder for the men to urinate.
An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown bigger. Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older.
Men suffering from BPH struggle with discomforts in passing urine and tend to heaviness in the bladder. They feel like they need to go again after the urination and also face problems in trying to stop urinating.
BPH is so common that it has been said all men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough.
What Are The Causes For Enlarged Prostate Gland?
The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. Factors linked to aging and changes in the cells of the testicles may have a role in the growth of the gland, as well as testosterone levels.
Men who have had their testicles removed at a young age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop BPH.
Also, if the testicles are removed after a man develops BPH, the prostate begins to shrink in size. However, this is not a standard treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Most of the causes involved for enlarged prostate are –
- Not getting enough sleep
- Lifestyle of a person, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.
- Many times it involves having a lack of social support.
- Men with nerve damage in the lower urinary tract due to surgery or trauma.
- Psychological stress can also increase a man’s chances of developing the condition.
Studies have shown that men who have particularly hectic lifestyles and experience stress are at a greater risk of developing an enlarged prostate.
Some Facts about Prostate Enlargement
Enlarged prostate is common among Indian and American men. Your chance of getting prostate cancer by enlarged prostate can happen due to:
Age: The likelihood of developing an enlarged prostate increases with age. Men after age 50 or older face a greater risk. It occurs in about 1 in 14 men between the ages of 60 and 69.
A small amount of prostate enlargement is present in many men over age 40. More than 90% of men over age 80 have the condition.
Race: Prostate cancer is maximum among African-American men, followed by Indian, Hispanic, and Native-American men. Asian-American men partake at the lowest rates of prostate cancer.
Family history. If your father or brother had prostate cancer, you are more likely to have it, too.
Obesity: obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease that’s more difficult to treat.
No risk factors have been identified, other than having normally-functioning testicles.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of cells in the prostate, the prostate has many functions in the body, including producing seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm, aiding in urine control, and secreting prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
As the abnormal cells grow, they may form a tumor and can attack nearby tissues. While prostate cancer typically grows slowly, it can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
What Are The Symptoms Of Enlarged Prostate Problems?
It is also common to experience difficulty starting the urinary stream and having a weak urinary stream once it starts. People have enlarged prostate face worse at night.
A common urological condition causing nocturia or nocturnal enuresis in men urinating at night, which interrupts sleep. The enlarged prostate can close off the urethra, thus making the bladder contract harder to push out urine.
In its early stages, enlarged prostate may cause no signs or symptoms. When prostate problems are more advanced there is a risk of having prostate cancer, it may cause symptoms. See your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- Strong and sudden urge to urinate
- Want to get up many times during the night to urinate
- Blood in urine or semen
- Declined force in the stream of urine
- Discomfort or burning urination
- Painful ejaculation
- Frequent pain or stiffness in lower back, hips, pelvic or rectal area, or upper thighs
- Dribbling of urine
These symptoms can also be caused by other conditions that aren’t cancer, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. Because of this, it is important to talk with your doctor to discuss your risk factors and determine if you need to be screened.
Does An Enlarged Prostate Affect A Man Sexually?
If you have an enlarged prostate or BPH, you may face familiarity with sexual problems. But there are treatments that can help. Various studies have shown that there may be a link concerning BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and erectile dysfunction (ED).
It’s an intricate layer of physical health, usually noticed in men having enlarged prostate or BPH often get ED.
After 50 once you ejaculate you can experience either pain at the time of ejaculation or pain in and around your penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back.
Now, most of the cases with enlarged prostate lose the urge to have sex because of a regular pain in the genital and pelvic area.
What Are Best Foods for Your Prostate Health
Foods that are rich with antioxidants are extremely beneficial for shrinking the prostate. Green leafy vegetables like cabbage, leaf salad, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok Choy, Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, and kale are especially significant because they are rich in antioxidants.
These foods not only reduce the risk of prostate problems but also they are great for our immunity.
