BPH refers to an enlargement of your prostate. Medically termed it goes by benign prostrate hyperplasia but BPH is easier to say not to mention remember. This condition strikes older men and testosterone plays a role in its development.
QUESTION: What's up with that?
It's thought the prostrate enlarges twice during a man's lifetime. First during puberty and then again when you reach around 25 years of age. But for the unlucky ones sometime during mid life their prostrate begins growing again - but very slowly. This slow progression is again a result of testosterone. You may not even recognize you've got an enlarged prostate until it starts pressing against the urethra producing some rather undesirable symptoms.
QUESTION: Exactly what are the symptoms?
They symptoms can be rather embarrassing. With your prostate squeezing against the urethra, well, this results in the kinds of problems you'd see if you put a kink in a garden hose. Water backs up while what does come out does so with reduced force. Same with this. You'll notice the need to use the bathroom takes on some urgency. Feeling the need to use it can increase dramatically. While once you get there the ability to do what you feel you need to is inhibited. These are much the same symptoms you see with prostate cancer. Which is why a visit to your physician is called for to determine what's what though some tests.
QUESTION: Are there tests to detect BPH?
The usual tests are simple enough. In the doctors office you'll undergo a DRE and blood work to measure PSA levels. These are done to rule out cancer more than tell you you've got an enlarged prostate.
The digital rectal exam involves the urologist probing your prostate with their index finger. Trying to gauge the size while feeling for anything resembling a growth. While the PSA checks the amount of an antigen (PSA) produced by your prostate is floating around in your blood stream. A larger prostate produces more antigen. So a higher the PSA score is an indication of a larger prostate. Sometimes a urine flow rate test will be ordered up too.
QUESTION: If BPH is diagnosed, should you be worried?
You should pay attention but not be overly concerned. Yes this is an annoying problem. But it can be managed successfully for most. Usually with drugs. But you can not ignore it completely as it can come back to haunt you by damaging your bladder or kidneys down the road.
Here's a rule of thumb to remember. 40/40/20. For 40%, their symptoms will improve A second 40% will see theirs stabilize. While 20% will experience increasing difficulties. You may be in the last group if you've got a lower flow rate, bigger prostate and higher PSA readings. Sorry.
QUESTION: What are the treatment options for BPH?
There are drugs like Proscar and Flomax that can help reduce or shrink the prostrate. Another option would be alpha-blockers to relax the muscles around the prostate and relieve the symptoms. Worst case prostate tissue has to be removed to relieve symptoms either by surgery or using things like radio-frequency energy.
Now is the best time to become aware of the prostate cancer warning signs plus the best and/or latest treatment on prostate cancer. That and more awaits at ProblemProstate.com - a site that offers common sense explanations and suggestions for living with your prostate.
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