Who Needs A Drug
As we have already mentioned, many men with BPH dont have symptoms or their symptoms can be managed with lifestyle changes. About half of men of any age who have BPH will have symptoms that require attention and treatment that may involve taking one of the drugs we evaluate in this report. The percentage of men requiring treatment increases with age:
One in four men in their late 50s can expect to have symptoms that are bothersome enough to seek medical attention or treatment
One in three men in their late 60s can expect to have symptoms that are bothersome enough for them to seek medical attention or treatment, and
One in two men in their late 70s and beyond can expect to have symptoms bothersome enough to seek medical attention or treatment.
This means that millions of men are regularly taking drugs or using other treatment options to ease the symptoms of BPH.
The first advice wed give to any man bothered by problems when urinating is to see a doctor. Many men are reluctant to talk about urination problems with their doctor, but its important to get these issues evaluated as early as possible to prevent any complications that may be present, whether or not the patient is aware of them. Its important to note that some men dont notice any symptoms of BPH and their enlarged prostate is only discovered by their physician during a routine examination.
Getting a diagnosis
Treatment Options For Enlarged Prostate
For men over 50, prostate problems are common. The prostate gland is located just below the bladder and surrounds the top portion of the urethra, which is the tube that drains urine from the bladder. The prostate’s primary function is to produce the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
As men age, the prostate gland tends to grow larger. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called prostate gland enlargement, can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder, or bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems. Fortunately, a wide variety of treatments are available for enlarged prostate, including medication, minimally invasive therapies and surgery.
On the next Mayo Clinic Radio program, Dr. Mitchell Humphreys, a Mayo Clinic urologist, will highlight prostate health and treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Also on the program, Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, will discuss sex after a heart attack. And Dr. Bruce Levy, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon, will share how his patients’ experiences with lack of privacy during surgery led him and his wife to found a new company, COVR Medical.
To hear the program, find an affiliate in your area.
Use the hashtag #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.
Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.
Access archived shows or to the podcast.
Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.
How Bph Is Treated
A number of medications can relieve symptoms of BPH. However, these medications may cause sexual side effects, such as ejaculation problems and erectile dysfunction.
Other nonsurgical therapies include transurethral microwave thermotherapy and water-induced thermotherapy. Both use heat to destroy prostate tissue and reduce or resolve urinary symptoms.
If medications and/or thermotherapies are unsuccessful, surgery may be recommended.
Excess prostate tissue often can be surgically removed using a transurethral approach, which does not require an outside incision.
A more traditional, open surgery, which does require an incision, may be necessary if the prostate gland is very large or when the bladder has been damaged and needs to be repaired.
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What Is The Best Treatment For Enlarged Prostate
- Posted on
All men can experience difficulties caused by an enlarging prostate. As Board Certified Urologist Dr. Arash Rafiei says, All men have prostates, and as we age our prostates enlarge, some more than others. Yet each mans situation and health is different. The symptoms of an enlarged prostate will differ greatly between individuals and the best treatment option for one may not be the best option for another.
For most men, the symptoms of an enlarging prostate include the slowing of their urine stream, pushing to urinate, and having to go to the bathroom frequently. Many men also have the feeling of not fully emptying their bladder after urination. In many cases, men will find that they need to wake up multiple times in the night to go to the bathroom.
Because the symptoms of an enlarging prostate differ for everyone, the first thing a urologist will ask is if the symptoms are bothering the patient. For some men, the symptoms, especially in their early stages, are not a problem. Men may notice that they urinate a little more often. It may also take a bit longer for them to urinate when they do. They may have to get up once or twice at night when they did not have to before. A lot of men see these symptoms as inconveniences that they can adapt to and live easily with. In these cases, the urologist and their patient will just want to continue to watch the situation and may not need to take any action.
Find Your Bph Symptom Score
The International Prostate Symptom Score is a common method for screening and diagnosing benign prostatic hyperplasia . The survey asks seven urinary symptom questions and one quality of life question to help determine the severity of your BPH.
WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Find your BPH Symptom Score in Two Minutes or contact UroLift at .
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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
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Enlarged Prostate This Treatment Can Help You Avoid Sexual Side Effects
Benign prostatic hyperplasia , or enlarged prostate, is a common condition in men older than age 50. BPH occurs when the prostate gland becomes enlarged and begins to press on the urethra the tube that carries urine out of the body.
When the prostate continues to grow, it can lead to urinary symptoms that include:
- Leaking or dribbling of urine
- Frequent nighttime awakenings to urinate
- Urinary retention or urgency
- A weak urine stream
BPH is not prostate cancer and it doesnt lead to cancer. However, the two conditions may have similar symptoms in the early stages
So its important that men who experience these symptoms be evaluated by a mens health specialist to rule out cancer and determine the best treatment options to relieve their symptoms.
