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What Can You Take For An Enlarged Prostate

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A New Treatment Option For Bph

Medications to Avoid with Enlarged Prostate | Reduce Symptoms and Risk of Prostate Enlargement

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.

Assessing The Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate

To help your doctor understand how bothersome enlarged prostate symptoms are for you, the American Urological Association has developed a BPH Symptom Index. This is a brief questionnaire that asks about specific symptoms and how frequently they occur. Each answer is assigned a number — and your total is ranked on a scale ranging from mild to severe.

A score of 0 to 7 is considered a mild symptom score 8 or over is considered moderate to severe.

The AUA recommends the following treatment for an enlarged prostate based on the severity of symptoms:

  • Mild symptoms that don’t bother you : If you are not bothered by your symptoms, and they don’t affect your daily life, watchful waiting is the best option for you. You should get regular checkups to make sure that you are not developing complications.
  • Moderate to severe symptoms : If you are not bothered by your symptoms, you may choose watchful waiting. However, if your symptoms do start to interfere, you may choose medication, a minimally invasive procedure, or surgery.
  • Moderate to severe symptoms with complications: If symptoms are bothersome and you have developed complications such as inability to urinate, you may need a catheter, surgery, or other treatment.

Medications For Enlarged Prostate

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.

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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.

What Drinks Are Bad For An Enlarged Prostate

Enlarged prostate treatment

Caffeine is inflammatory in nature, meaning itll likely make the problem of an enlarged prostate worse. Breakfast tea and coffee are the biggest culprits here but dont forget that many fizzy drinks and energy juices are also full of caffeine.

As I explained earlier in this piece, sugar can exacerbate any existing inflammation in the prostate gland so this gives further reason to avoid the likes of fizzy juice and energy drinks.

Another one to avoid if you have an enlarged prostate is alcohol. Again, this is inflammatory, though it also dehydrates us, drains our magnesium stores and increases the urge to urinate, all of which will make enlarged prostate symptoms more noticeable.

If youd like to know more about alcohol and an enlarged prostate then take a look at my blog How does alcohol affect an enlarged prostate?.

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The Link Between Bladder And Prostate Problems

Unfortunately, prostate issues are very common among men, and the number of those affected increase with each year. Along with prostate issues often comes Urinary Incontinence just another unfortunate symptom in an already devastating prostate condition. To better understand why men with prostate issues experience bladder problems, we need to understand the anatomy of the male body.

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What To Do If You Think You Have A Uti

The first thing you should really do is go to your GP so they can double check that this change in symptoms is definitely a bladder infection. If you havent been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate yet, then it is vital that you go to the GP, because if BPH isnt causing your infection then it is important to make sure there is no underlying problem such as diabetes.

The doctor may prescribe you antibiotics to help shift the infection, particularly if it is severe. However, there are also a few ways to treat a UTI at home:

Drink plenty of water. This will help to flush the bacteria out of the bladder and will make urination less painful.

Reduce sugar intake. Bacteria love sugar, so starve them by reducing your sugar intake!

Try cranberries. Cranberries are commonly used to ease UTI symptoms, as they are thought to prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls, making it easier to flush them out. However, cranberries can be incredibly bitter, so most cranberry juices are full of sugar. Instead Id recommend our own Cranberry Complex, which contains fresh cranberry as well as other bladder-friendly herbs like horseradish and golden rod. You could also try Biottas Cranberry Juice, which is sweetened with agave nectar and birch leaf infusion.

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Is A Prostate Massage The Same Thing As Trying For A Prostate Orgasm

Yes. If you massage the prostate in a way that feels good, youre probably going to have an orgasm if you keep at it.

Some doctors recommend prostate massage therapy to help relieve the symptoms of certain conditions, such as painful ejaculation prostatitis.

Yep! Though evidence on the efficacy of prostate massage for certain conditions is somewhat limited, it does appear to have some benefits.

Enlarged Prostate Beware Of These Dangerous Drugs

4 Things to Avoid if You Have an Enlarged Prostate – Dr.Berg

If you walk into your doctors office with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, chances are youll walk out with a hormone-based drug.

