Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate may differ from the symptoms of poor prostate health. Enlarged prostate symptoms develop a little further also to include:
- Difficulty to start peeing
- A pee strain that frequently starts and stops
- Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
- Unintentionally leaking urine
- Inability to empty the bladder
These symptoms can greatly impact your comfort and overall happiness. That is why it is important to do what you can to prevent the onset of an enlarged prostate when possible.
How Soon Will Prostate Test Results Be Available
Results for simple medical tests such as some urodynamic tests, cystoscopy, and abdominal ultrasound are often available soon after the test. The results of other medical tests such as PSA blood test and prostate tissue biopsy may take several days to come back. A health care provider will talk with the patient about the results and possible treatments for the problem.
How Do You Shrink An Enlarged Prostate And Lower Psa Naturally
One way to shrink an enlarged prostate is through medication, but if you are not ready to take prescription medication, there are some more natural approaches that you can explore, like changes to your diet and exercise routine.
A 2013 review showed that many males with BPH also had vitamin D deficiency. The review also discusses additional studies that focused on increasing vitamin D intake which showed promising results in reducing BPH. Either through supplements or vitamin D-rich foods, increasing vitamin D in your diet may cause a reduction in BPH symptoms.
Obesity may also play a role in the severity of BPH symptoms. Positive changes to your diet may also help with BPH, particularly with the inclusion of more fruits and vegetables like tomatoes that can also lower the risk of developing prostate cancer and bell peppers that are rich in vitamin C.
Read Also: Does Enlarged Prostate Affect Ejaculation
Tips For Coping With An Enlarged Prostate
When a man reaches about age 25, his prostate begins to grow. This natural growth is called benign prostatic hyperplasia and it is the most common cause of prostate enlargement. BPH is a benign condition that does not lead to prostate cancer, though the two problems can coexist.
Although 50% to 60% of men with BPH may never develop any symptoms, others find that BPH can make life miserable. The symptoms of BPH include:
- a hesitant, interrupted, weak urine stream
- urgency, leaking, or dribbling
- a sense of incomplete emptying
- more frequent urination, especially at night.
As a result, many men seek treatment. The good news is that treatments are constantly being improved. Patients and their physicians now have more medications to choose from, so if one doesn’t do the trick, another can be prescribed. And thanks to some refinements, surgical treatments are more effective and have fewer side effects than ever before.
But there are some things men dealing with BPH can do on their own. When symptoms are not particularly bothersome, watchful waiting may be the best way to proceed. This involves regular monitoring to make sure complications aren’t developing, but no treatment. For more troubling symptoms, most doctors begin by recommending a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. Often this will be enough to relieve the worst symptoms and prevent the need for surgery
The Most Common Prostate Problem Among Men Over Age 50 This Condition Can Cause Embarrassing Urination Issues
By age 60, half of all men will have an enlarged prostate, a condition also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. By age 85, the proportion reaches 90%.
While BPH does not increase your risk of getting prostate cancer or having sexual problems, it can affect quality of life, specifically by causing annoying and embarrassing urination problems.
“Since prostate enlargement happens gradually, men often think more frequent trips to the bathroom are a natural part of aging,” says Dr. Howard LeWine, chief medical editor at Harvard Health Publishing and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “But a little medication can help relieve symptoms, meaning less urinary urgency and fewer nighttime awakenings to use the bathroom.”
Don’t Miss: Proton Therapy For Prostate Cancer In Florida
How Are Prostate Problems Diagnosed
To diagnose prostate problems, the health care provider will perform a digital rectal exam . The health care provider will also ask the patient
- when the problem began and how often it occurs
- what symptoms are present
- whether he has a history of recurrent urinary tract infections
- what medications he takes, both prescription and those bought over the counter
- the amount of fluid he typically drinks each day
- whether he consumes caffeine and alcohol
- about his general medical history, including any major illnesses or surgeries
Answers to these questions will help the health care provider identify the problem or determine what medical tests are needed. Diagnosing BPH may require a series of medical exams and tests.
Preemptive Steps To Avoid Poor Prostate Health
You donât want to wait too long to address your prostate health. While many people think arising prostate problems are unavoidable, there is still a lot you can do to reduce these chances.
You are not alone in this battle. Men all around the world are fighting the same battle. But now you can get a head start in the fight against your prostate. The best thing to do is take action now, before the onset of poor prostate health kicks in.
Also Check: How Long Can You Live After Prostate Cancer Surgery
How Does It Work
Fluxactive Complete seeks to optimize blood movement in the body. The ingredients help regulate oxygen and nutrient intake by ensuring critical organs get the proper supply of nutrients.
