Why Does Prostate Swell At Night

A Frequent Urge To Urinate Is Totally Normal In Men Over 50 But When Does The Inconvenience Signal Something More Serious We Have The Answers

When was the last time you slept through the night without getting up to urinate? If youre a man over the age of 50, it may have been a while. As you age, nighttime trips to the toilet often become frequent. Half of men in their 70s will have to get out of bed 2 or more times each night, according to estimates from Harvard.

Thats more than a mild annoyance. Missed sleep can lead to daytime drowsiness, or worse. Poor sleep has been tied to accidents and chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and depression. So, whats behind all that nighttime urination? And what can you do about it?

Why Your Prostate Makes You Want To Pee

The technical term for the sleep-stealing urge to urinate is nocturia. While both men and women experience it with aging, men often experience it more severely. Blame falls on the male-specific organ that sits just below a mans bladder.

Nocturia is most commonly caused by an enlarged prostate, says Alex Shteynshlyuger, MD, director of urology at New York Urology Specialists in New York City. Most men experience the need to wake up to urinate as a consequence of prostate enlargement in their 50s and 60s. However, some men start to experience the symptoms in their early to mid 30s.

The condition behind the swelling is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Its a normal part of aging for men. But if its waking you up, its something you should take seriously. Nocturia can cause significant collateral damage, including feelings of tiredness, decreased energy levels, a decrease in libido and a drop in work performance, says Dr. Shteynshlyuger.

How does BPH influence urination? For starters, an enlarged prostate can alter bladder function, effectively limiting how much liquid it can hold, says Dr. Shteynshlyuger. At the same time, it irritates your bladder, and it can squeeze your urethra. That results in a constant urge to urinate and an inability to feel complete relief.

What Is Swollen Prostate

A swollen prostate is the enlarging of the prostate gland in men. It is medically termed as benign prostatic hyperplasia that describes the increase in the cells in the prostate making it appear swollen. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is interchangeably used with benign prostatic hypertrophy . The two are interchangeably used by urologists, although the exact mechanism is different.

When the prostate swells, it causes significant obstruction of the urethra, which passes through the prostate in men. The prostate may partially or completely impede urine flow in the urethra depending on the severity.

The presence of a swollen prostate is initially identified by manifestations in the urinary tract. Despite the swelling or enlarging of the prostate, it does not result to cancer or malignancies.

Most affected men experience swelling and enlargement beginning 30 years of age. However, histologic evidence of BPH is significantly observed in men aged 50 to 80 years old. Most men are asymptomatic, but about 40% has clinically significant manifestations.

The prevalence of swollen prostate as a result of BPH is 2.7% in men aged 45 to 49 years old and it is increased by 9 fold by 80 years of age. The prostate of men usually enlarges as they age.

Location of Prostate Gland

Image source: healingdaily.com

Read Also: Do Females Have Prostate Cancer

What Is An Enlarged Prostate

As you age, your prostate naturally starts to grow in size. This typically begins to occur between the ages of 40-50 and is a normal part of the aging process.

But if the prostate grows too large, it can constrict the urethra and block the flow of urine from the bladder, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia .

It May Be Able To Help Treat Erectile Dysfunction

While there isn’t much scientific literature to definitively prove that prostate massage can improve erectile function, every doctor we spoke to says that it could potentially help.

“The theory behind the potential benefit involves an improvement in blood flow resulting from vigorous milking or massaging of the prostate. Because erections are largely the result of good blood flow, any increase could potentially lead to better boners,” says Joshua R. Gonzalez, MD, who has his own practice in Los Angeles.

Also Check: What Happens To The Prostate Later In Life

Can Claritin Cause Prostate Problems

prostatecanprostate

. In respect to this, do antihistamines cause prostate problems?

Decongestants and AntihistaminesSuch drugs, known as adrenergics, can worsen urinary symptoms by preventing muscles in the prostate and bladder neck from relaxing to allow urine to flow freely. Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine , can also slow urine flow in some men with BPH.

One may also ask, what decongestant is safe with enlarged prostate? Decongestants. Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine , are used to treat congestion often associated with a cold. These drugs, which are called vasopressor adrenergics, worsen BPH symptoms because they tighten muscles in the prostate and bladder neck.

Beside this, does Claritin affect urination?

The D in Claritin-D and many other allergy and cold medicines stands for a decongestant called pseudoephedrine. It is found in Actifed, Allegra-D, Mucinex D, Sudafed and Zyrtec-D. This compound can aggravate symptoms of prostate enlargement and make it difficult to urinate.