These medications are a standard treatment. They include the drugs Avodart and Proscar. But a new study shows that when you take them, its likely youll only be trading one health problem for another.

The research shows the medications can lead to type 2 diabetes, high levels of bad cholesterol, liver disease, and worsening erectile dysfunction.1

Boston University School of Medicine scientists looked at 460 men treated for enlarged prostate.

Half were prescribed Avodart . It uses hormones to reduce the size of the prostate. This in turn improves urinary function.2

The other half were prescribed Flomax , a non-hormonal alpha blocker. It doesnt shrink the prostate. Instead, it works by causing the smooth muscle tissue of the gland to relax. This makes urination easier.3

After a follow-up of 36-42 months, the researchers performed blood tests and assessed prostate size and function. Compared to Flomax, they found that Avodart was associated with an ongoing rise in blood sugar levels, and an increase in LDL bad cholesterol levels. It also increased markers for liver disease.

Men on Flomax experienced smaller but still significant side effects. Their cholesterol also went up. But their good HDL levels went up along with their LDL.

The study appears in the journal Hormones Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigations.

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Enlarged Prostate Treatments In The Pipeline

Researchers continue to investigate new therapies for enlarged prostates. “Another category of drugs is under development,” says Slawin. “We’ve come a long way in treating BPH. It’s no longer the life-threatening disease it once was. Now, in treatment, we’re working on quality of life issuesââ¬Â¦ reducing side effects of treatment.”

Also being studied is a procedure called water-induced thermotherapy , an experimental procedure that involves destroying excess prostate tissue utilizing heated water and an air-filled balloon, which protects normal prostate tissue. The procedure is performed with only local anesthesia. Results may not be fully apparent for three to four months. However, preliminary studies examining WIT have shown positive results, with a near doubling in urine flow. However, the American Urological Association has not thus far endorsed WIT as a viable treatment option for symptoms of BPH.

What Treatments Are Available For An Enlarged Prostate

For men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia , there are various treatment optionsfrom lifestyle changes, medication, to surgery. Men may be overwhelmed by the amount of options available and fearful of potential side effects. Urologist Dr. Stephen Summers explains what treatments are available and which options may work best for you.

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Medication For Urinary Problems

Your doctor may suggest various medications to help ease your urinary problems, including:

  • medications to reduce the tone of the muscles of the urethra and prostate to minimise any constriction to urine flow caused when these muscles contract
  • medication to reduce the size of the prostate gland. These medications work by blocking the action of male hormones produced by the prostate gland
  • medications to relax the bladder, making unwanted contractions less likely and reducing the symptoms of urgency and frequency of urination
  • the over-the-counter preparation âsaw palmettoâ is sometimes used. This may help some men, especially if frequent urination at night is a problem.

However, recent reviews of the evidence for using saw palmetto as a treatment for mild or moderate urinary symptoms did not show any improvement, compared to no treatment, in men with BPH.

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Other Points To Consider With Enlarged Prostate

What Causes An Enlarged Prostate?

Need for repeat procedures: With minimally invasive procedures for an enlarged prostate, there is a chance you will need to have a repeat procedure later on. Having the procedure when you’re young makes that a near certainty. However, that may be a risk you’re willing to take — to avoid surgery in the short term.

Side effects of treatments: Some BPH treatments cause erection problems, although that risk is low. Men who have normal erections before surgery will not likely have trouble afterward. Some treatments cause retrograde ejaculation . Fertility can also be affected, but is still possible with newer assisted reproductive techniques.

Multiple health problems: If you have other health problems, especially if you are on an anticoagulant and cannot stop taking this medication, your treatment options for enlarged prostate may be affected. For example, if you have had surgery for obstructive sleep apnea or pulmonary surgery in the past, having surgery with general anesthesia may be too risky. However, spinal anesthesia may be an option for you. Or you may wish to have a minimally invasive office procedure that doesn’t require anesthesia at all.

