Sunday, March 24, 2024

Is An Enlarged Prostate Serious

Must read

Medications For Enlarged Prostate

Enlarged Prostate – What You Need To Know

There are two main classes of pharmaceuticals that work to alleviate enlarged prostate symptoms: alpha blockers and alpha reductase inhibitors

  • Alpha Blockers. Alpha blockers relax the smooth muscle around the bladder neck and within the urethra.

  • Inhibitors. Inhibitors stop the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to DHT to reduce the prostate’s size, eliminating blockage.

Dont be surprised if your physician prescribes a combination of the two medications, as they have been shown to work more effectively together than alone. The downside is that combination therapy may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects from the medications. Be sure to work with your doctor to assess the benefits and costs before starting on combination therapy.

How Is Enlarged Prostate Diagnosed

The first step is a standard physical exam which often involves a urine analysis and a digital rectal exam, which involves a doctor inserting a finger into the rectum. The physician will assess the size and contour of the prostate and determine if any nodules are present, which may suggest the presence of prostate cancer.

The physician may also assess for tenderness, which can be found when the prostate is inflamed. Tests may be done in the office to assess strength of urine flow or to check for residual urine in the bladder.

Next, doctors may run one or several tests to make an accurate diagnosis. These can include a PSA blood test, urodynamic tests , cystoscopy and transrectal ultrasound .

Prevention From An Enlarged Prostate

Lifestyle changes are not able to completely prevent the enlarged prostate but they can surely good for your prostate. For beginners, a heart-healthy diet or exercise can help you to manage your weight, which is good for your prostate. To reduce the symptoms you can follow these simple steps:

  • Do some exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles
  • Lower the amounts of fluid you intake, especially before you go to bed
  • Pee when you feel the urge because it will be easier on your bladder
  • Limit the amount of caffeine you take in, these can make you pee more

Also Read:

Recommended Reading: Can An Ultrasound Detect Prostate Cancer

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate

An enlarged prostate is the most common cause of urinary problems in men as they get older. Possible symptoms include:

  • a weak flow when you urinate
  • a feeling that your bladder hasnt emptied properly
  • difficulty starting to urinate
  • dribbling urine after you finish urinating
  • needing to urinate more often, especially at night
  • a sudden urge to urinate you may sometimes leak before you get to the toilet.

You may not get all of these symptoms, and some men with an enlarged prostate dont get any symptoms at all. These symptoms can also be caused by other things, such as cold weather, anxiety, other health problems, lifestyle factors, and some medicines.;Blood in your urine may be a symptom of an enlarged prostate. But this is rare and is usually caused by something else.;

If you have any of the symptoms above, you should visit your GP to find out what may be causing them.

Diagnosing An Enlarged Prostate

7 Home Remedies For Enlarged Prostate

As with all incontinence conditions, a thorough diagnosis must be developed before action can be taken.; You may have heard of some of these exams. And if you havent, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with them. Not only is knowledge power, but it also eliminates surprises.

Because those with BPH can experience symptoms from mild to severe, the treatment options featured here are organized from least invasive to more intense.

Also Check: What Happens To The Prostate Later In Life

How Is Yale Medicines Approach To Treating Enlarged Prostate Unique

“Urologists at Yale Medicine can give you a personalized approach to prostate care for both benign and malignant conditions,” says Dr. Honig.;

Doctors at Yale Medicine work closely with specialists across all disciplines at Yale New Haven Hospital. Our doctors are dedicated to providing the latest;treatmentsall personalized to meet the needs of each patient.;This collaboration between different departments and teams sets Yale Medicine apart in its standard of care.

Turp / Greenlight Pvp Laser / Thermotherapy

Transurethral resection of the prostate has long been the mainstay of enlarged prostate surgery, but less invasive alternatives are now available, with the potential for equal results. With TURP, the obstructing portion of the enlarged prostate tissue is removed. Although effective, TURP requires hospitalization and catheterization for 48 hours or more and comes with risks associated with anesthesia; bleeding during and after the operation; and, in rare cases, fluid absorption that can be life-threatening.

