BPH Causes
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) usually develops in older men and is mainly caused by the growth of the prostate. The prostate goes through two different stages of growth. The first stage causes the prostate to double in size and occurs during puberty. The second stage starts around the age of 25 and lasts almost the rest of the person’s life. It's during the second stage in which BPH starts to develop. As the prostate grows it pushes up against the urethra which causes the bladder to work harder in order to empty itself. Over time, as the bladder has to work harder the walls of the bladder get thicker. The thick bladder walls make it hard for the bladder to empty correctly and this is what leads to the symptoms of BPH. While this can’t always be avoided, if BPH management starts early enough you can benefit greatly.
BPH Symptoms
- Frequent or urgent need to urinate every one or two hours
- Difficulty urinating or painful urination
- Getting up several times during the night to urinate
- Weak or stopping and starting urine stream
- Dribbling or leaking
- Inability to empty bladder completely
BPH Treatment and Procedures
Some of the latest procedures for BPH include invasive surgeries, non invasive surgeries, in-office procedures, and BPH medications. The in-office procedures are quickly gaining popularity because they are the most convenient and have the least amount of risk. But no matter what BPH treatment you undergo there are some lifestyle changes you can make that can help to control your benign prostatic hyperplasia. These six changes aren't necessarily prostate enlargement treatment home remedies but they will help you to keep your symptoms under control.
BPH Management Using Six Lifestyle Changes
- One of the main issues that men have with BPH is that it causes them to feel like they have to urinate more frequently than they normally would have to. This urge to urinate can even increase when someone is tense or nervous. So, a good way to combat this is by relieving stress by exercising regularly, practicing yoga, or meditating.
- Choosing healthy foods can also have a good impact on BPH symptom management. Foods you should include in an enlarged prostate diet include fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and grains. Cold water fish that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids are also recommended for BPH management. These fish include salmon, tuna, or halibut.
- Not only does BPH make men feel like they have to urinate all the time, but it also makes it hard to urinate or to empty the bladder completely. If you are having trouble emptying your bladder completely you can try a technique called double voiding. Double voiding is when you wait a few seconds after urinating and then try again to make sure you emptied your bladder completely. You should also make this a regular routine of BPH management before going to bed or leaving the house to avoid any frustrations. If double voiding isn't working for you there is benign prostatic hyperplasia urinary retention medication that relaxes the bladder neck muscles.
- Another issue that people with BPH have is frequent nighttime urination. The main cause of this, other than not emptying the bladder, is ingesting diuretics too close to bedtime. Diuretics stimulate the kidneys and cause them to increase their production of urine leading to increased nighttime urination. Some examples of diuretics include beverages containing any caffeine or alcohol. These liquids should be avoided three hours before bedtime to reduce night time urination frequency.
- What medications should be avoided managing BPH? Certain medications that are prescribed to treat high blood pressure are diuretics and will increase urination; while some antidepressants may decrease urination. Some decongestant medicines like Pseudoephedrine or Benadryl can affect urination. If you believe that your medication is impacting your BPH in any way, consult your doctor.
- A troubling symptom that causes people to research BPH management is leaking or dribbling. To most people, this can be an embarrassing symptom but it can be managed relatively easily. You can manage this by doing kegel exercises. Kegels are done by squeezing and then releasing the main muscles around the bladder neck. Squeeze for ten seconds and then relax. Repeat the kegel ten times about three to five times a day.
What Is The Best BPH Management For Me?
If you are looking for the most up to date BPH treatment guidelines Kenworthy Urology can help. We will work with you to make sure that you are getting the best BPH management that you can get.
Schedule a consultation to learn more about BPH and BPH Management