Researchers found that most ingredients contain antioxidants. Antioxidant properties help clear body inflammation, which is prevalent in the bladder when you suffer from prostrate.
The formula combines a popular blend of nutrients, preventing testosterone conversion to estrogen and DHT. Further, Fluxactive Complete helps men boost sexual health.
Ingredients in Fluxactive Complete are responsible for regulating the size of the prostate gland and enhancing the normal functioning of the urethra. Continuous use improves energy production and may lead to weight loss. Customers testify to better appearance after consistently using Fluxactive Complete for at least four months.
Prostate issues begin the moment it is enlarged. An enlarged prostate alters your reproductive health. It affects the structure of the urethra by squeezing it into the walls, which may hinder urine flow. Prevention of urine may cause a burning sensation and painful urination process, leading to inflammation.
An enlarged prostate also causes the bladder to shrink. Men with this condition urinate often and may suffer from sleep distortion, leading to faster aging and weight gain. Fluxactive Complete blend of nutrients is a blend of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which leads to reduced prostate size.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have prostate cancer, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- Why did I get prostate cancer?
- What is my Gleason score? What is my Grade Group? What do these numbers mean for me?
- Has the cancer spread outside of the prostate gland?
- What is the best treatment for the stage of prostate cancer I have?
- If I choose active surveillance, what can I expect? What signs of cancer should I look out for?
- What are the treatment risks and side effects?
- Is my family at risk for developing prostate cancer? If so, should we get genetic tests?
- Am I at risk for other types of cancer?
- What type of follow-up care do I need after treatment?
- Should I look out for signs of complications?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Prostate cancer is a common cancer that affects males. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and remain in the prostate gland. For a small number, the disease can be aggressive and spread quickly to other parts of the body. Men with slow-growing prostate cancers may choose active surveillance. With this approach, you can postpone, and sometimes completely forego, treatments. Your healthcare provider can discuss the best treatment option for you based on your Gleason score and Group Grade.
Don’t Miss: Does Ejaculation Help With Prostate Cancer
Home Remedies To Treat Prostate Problems
Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.
Did you know that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the U.S.? Itâs estimated that one out of every seven American men will get prostate cancer during his lifetime and one in every 38 American men will die of this disease.
Cause Of Urinary Problems As Men Age
Many men experience urinary symptoms as they age, which may be caused by inflammation of the prostate gland . In older men, symptoms may be due to a blockage in the tubes due to a benign enlargement of the prostate gland . The most common symptom is difficulty emptying your bladder. Urinary symptoms may become bothersome enough that they require treatment. Not all urinary symptoms are due to changes to the prostate. Also, some men have enlarged prostates and yet experience few, if any, symptoms.
You May Like: What Is The Best Cure For Prostate Cancer
Symptoms Associated With Prostate Pain
Studies reveal that in many cases, prostate problem may be silent and that is why pain is not reported always by the patients.
Enlarged prostate and male sexual organs: prostatitis
Some of the most common issues that are reported usually with prostate pain include several urinary problems. Below are few details most common signs associated with indication of the prostate pathology:
- One may also notice blood in urine.
- Some conditions report post micturition dribble.
- Sometime patient may face urgency to urinate.
- Few cases report sensations leading to feeling of fullness in bladder or person may feel incomplete urination at times.
- It may also cause straining for urination.
- There are few conditions where people may face frequent urination they may even wake up several times at night.
- Sufferers may find difficulties in urination.
- It leads to pain during urination.
- Burning sensation at the time of urination.
In few severe prostate conditions, person may face troubles like huge weight loss, fever, erectile dysfunction, and swelling in legs or decay in urine. In these typical conditions, one must consult doctors as soon as possible.
When Does A Prostate Problem Need Treatment
BPH requires treatment only if the symptoms are severe enough to be troublesome to the patient, if the function of the urinary tract is seriously affected or if there are other complications, such as bleeding, kidney infections or kidney damage. An enlarged prostate by itself is not enough reason to need treatment.
Also Check: When Is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer
Some risk factors have been linked to prostate cancer. A risk factor is something that can raise your chance of developing a disease. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get prostate cancer. It just means that your risk of the disease is greater.
- Age. Men who are 50 or older have a higher risk of prostate cancer.
- Race. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancerâthe disease tends to start at younger ages and grows faster than in men of other races. After African-American men, prostate cancer is most common among white men, followed by Hispanic and Native American men. Asian-American men have the lowest rates of prostate cancer.