Prostate LaserOne alternative that has emerged is laser enlarged prostate surgery. Like TURP, the so-called GreenLight PVP Laser Therapy aims to create a channel in the urethra through which men can urinate more freely but the surgery is considerably less invasive. Instead of cutting tissue out, the newer technique creates the channel by vaporizing the tissue using laser energy. Thus far, almost every study has shown that when done by experienced urologists, the laser enlarged prostate surgery produces results that are equal to those with TURP, but without the severe side effects and risks. It is an outpatient procedure with minimal to no bleeding, no risk of fluid absorption, and catheterization only overnight, if at all.

Read Also: Does Finasteride Cause High Grade Prostate Cancer

Talking With Your Doctor

Different kinds of doctors and other health care professionals manage prostate health. They can help you find the best care, answer your questions, and address your concerns. These health care professionals include:

  • Family doctors and internists
  • Physician assistants and nurse practitioners
  • Urologists, who are experts in diseases of the urinary tract system and the male reproductive system
  • Urologic oncologists, who are experts in treating cancers of the urinary system and the male reproductive system
  • Radiation oncologists, who use radiation therapy to treat cancer
  • Medical oncologists, who treat cancer with medications such as hormone treatments and chemotherapy
  • Pathologists, who identify diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope

View these professionals as your partnersâexpert advisors and helpers in your health care. Talking openly with your doctors can help you learn more about your prostate changes and the tests to expect.

How Is An Enlarged Prostate Treated

Symptoms of Prostate Gland Enlargement | Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)

The treatment plan for an enlarged prostate depends on several factors unique to you. At Alate Health, Dr. Doe considers your age, medical history and overall health, the size of your prostate, and the severity of your symptoms.

Based on your unique condition, he may begin treatment with medication for mild or moderate BPH cases. If your BPH is more severe, Dr. Doe may recommend prostate artery embolization .;;

PAE is a minimally invasive, cutting-edge modality that uses X-ray technology to treat BPH. During the procedure, youre given a catheter, and Dr. Doe makes a small incision in your groin or wrist to access your blood vessels.;

X-ray dye is then injected to allow Dr. Doe to create a map, or arteriogram, of the blood vessels supplying your prostate gland. Once these vessels are mapped, Dr. Doe injects microspheres, or microscopic plastic beads, to slow the supply of blood reaching the prostate.

The catheter is then removed, and the process is repeated on the other side of the prostate gland. When the procedure is complete, your prostate begins to shrink over the following weeks since its blood supply is limited. As it shrinks, your symptoms improve.;;

Ready to learn more about the dangers of an enlarged prostate and how the team at Alate Health can help? Contact our Houston office or schedule an appointment by calling 713-893-0650 today!

You Might Also Enjoy…

Also Check: How Is Prostate Size Measured

What Are The Symptoms Of Bph

As the prostate grows larger, it constricts the urethra. Because the urethra carries urine from the bladder to the outside of your body, this constriction causes different symptoms, including:

  • Difficulting starting to urinate
  • Frequently getting up at night to urinate
  • Inability to empty the bladder
  • Pain during urination or after ejaculation

An enlarged prostate can also cause changes in your urines color or smell.;

Symptoms Of Enlarged Prostate

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is the enlargement of the prostate gland. About half of men over age 75 will experience symptoms of BPH. BPH is a very minor condition and is not related to prostate cancer. However, symptoms can cause discomfort and be inconvenient.

Also Check: How Do People Get Prostate Cancer

What Is Enlarged Prostate

Enlarged prostate refers to the state in which the prostate is enlarged;but not cancerous.

Hormonal changes and cell growth resulting from the aging process may cause the prostate to swell, often impinging upon and compressing the urethra. This causes the bladder walls to become thicker and can prevent the bladder from emptying completely.

How Is Bph Treated

Is An Enlarged Prostate A Serious Medical Condition?