Without treatment, BPH can lead to serious complications in some men, including incontinence, kidney or bladder damage, urinary tract infections and bladder stones. In some extreme cases, BPH can cause a total inability to urinate and require emergency catheterization.
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About Half Of Men Older Than 50 Have An Enlarged Prostate Here Are Some Of The Basic Facts You Need To Know About This Common Condition
As men age, many experience prostate gland enlargement. This condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia .
The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the hollow tube that carries urine out of the body. When the prostate gets bigger, it can squeeze or partially block the urethra, which leads to problems urinating.
BPH is quite common in older men. In fact, the condition impacts about 50% of men between the ages of 51 and 60. For men 80 and older, the prevalence of BPH is approximately 90%, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
When To Contact A Medical Professional
- Less urine than usual
- Back, side, or abdominal pain
- Blood or pus in your urine
Also call if:
- Your bladder does not feel completely empty after you urinate.
- You take medicines that may cause urinary problems, such as diuretics, antihistamines, antidepressants, or sedatives. DO NOT stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider.
- You have tried self-care steps for 2 months and symptoms have not improved.
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What Should I Do If I Forget A Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you interrupt your treatment for several days or longer, call your doctor before restarting the medication, especially if you take more than one capsule of tamsulosin a day.
Who Is A Candidate For Urolift
For men older than 50, benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common prostate problem. For most of these men, medication is often the first choice of treatment.
However, for patients with a relatively small to moderate sized prostate gland who do not want to take a daily dose of medication, the UroLift treatment is ideal.
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Tips For Relieving Bph Symptoms
Four simple steps can help relieve some of the symptoms of BPH:
For more on advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate diseases, read the Annual Report on Prostate Diseases from Harvard Medical School.
Table 3 Lifestyle Changes That May Relieve Mild Symptoms Of Prostate Enlargement
| These measures can be helpful: |
|
Urinate when you first feel the urge dont wait. Do not rush urination. Take your time and relax before, during, and after to give your bladder extra time to empty if the stream is slow or intermittent. Practice double-voiding: Urinate as much as possible, relax for a moment, and then go again. Urinate before car trips, meetings, or movies. Spread fluid intake throughout the day and reduce it before bedtime, especially coffee, tea, or caffeinated beverages. Do not avoid fluid intake to reduce the need to urinate. That can cause dehydration. Drink alcohol and caffeine in moderation. Avoid antihistamines and decongestants when possible. If you take a diuretic , ask your doctor if you can take a lower dose or a different drug. If you have diabetes, controlling blood sugar can reduce frequent urination. |
| Theres no clear evidence these work: |
|
Exercise. Kegel exercises. Herbal supplements such as saw palmetto, Pygeum africanum, rye-pollen grass, and beta-sitosterol. |
If youre taking diuretic drugs, you should ask your doctor whether the dose can be reduced or if you can take a different medication, since doing either could potentially improve your symptoms. Men with diabetes should work with their doctor to make sure their blood sugar levels are kept in control because if they arent, it can lead to increased urination.
Other treatments
Surgery and other procedures
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How Safe Are Prostate Supplements Made With Saw Palmetto And/or Beta
- Which saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol supplements passed or failed ConsumerLab.comâs testing and review
- What saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol can and cannot do for your health
- Which other ingredients in prostate formulas may or may not be helpful
- The dosages of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol used in treating prostate enlargement
- Potential side-effects of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol
Annual Report On Prostate Diseases
Most men eventually develop some type of prostate problem, and when they do there are usually no easy solutions. More than a primer on prostate conditions, this Special Health Report, the Annual Report on Prostate Diseases, includes roundtable discussions with experts at the forefront of prostate research, interviews with men about their treatment decisions, and the latest thinking on complementary therapies. This report will provide you with the information you need to understand the current controversies, avoid common pitfalls, and work with your doctor to make informed choices about your prostate health.
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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.
Treatment Option For Bph: The Urolift System
Urologists at UCLA Urology are now offering UroLift, a new treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia .
UroLift Offers Relief for BPH
When Jeff Brenner first began experiencing bothersome urinary symptoms in his 40s, he attributed it to middle age and figured it was something he could live with.
An enlarged prostate compresses on the urethra, making it difficult for urine to flow.The UroLift Device is placed through the obstructed urethra to access the enlarged prostate.The device compresses the tissue and delivers tiny implants to lift and hold prostate tissue out of the way, thus opening the urethra. The permanent implants keep the tissue in place, like tiebacks on a window curtain.The UroLift Device is removed, leaving an open urethra for urine to flow.
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Prostate Cancer Stage 4 Home Remedies
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Is Rezum An Effective Treatment
Rezum is an effective treatment for an enlarged prostate and can be carried out in one day. It involves injecting steam into the prostate to shrink its size, improving the patients urinary flow. Studies show that four years after treatment, urinary flow improves by 50% and the overall quality of life for patients also improves. It also preserves other functions such as erectile, ejaculatory and continence function.
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