- Family history. Men whose fathers or brothers have had prostate cancer have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of prostate cancer than men who do not have a family history of the disease. A man who has 3 immediate family members with prostate cancer has about 10 times the risk of a man who does not have a family history of prostate cancer. The younger a man’s relatives are when they have prostate cancer, the greater his risk for developing the disease. Prostate cancer risk also appears to be slightly higher for men from families with a history of breast cancer.
- Diet. The risk of prostate cancer may be higher for men who eat high-fat diets.
Tips To Encourage A Healthy Prostate Over Time
Scientists have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of prostate cancer or prostate enlargement. Many scientists believe it is an unavoidable consequence of age. However, there are many tips and suggestions that can improve future comfort.
Poor prostate health is linked to a variety of factors, as well. The best thing to do is keep an eye on your prostate health by taking these steps as soon as possible.
Read Also: How Are Prostate Exams Performed
Questions You May Want To Consider Asking Your Doctor Include:
- What type of prostate problem do I have?
- Is more testing needed and what will it tell me?
- If I decide on watchful waiting, what changes in my symptoms should I look for and how often should I be tested?
- What type of treatment do you recommend for my prostate problem?
- For men like me, has this treatment worked?
- How soon would I need to start treatment and how long would it last?
- Do I need medicine and how long would I need to take it before seeing improvement in my symptoms?
- What are the side effects of the medicine?
- Are there other medicines that could interfere with this medication?
- If I need surgery, what are the benefits and risks?
- Would I have any side effects from surgery that could affect my quality of life?
- Are these side effects temporary or permanent?
- How long is recovery time after surgery?
- Will I be able to fully return to normal?
- How will this affect my sex life?
- How often should I visit the doctor to monitor my condition?
Related Resources
Remedies For Prostate Issues
When it comes to home remedies for prostate issues like BPH, the most common thing to do is to change your habits.
“Stop drinking in the evening or don’t drink lots of fluid before bed, which lessens the amount of times you’re urinating at night,” Vesprini suggests.
If that doesn’t provide relief, there are medications that help the bladder empty more sufficiently, or medications that shrink the prostate over time.
“For more serious cases, there are surgical procedures that can be done, but it has risks,” Vesprini adds.
For prostatitis, the oncologist says that anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen or Advil sometimes help, or the use of antibiotics can settle things down.
“Some men find that different foods or certain activities also trigger symptoms and thus they avoid those, but that’s unique to each person and you’ll have to go through a trial and error process to figure it out,” he explains.
Read Also: How Do You Massage Your Prostate
Diagnosing Benign Prostate Enlargement
To find out whether your prostate gland is enlarged, you’ll need to have a few tests.
Some tests will be carried out by your GP and others will be carried out by a urologist .
First, your GP will ask about your symptoms. If it seems that you have symptoms of benign prostate enlargement, the next stage is to calculate your International Prostate Symptom Score .
How Is A Digital Rectal Exam Performed
A DRE is a physical exam of the prostate. The health care provider will ask the patient to bend over a table or lie on his side while holding his knees close to his chest. The health care provider slides a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and feels the part of the prostate that lies next to it. The DRE may be slightly uncomfortable, but it is brief. This exam reveals whether the prostate has any abnormalities that require more testing. If an infection is suspected, the health care provider might massage the prostate during the DRE to obtain fluid to examine with a microscope. This exam is usually done first. Many health care providers perform a DRE as part of a routine physical exam for men age 50 or older, some even at age 40, whether or not the man has urinary problems.
You May Like: What Age Should You Get Your Prostate Checked
Who Should I See If I Have A Prostate Problem
You should first see your regular doctor for this problem. Your doctor may refer you to a special doctor called a urologist for further evaluation and treatment. Urologists have additional training in treating problems of the urinary tract. Prostate gland problems are the most common disorders treated by urologists.
If you would like more information, please contact us.
© 2015 National Kidney Foundation. All rights reserved. This material does not constitute medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations.
Save this content:
Does An Enlarged Prostate Mean Cancer
Most men who have a prostate problem do not have cancer. Cancer does occur in the prostate gland and is more common as men age. It is important for your doctor to check your prostate gland for enlargement or abnormalities, particularly as you age. In addition, there is now a blood test called the PSA, or prostate specific antigen test, which measures a substance that increases in the blood when prostate cancer has spread. The American Urologic Association recommends a yearly prostate examination for all men over age 50. However, men who have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, such as African-American men and men who have a family history of the disease, are advised to begin yearly prostate exams at age 40. Other tests, such as ultrasound, can also give information about the prostate gland.
Also Check: Can An Enlarged Prostate Be Fixed