How can I naturally shrink my prostate?

Below are some natural remedies you can try at home to ease symptoms of BPH.

What Is The Prostate Gland

The prostate is a gland about the size of a walnut. It is part of the male reproductive system and wraps around the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. It grows larger as you get older. If your prostate gets too large, it can cause health issues. Having prostate problems does not always mean you have cancer.

Sometimes a doctor may find a problem during a routine checkup or by doing a rectal exam. If you think there is something wrong with your prostate, see your doctor right away.

Also Check: Flomax Retrograde Ejaculation Treatment

What Are Common Prostate Problems What Are The Symptoms And Signs

Here are some examples of non-cancer prostate problems:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, means your prostate is enlarged, but is not cancerous. It is very common in older men. An enlarged prostate may make it very difficult to urinate or cause dribbling after you urinate. You may feel the need to urinate a lot, often at night. See your family doctor for an exam. Treatments for BPH include:

• Watchful waiting, also called active surveillance. If your symptoms are not too bad, your doctor may tell you to wait before starting any treatment to see if the problem gets worse. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to return for checkups. You can start treatment later if your symptoms worsen.
• Medications. There are medicines that can help shrink the prostate or help relax muscles near your prostate to ease your symptoms. Talk with your doctor about possible side effects.
• Surgery. If nothing else has worked, your doctor may suggest surgery to help urine flow. There are many types of BPH surgery. Talk with your doctor about the risks. Regular checkups are important after surgery.
• Other treatments. Sometimes radio waves, microwaves, or lasers are used to treat urinary problems caused by BPH. These methods use different kinds of heat to reduce extra prostate tissue.

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.

Read Also: Va Disability Rating For Prostate Cancer

Key Points About Prostatitis

• Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland caused by infection. It can be one of several types.
• Prostatitis is not contagious and is not an STD.
• Any man can get prostatitis at any age. Symptoms of prostatitis may include urinating more often, burning or stinging during urination, pain during urination, and fever and chills. Your healthcare provider usually diagnoses prostatitis by your symptoms and by checking your urine and semen for signs of infection.
• Antibiotics are used to treat prostatitis. In rare cases, you may need surgery.

What Are The Symptoms Of Prostatitis

These are the most common symptoms of prostatitis:

• Need to urinate often
• Burning or stinging while urinating
• Pain when urinating
• Less urine when you urinate
• Rectal pain or pressure
• Fever and chills
• Pain in your lower back or pelvis
• Discharge through the urethra during bowel movements
• Erectile dysfunction or loss of sex drive
• Throbbing sensations in the rectal or genital area

The symptoms of prostatitis may look like other medical conditions or problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Also Check: Does Enlarged Prostate Affect Ejaculation

Minimally Invasive Treatments For An Enlarged Prostate

When medications don’t help your enlarged prostate, several procedures can relieve symptoms — without surgery. They are performed in a doctor’s office. “These procedures use various types of heat energy to shrink a portion of the prostate,” explains Westney. “They are very effective.”

TUMT : This therapy for mild to moderate blockage reduces urinary frequency, urgency, straining, and intermittent flow — but does not correct any bladder-emptying problems. In this procedure, computer-regulated microwaves are used to heat portions within the prostate to destroy select tissue. A cooling system protects the wall of the urethra during the procedure. TUMT is performed in a doctor’s office and requires only topical anesthesia and pain medications.

Possible side effects include painful urination for several weeks. Temporary urgency and frequency of urination is also possible. There may be less semen ejaculated. Many men must have this procedure repeated, either because symptoms return or do not improve.

TUNA : This procedure also destroys prostate tissue to improve urine flow and relieve symptoms. It involves heating the tissue with high-frequency radiowaves transmitted by needles inserted directly into the prostate . The procedure does not require a hospital stay. Possible side effects include painful, urgent, or frequent urination for a few weeks.

The Prostate A Chance To Sleep Through The Night

• Read in app

AS surely as middle age brings on a receding hairline and, all too often, a growing waistline, it also brings, for most men, an embarrassing problem. Its medical name is B.P.H., for benign prostatic hypertrophy, or hyperplasia and, as its name implies, it is an enlargement of the prostate that is not caused by cancer. It shows up as a problem with urinating.

”Most men, by the time they get into their 50’s and 60’s, have a decrease in urinary function,” said Dr. Albert G. Mulley Jr., a specialist in internal medicine and medical decision making at the Massachusetts General Hospital. ”A lot of men won’t talk about it, but the stream isn’t what it used to be. It becomes awfully hard to empty your bladder and not to feel like you have to empty it again. There’s lots of dribbling.”