Talk to your doctor about your BPH symptom score, your concerns, and about the plan of treatment that works best for you.

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Can You Take Viagra If You Have An Enlarged Prostate

Posted by Men Style Fashion | Apr 18, 2020 | Nutrition, Sex

Viagra has been associated with a perfect substance that immediately improves mens sexual performance. The blue pill works almost on demand usually within 20 minutes after you take it and allows for on average two hours of erection. Sildenafil, which is the proper name of the substance, is therefore used widely and sometimes excessively. There are many contraindications to viagra use, and the list of its side effects is long, especially when you combine it with other medication or medical conditions. But, surprisingly, doctors estimated that viagra could help to treat some diseases and dysfunctions. One of them is an enlarged prostate.

Surgical Treatment For Enlarged Prostate

  • Transurethral resection of the prostate . In this surgery, the inner portion of the prostate is removed. Used 90% of the time, this is the most commonly used surgical procedure for BPH.

  • Open prostatectomy .The surgeon makes an incision and removes the enlarged tissue from the prostate.

  • Laser surgery –Laser surgery uses laser energy to destroy prostate tissue and shrink the prostate.

  • Transurethral incision of the prostate .This surgery does not involve removing prostate tissue. A few small cuts are made in the prostate gland to reduce the prostate’s pressure on the urethra, making urination easier.

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What To Do If You Have Mild Prostate Enlargement

If you have mild symptoms, you do not usually need immediate treatment, but youll have regular prostate check-ups. Youll probably also be advised to make lifestyle changes, such as: Medicine to reduce the size of the prostate and relax your bladder may be recommended to treat moderate to severe symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

How To Reduce Prostate Size

Foods to Avoid with Enlarged Prostate | Reduce Symptoms and Risk of Prostate Cancer

This article was medically reviewed by . Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 65,131 times.

The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system that can enlarge with age, putting uncomfortable pressure on the urethra. This can cause urinary difficulties, urinary tract infections , and even bladder stones. By making lifestyle changes and using medication, most men can reduce their urinary troubles. A few men, though, may need to consider minimally invasive or traditional surgery options to feel their best.

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Questions To Ask Yourself About Enlarged Prostate Treatment

When you discuss the treatment options for an enlarged prostate with your doctor, keep these points in mind:

  • How much are my symptoms bothering me?
  • Do they keep me from doing things I enjoy?
  • How long do I want to deal with them?
  • Am I willing to accept small risks to improve my symptoms?
  • Do I understand the risks?
  • Am I ready to do something about this problem?

How Common Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

BPH is the most common prostate problem in men. Almost all men will develop some enlargement of the prostate as they grow older. By age 60, 50% of men will have some signs of BPH by age 85, 90% of men will have signs of the condition. About half of these men will develop symptoms that need to be treated.

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Talking To Your Doctor

Above all, if you have prostate gland enlargement, you need to be careful about the medications you use.

Avoid medicating yourself based on the information you find on forums and other similar platforms. The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor about medications you need to take.

Your healthcare provider will inform you about the most suitable prostate medicine you need to take. Or those less safe that you should avoid that may be bad for your prostate.

For some medications, its necessary to adjust the dosage. This is something only your doctor can .

If you feel like youre not getting better, express your concerns to a healthcare provider, and they may prescribe the most suitable medications for your condition.

Feel free to ask your doctor or dietitian for tips about the diet that is the best for you, the best foods to eat or drink to help you to feel better, and what to avoid.

Above all, regular checkups at the doctors office are important. The doctor may order a PSA test to evaluate for the presence of various problems ranging from prostate cancer to acute bacterial prostatitis.

Risk Factors You Can Control

Prostatectomy Archives

Diet seems to play a role in the development of prostate cancer, which is much more common in countries where meat and high-fat dairy are mainstays. The reason for this link is unclear. Dietary fat, particularly animal fat from red meat, may boost male hormone levels. And this may fuel the growth of cancerous prostate cells. A diet too low in fruits and vegetables may also play a role.

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