People who take tamarind soup or unripened tamarind sauce also get a lot of benefits for enlarged prostate including BPH and prostate cancer.
Pomegranate juice extract is one more food that considerably reduced the PSA rising level rate. It nearly doubles the time at which PSA level rise.
People who consume onion and garlic regularly gets a lot of benefit because they are sulfur-rich ingredient. Moreover, garlic contains allicin which is responsible for more blood flow works great especially from a risk of BPH.
Foods to Avoid For Enlarged Prostate
Foods that contain processed fat, such as red meat and processed meat or eggs are remarkably unhealthy for enlarged prostate. A diet full with fat, oil, or red meat may be associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Dairy foods are another source of food that must be avoided if you are suffering from enlarged prostate. In a day if you intake large amounts of dairy products it may escalate your risk of emerging prostate cancer.
Smoke and Alcohol consumption on a regular basis accelerates the process of creating enlarged prostate.
Saturated fats such as milk, butter, cheese, ice-cream, etc. are known as stubborn fat creator in the body. Try to consume these saturated fat foods as less as possible in your regular meal.
What Is the Best Treatment for Enlarged Prostate?
Treatment can help shrink the prostate or relax muscles near your prostate to ease symptoms.
If nothing else has worked, your doctor may suggest surgery to help urine flow.
Sometimes radio waves, microwaves, or lasers are used to treat urinary problems caused by BPH. These methods use altered hot temperatures to reduce extra prostate tissue.
Sometimes enlarged prostate usually starts suddenly from a bacterial infection. See your doctor right away if you have fever, chills, or pain in addition to prostate symptoms.
Most cases can be cured with antibiotics. You also may need medication to help with pain or discomfort.
Several surgery options are also available, including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which is considered the gold standard for the treatment of BPH.
However, TURP requires full anesthesia, an overnight hospital stay three to six weeks of recovery time, and is associated with sexual side effects.
What Causes Chronic Prostatitis?
Chronic prostatitis is such a condition where the symptoms that exist or come back forth for several months. It is of two types Bacterial and Non-bacterial. Non-bacterial prostatitis is not caused by bacteria or an infection.
Chronic prostatitis is often a difficult condition to diagnose, as the causes are often unknown. Surprisingly, studies have shown that some causes of chronic prostatitis can often stem from issues that have nothing to do with the prostate.
Pelvic floor disorders are a common cause. Interestingly, it is estimated that 50% of men with chronic prostatitis have some kind of pelvic floor disorder that may be related to chronic tension or stress.
If men continuously tense their pelvic floor muscles, this can lead to chronic pelvic pain. Specialists also suggest that an autoimmune response is often responsible for inflammation of the prostate in chronic prostatitis.
Prostate cancer screening
Many times even person less than age 50 also faced prostate cancer treatment. The best habit is to keep screening regularly from age 55.
Screening tests may include:
Digital rectal examination (DRE): in a digital rectal exam, your doctor inserts a gloved finger into your rectum inside the anus to inspect the enlargement of prostate. They can sense if there are any solid bulges on your prostate gland, which could be tumors.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: this blood test identifies your levels of Antigen, a protein created by the prostate. Men who have enlarged prostate signs, PSA testing along with digital rectal examination can assist doctors to decide the nature of the problem.
Until recently, many doctors encouraged yearly PSA testing for Talk with your doctor about what is best for you. Men beginning at age 50, or even earlier can at high risk of prostate cancer.
Men without symptoms yearly PSA testing is generally not suggested. However, men who have been cured for prostate cancer, the PSA test may be used to see if the cancer has come back.
Diagnosing Prostate Cancer
When pain level gradually increases in havoc and whether you are already having cancerous cells formed in prostate your doctor will ask about your past medical problems and your family’s medical history.