What can men do about it?

About a decade ago, the choices were bleak. ”Men lived with their symptoms, and if they got really bad, they had surgery,” said Dr. Peter C. Albertsen, a urologist at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Now, men with moderate symptoms are treated with medications and most get relief. The operation, which involves cutting much of the tissue inside the prostate, is for men who cannot be helped any other way.

A new study by the National Institutes of Health indicates that only 20 percent of men with moderate symptoms progress to more severe ones over a five-year period.

Recommended Reading: What Is Perineural Invasion In Prostate Cancer

What Causes An Enlarged Prostate

We still dont really know all the things that cause the prostate to grow. But we do know about two risk factors that can increase your risk of having an enlarged prostate.

Age

Your risk of having an enlarged prostate increases as you get older. Many men aged 50 or over have an enlarged prostate, but they dont all get symptoms. And some men have symptoms that don’t bother them.

Hormone levels

The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older. This may cause your prostate to grow.

Other factors

Some studies show that obese men and men who have diabetes may be more likely to develop an enlarged prostate. Regular exercise may help to reduce your risk of urinary symptoms. But we still need more studies into the causes of enlarged prostate to know for certain if, and how, we can prevent it.

There is also some research that suggests you may be more at risk of developing an enlarged prostate if your father or brother has one. Again, further studies are needed to confirm this.

Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

• Frequent urge to pass urine, especially at night
• Weak or interrupted urine stream
• Pain or burning when passing urine
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Painful ejaculation
• Nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis

Prostate cancer can spread to the lymph nodes of the pelvis. Or it may spread throughout the body. It tends to spread to the bones. So bone pain, especially in the back, can be a symptom of advanced prostate cancer.

Also Check: Does Enlarged Prostate Affect Ejaculation

How Long Does It Take For Prostagenix To Work

4/5two weeks30-45 days

Subsequently, one may also ask, what are the side effects of ProstaGenix?

It can cause some side effects, such as nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. Beta-sitosterol has also been linked to reports of erectile dysfunction and loss of interest in sex. Beta-sitosterol is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin.

Additionally, what is the cost of ProstaGenix?

What Is Trilobar Prostate

4.9/5trilobarprostateprostatethe answer

There are several treatment options for an enlarged prostate. You can take alpha-blockers such as terazosin or tamsulosin to help relax the prostate and bladder muscles. You can also take dutasteride or finasteride , a different kind of medication for reducing BPH symptoms.

Also Know, what is the function of the prostate gland? The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ whose main function is to secrete prostate fluid, one of the components of semen. The muscles of the prostate gland also help propel this seminal fluid into the urethra during ejaculation .

In this regard, what is the main cause of prostate enlargement?

Enlargement of the prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia . It occurs when the cells of the prostate gland begin to multiply. These additional cells cause your prostate gland to swell, which squeezes the urethra and limits the flow of urine.

What is the meaning of prostate enlargement?

The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine passes out of the body. An enlarged prostate means the gland has grown bigger. Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older. An enlarged prostate is often called benign prostatic hyperplasia .

Read Also: What Is Perineural Invasion In Prostate Cancer

Herbal Therapies For An Enlarged Prostate

Several herbal supplements are marketed for enlarged prostates. Saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, and pygeum are all are widely used in Europe. They are available in the U.S. and don’t require a prescription.

However, researchers and doctors are cautious about advising patients to try herbal supplements. Because they are not FDA-regulated, there are concerns about a product’s quality from batch to batch, according to the NIH’s Office of Dietary Supplements. Also, the safety of an herbal product depends on many things — the chemical makeup, how it works in the body, how it is prepared, and the dosage.

Something else to consider: Like any drug, a herbal remedy can affect how other medications or treatments work, or interact dangerously with your other medications. They can also have side effects. And, the AUA points out, they have not been well-studied for effectiveness or safety.

Before trying any alternative treatment, learn as much as you can about it, the AUA says. Most importantly — talk to your doctor before you try an herbal remedy. Many doctors consider alternative therapies like saw palmetto to “have no effect on symptoms, except as expensive placebos,” Slawin tells WebMD.

Beta-sitosterol: This compound is extracted from pollen of rye grass. There has been some evidence that it provides relief from urinary symptoms. However, in four studies the supplement did not increase urinary flow rates, shrink the prostate, or improve bladder emptying.