Prostate Bph - What Are The Treatments

By Author: Heinz Golz
Total Articles: 190
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It is usual for the prostate glands of males to grow significantly during their adolescence. This slows down when they reach 25 and pushes through when they reach 50. By the time they are 80 years old, their prostate glands are very much enlarged. This enlargement of the prostate might take place before that age and it could be scary since it could be cancerous. However there in another situation, the gland could enlarge, and the person should not be concerned about cancer - this condition is called prostate BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

An enlarged prostate or BPH is not prostate cancer. It is a ordinary condition especially among older men, age 50 years and above. Among those with prostate BPH, only 10 percent will need to be medically or surgically treated. Prostate BPH is also called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy.

The prostate gland does not really stop growing. This does not pose any problem to any man until after he reaches his twilight years. The signs are hardly felt by men under the age of 40 , but those who are over the age of 60 can feel the symptoms of prostate BPH.

When the prostate ...
... becomes bigger and bigger, the tendency of the surrounding tissues is to obstruct its further growth. This results to the restraint on the urethra, since the prostate gland is forced upon it. The man's bladder will get irritated and will begin to contract even if there is just minimal amount of urine in there. In time , the bladder will fail to function properly causing urine to stay in the bladder.

Prostate BPH shows the following symptoms that you have to watch out for:

Problems with urination - weak stream of urine, leaking, frequent urination at night, straining feeling, sudden urges to urinate
Weak bladder
Kidney failure
Backflow of urine that results to infection on the bladder or kidney

The symptoms differ and the dimension of the prostate does not always say how severe the condition is. There are men with prostate BPH that exhibit no obstruction at all and thus, show no signs. There are those men who have less enlarged glands but they have more harsh symptoms because of bigger obstructions.

When you experience any troubles urinating, you have to inform your doctor at once. About 80% of the cases are suggestive of prostate BPH, but all the others can be more grave and will need immediate treatment.

Those that have untreated prostate BPH can develop a lot more serious problems like:
Urinary Tract Infection because of urine retention and straining of the bladder
Bladder damage
Kidney damage
Bladder stones
Incontinence

There are 3 ways to treat prostate BPH - watchful waiting, medicine therapy, or surgery. Watchful waiting involves yearly checkups to watch the gland and its increase. This method restricts alcoholic drinks and caffeine. Patients are asked to empty their bladders whenever urinating. If you need to unload, you shouldn't keep it waiting. Urinate at once and frequently.

As for the medicine remedy , only your attending doctor can prescribed the medications that can assist you with the symptoms . Be wary of those over the counter medicines that can only make things worse.

Operation is the last option but this is one of the most common methods to take care of prostate BPH in the U.S.A.. Surgery is best for severe cases.

The author is the owner of Prostate BPH article .
The author is retired From a communication company , and enjoys writing articles. For more information on Prostate and the cure go to http://www.the-prostate.com.