In some cases, in particular where symptoms are mild, BPH requires no treatment. At the opposite extreme, some men require immediate intervention if they cannot urinate at all or if kidney/bladder damage has occurred. When treatment is necessary, many men will simply require daily medication. If this fails to completely treat the symptoms, or if there are signs of damage from BPH, the doctor may recommend minimally invasive;endoscopic surgery . Or, in some cases, traditional surgery may be recommended.

  • Drug treatment: The FDA has approved several drugs to relieve common symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, including drugs that inhibit the production of the hormone DHT and drugs that relax the smooth muscle of the prostate and bladder neck to improve urine flow.

For surgery, there are many procedures to choose from, and the choice depends largely on your specific prostate anatomy, and surgeon preference and training. These procedures all have a common goal of widening the urethral channel as it passes through the prostate. Procedures include the following:

You May Like: How To Get To A Man’s Prostate

International Prostate Symptom Score

You’ll be asked to complete;a;questionnaire;to assess your symptoms. Each question has;five possible answers that carry a score, and;your overall score;is used to assess the severity of your symptoms.

The checklist includes the following questions.

Over the past month:

  • How often have you had the sensation of not completely emptying your bladder after urinating?
  • How often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after finishing urinating?
  • How often have you found that you stopped and started again when urinating?
  • How often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?
  • How often have you had a weak stream of urine?
  • How often have you had to push or strain to begin urinating during the course of one night?
  • How;often have;you had to;get up during the night to urinate?

After your GP has assessed the severity your symptoms, they’ll aim to rule;out other conditions;with similar symptoms using certain tests.

Natural Solutions For Enlarged Prostate

Instead of taking a dangerous drugs, there are natural solutions for an enlarged prostate that help many men. First, try these lifestyle changes:

  • Reduce intake of alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
  • Avoid taking decongestants, antihistamines, antidepressants, and diuretics. All of these can cause the prostate to grow.

Certain foods and supplements can also help:7

Green Tea:;Its loaded with polyphenols, like EGCG. This polyphenol is unique to green tea. It prevents inflammation that leads to an enlarged prostate. It also kills prostate cancer cells.

To get the highest concentration of EGCG, choose matcha green tea. It has 137 times more EGCG than regular green tea.

Lycopene:;Research shows this antioxidant-rich carotenoid from yellow and red plants lowers prostate-specific antigen scores in men with an enlarged prostate. PSA is a marker for prostate cancer and enlarged prostate.

To get the most protection, you need 15 mg of lycopene a day. One medium tomato contains about 4 mg. So you may want to take a quality supplement.

Stinging nettle:;In addition to;taming allergies, stinging nettle is widely used to treat prostate disorders. The herb has been shown to alleviate decreased urinary flow and post urination dripping.

Don’t Miss: Can You Really Milk A Prostate

What Other Problems Might An Enlarged Prostate Cause

A small number of men may find it difficult to empty their bladder properly this is called urine retention. If youve been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, your doctor will look at your test results to see if youre at risk of urine retention. You may be more likely to get urine retention if:

  • youre aged 70 or over
  • your prostate is very large
  • you have a raised;prostate specific antigen ;level
  • you have severe urinary symptoms and a very slow flow.

Chronic urine retention

This is where you cant empty your bladder fully, but can still urinate a little. It usually develops slowly over time. Chronic means long-lasting. The first signs often include a weak flow when you urinate, or leaking urine at night. You may feel that your abdomen is swollen, or that youre not emptying your bladder fully.

Chronic urine retention is usually painless. But the pressure of the urine can slowly stretch your bladder muscle and make it weaker. This can cause urine to be left behind in the bladder when you urinate. If you dont empty your bladder fully, you might get a urine infection, need to urinate more often, leak urine at night, or get painful bladder stones. You might also see some blood in your urine. Chronic urine retention can damage your bladder and kidneys if it isnt treated.

There are treatments for chronic urine retention, including:

  • passing a thin, flexible tube called a catheter to drain urine from your bladder
  • surgery to widen the urethra.