Your doctor also will perform a physical exam. During the exam, your doctor will put a gloved finger into your rectum to examine your prostate to check for:
- The mass, firmness, and surface of the prostate
- Any bulge scattering beyond the prostate
- Any pain caused by touching or pressing on the prostate
Usually, the test I had already mentioned earlier sections like DRE and PSA tests are needed to do. Your blood and urine test along with ultrasound tests also should be done for confirmation about cancer.
PSA levels can be high in men with an enlarged prostate gland or with prostate cancer. You may also need an ultrasound exam that takes computer pictures of the prostate.
If tests show that you have cancer, your doctor will refer you to a specialist (a urologist) for a prostate biopsy. The doctor will take small tissue samples from several areas of the prostate gland to look for cancer cells.
Prevention for Prostate Enlargement
One of the best ways to recognize for enlarged prostate is by SELF-CARE.
For mild symptoms, you can try these things consulting your doctors also.
- Reduce stress. Nervousness and tension can lead to more frequent urination.
- Urinate when you first get the urge. Use the bathroom on a timed schedule, even if you don’t feel a need to urinate.
- Big NO for alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner.
- Avoid drinking a lot of liquid all at once. Spread out fluids during the day.
- Avoid drinking fluids within 2 hours of bedtime.
- Avoid decongestants or antihistamines and sinus medicines. These drugs can increase BPH symptoms.
- Keep warm and exercise regularly. Cold weather and lack of physical activity may worsen symptoms.
What Exercise Is Good For Prostate?
For enlarged prostate there are various exercise and Yoga are there which can help a lot. For extreme situations you have to talk with your doctor, other than that regular exercise and Yoga can help a lot for enlarged prostate and urinal system for patients.
Different Yoga and breathing exercises are also great for enlarged prostate. Yoga not only helps shrinking enlarged prostate but it also beneficial for overall rectum and anus portion of our body. I have written in another post. Please check that.
Various types of kegel exercises can be useful for men with prostate problems or OAB. Kegel exercises can strengthen and train your pelvic floor muscles to help control urination.
Leg exercises such as walking, jogging are good for maintaining a balanced physique for an individual in many ways. Overall physical exercise like swimming, playing tennis, or cycling are also beneficial.
Conclusion
Well, I think I have covered a few important case studies and tried to focus on basic ideas for knowledge on prostate enlargement. Basic idea revolving about awareness. Once you reach at 50 you must be careful about diet and physical exercises and Yoga. Enlarged prostate is quite common but with awareness, we can bring lifestyle changes and slowly cure them. If any point I miss please feel free to comment and share the article with your close ones for whom you care.
Further Reading On Different Topics
Have you enjoyed reading about “Top 10 Facts to Cure Enlarged Prostate – A Comprehensive Study on Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Or BPH”? Also, check various Topics on Yoga and about Steps to Control Porn in young People also. Please check the article Overpopulation in India 2020also. Take a look at our collection of articles about books for life as well as other categories in health & Inspiring Indians Life also. Alternatively, read our article about the top benefits of honey for fighting against coronavirus to increase our stamina, & other interesting ideas for various vegetables in our daily groceries.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1502356/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851713/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3062123/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279204/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5509197/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4497718/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1472850/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK301/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6765372_Benign_Prostatic_Hyperplasia_A_Review_and_Ultrasound_Classification
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331765513_Treatment_options_for_benign_prostate_enlargement
- https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information/further-help/enlarged-prostate/enlarged-prostate-treatment
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-enlargement/
- https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2018-07-09-new-treatement-option-available-for-men-suffering-from-benign-prostatic-
hyperplasia.aspx - https://prostate.org.nz/2014/12/5-steps-better-prostate-health/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/overactive-bladder-exercises-men
- https://www.webmd.com/men/prostate-enlargement-bph/news/20130415/
- https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19540225/prostate-cancer-risks/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/expert-answers/pomegranate-juice/faq-20058204
- https://www.bensnaturalhealth.com/blog/turmeric-cancer/
Author: Yogi