Acute urine retention

Key Points To Remember

Enlarged Prostate, ED, and Urine Retention Cured
  • Surgery can help if your enlarged prostate is causing serious problemssuch as kidney problems or repeated urinary tract infectionsor if medicines haven’t helped.
  • The most important thing in deciding whether to have surgery is how much the symptoms bother you.
  • Surgery works well for most men. But it can cause side effects, including ejaculation problems and erection problems.

Also Check: How To Stimulate Prostate Gland

Is An Enlarged Prostate A Serious Medical Condition

Frequent urination, feeling you always have to go, weak stream, dribbling, and waking up in the middle of the night are all symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Benign prostatic hyperplasia , or enlarged prostate, is more common than most men realize. And without treatment, it could lead to a more permanent condition. Urologist Dr. Stephen Summers talks about what BPH symptoms to look out for and why treatment is so important.

Understanding The Prostate Gland

Located underneath the bladder, the gland has the important role of producing some of the fluid that carries the sperm cells produced by the testicles. Normally the size of a walnut, the gland generally enlarges with age in a condition that is medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Prostate enlargement is common among men;aged 50, affects more than half of them aged 60 and some 90 percent who reach 85 years. An enlarged prostate is not automatically cancerous, but even a benign condition can create problems when the growth begins to constrict the urethra, the natural tube that carries urine out of the body.

Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate

The most common symptoms include difficulty in emptying the bladder of urine and continued dribbling after urination. This condition is accompanied by the frequent urge to urinate, especially at night. In more serious instances, one may experience a genital infection or may be totally unable to empty the bladder. Similar symptoms may result from such health conditions as prostatitis, or inflammation of the gland, and kidney stones.

Don’t Miss: How Likely Is It For Prostate Cancer To Spread

A New Treatment Option For Bph

Experts at University Hospitals now offer a new, minimally invasive approach to treat BPH called UroLift®.

Instead of removing prostate tissue, this procedure implants a device that pulls the prostate away from the urethra on both sides and holds it in place. This widens the urethra and restores normal urine flow.

Its like opening a curtain, says UH urologist Irina Jaeger, MD.

This procedure is a nice alternative, because the side effects are very minimal, it can be done in the doctors office in 15 minutes or less and very little sedation is required, she says. And the results are pretty instant.

UroLift®has been in use for six years. Studies have shown that the procedure is safe, effectively relieves symptoms and does not affect sexual function.

The only side effects are a little irritation immediately after the procedure. Patients are typically back to their normal routines within a day or two.

For more information about UroLift® and other treatments for BPH, or to schedule a consultation with a mens health expert, call or visit our website.

Diagnosing Benign Prostate Enlargement

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

You might have several different tests to find out if you have an enlarged prostate.

A GP may do some of these tests, such as a urine test,;but others might need to be done at a;hospital.

Some tests may be needed to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms to BPE, such as;prostate cancer.

Read Also: Do Females Have Prostate Cancer

What Else Do You Need To Make Your Decision

Check the facts

  • Sorry, that’s wrong. Most men can treat their symptoms at home or take medicines for their symptoms. Surgery can be helpful if an enlarged prostate is causing serious problems or if medicines aren’t working.
  • That’s correct. Most men can treat their symptoms at home or take medicines for their symptoms. Surgery can be helpful if an enlarged prostate is causing serious problems or if medicines aren’t working.
  • It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” Most men can treat their symptoms at home or take medicines for their symptoms.
  • That’s right. Retrograde ejaculation, which means semen is ejaculated into the bladder instead of out through the penis, is a common side effect of surgery. That can make it difficult to father children.
  • Sorry, you’re wrong. Retrograde ejaculation, which means semen is ejaculated into the bladder instead of out through the penis, is a common side effect of surgery. That can make it difficult to father children.
  • It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” Retrograde ejaculation is a common side effect that can make it difficult to father children.

1.How sure do you feel right now about your decision?

3.Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

More articles

Popular Articles