Is An Enlarged Prostate Bad

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What Causes An Enlarged Prostate? | BPH Explained

Surgical procedures to remove the diseased prostate are usually necessary. Surgical procedures are not always necessary. If the disease is caused by bacterial infections, a doctor can treat the symptoms using alpha-blockers or surgery. Physical therapy, relaxation exercises, and warm baths are all recommended. A physician may also prescribe antibiotics to cure the infection. A bacterial infection can also cause a recurrence of the condition.

An enlarged prostate can be uncomfortable for both men and women. Some of the symptoms of an enlarged male reproductive organ include a weakened urine stream, urgent need to urinate, and urinary tract infections. BPH can also cause damage to the kidneys. A sudden inability to urinate can be life-threatening, as it can lead to bladder and kidney damage. Unfortunately, most men with enlarged prostrates put up with the symptoms for years before they seek treatment. However, many of the men with symptoms finally decide to go to a doctor for proper gynecological evaluation and to begin enlarged prostatic therapy.

A New Treatment Option For Bph

A newer, nonsurgical treatment for BPH, called prostatic artery embolization , is available at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, says Ari Isaacson, MD, a vascular interventional radiologist who performs the procedure.

PAE is performed through a small puncture in the groin or the arm. A catheter is inserted through the artery and directed toward the prostate.

Once the catheter is positioned in the artery supplying blood to the prostate, tiny particles called microspheres are injected that plug up the artery, blocking blood flow. This is called embolization.

This process is then repeated on the other side, usually through the same original puncture, Dr. Isaacson says.

Can Diet Help With Enlarged Prostate Problems

So, what diet for prostate problems can help your BPH?

In Asia, China, and Thailand, where few dairy foods are consumed, there is a far lower incidence of both heart disease and cancer.

Studies show that overall, men in western countries have a six-fold increase in prostate cancer incidence compared to countries such as China and Japan.

One theory for this discrepancy is the differences in diet.

It is worth emphasizing that many oriental countries such as South Korea and Japan are densely populated. They have been highly industrialized and urbanized for many years, yet their rates of prostate cancer remain much lower than in the West.

The even more massive incidence is seen in the UK at around thirty per 100,000, yet higher rates occur in the USA, with a figure of about 120 per 100,000.

In addition, there are studies of migrant populations that show quite clear increases in certain diseases like prostate cancer when ethnic Chinese become American citizens and their children and grandchildren adopt more of the American diet.

Okinawa, Japan, has traditionally had a diet based on lots of vegetables, fermented soy products like miso, fresh fish, herbal tea, as well as health-supporting practices such as Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and walking.

It is, therefore, advisable to eat a healthy and balanced diet that includes organic vegetables, which reduce pesticide exposure and offer an increase in vitamin concentration.

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How Might An Enlarged Prostate Affect My Life

Having an enlarged prostate affects men in different ways. Some men can manage mild symptoms and dont need treatment. Other men find they need to stay near a toilet. This can make it difficult to work, drive, be outdoors and attend social events. If you need the toilet a lot during the night, this can affect your sleep and make you feel more tired during the day.

Some men with an enlarged prostate find their symptoms improve over time without treatment. But for most, the symptoms will stay the same or slowly start to cause more problems over time unless they have treatment.

Other Tips For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Along with avoiding the things listed above, try the strategies listed below.

Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol increases estrogen levels.
Opt for organic, non-GMO, wild caught, grass-fed, and pasture raised. This will help you avoid hormones in meat or dairy. And it will help you avoid pesticides. Some pesticides can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.
Eat lots of cruciferous vegetables. Think of things like kale, cabbage, arugula, and radish. These veggies help slow the production of estrogen. If you have a hard team eating enough of them, you can try a cruciferous concentrate.
Take stinging nettle root. This supplement helps to keep estrogen levels down. It inhibits the enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen in the body. It is good for reducing inflammation, as well.
Take saw palmetto. This herb can help bring down prostate inflammation. Combine this with nettle root for great results.
Try Healthy KetoTM and intermittent fasting. These dietary and lifestyle changes will keep Fat Storing Hormone levels in check and stop excessive growth. Learn more about my ketogenic diet plan here.

Check out my video, The Best Foods for BPH. In it, I explain more about dietary treatment options.

Does An Enlarged Prostate Affect A Man Sexually

The quick and easy answer is that an enlarged prostate can definitely impact men and their sexual health. If that’s all you were looking for, you can go on with your day, but the ways in which an enlarged prostate can affect a man’s sexual health is quite interesting and worth a read.

The prostate is a uniquely male structure in the human body that works in a unique way. Because the urethra is dual purpose and is the common pathway for semen and urine, the prostate acts as the traffic controller, ensuring that both are routed correctly and do not occur simultaneously. Additionally, the prostate is a crucial component in the creation of seminal fluid.

To fully answer the question as to how an enlarged prostate can impact a man sexually, it is important to compare the different dimensions surrounding sexual health and how an enlarged prostate affects these components of sexual functioning. Below is a deeper look into an enlarged prostate and its effect on male sexual health.

Signs Of An Enlarged Prostate

Nearly half of all men in their 50s have an enlarged prostate, and this number rises with age, as 90% of men in the United States over the age of 80 have the problem. The good news is that an enlarged prostate usually doesnt present any serious medical concerns. The bad news is that it can lead to quality-of-life issues thanks to the side effects.

To determine whether your prostate may be enlarged, which is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia , Dr. Robert Cornell and our team pulled together five telltale signs.

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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?

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How Is Bph Diagnosed

Beverages to Avoid with Enlarged Prostate | Reduce Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

After evaluating your medical history and giving you a complete physical, your doctor will perform a digital rectal examination.

Because the prostate gland is in front of the rectum, the doctor can feel if the back of the gland has any abnormalities during this examination. This enables the doctor to estimate the size of the prostate and to detect any hard areas that could be cancer.

Several studies may be done to help diagnose your condition:

A urine test called a urinalysis
A seven-question BPH Symptom Score Index survey to evaluate the severity of your symptoms
A flow study to see if the urine stream is slow compared with normal flow
A study to detect how much urine is left in the bladder after urination

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How Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treated

Treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia may include

lifestyle changes
minimally invasive procedures
surgery

A health care provider treats benign prostatic hyperplasia based on the severity of symptoms, how much the symptoms affect a mans daily life, and a mans preferences.

Men may not need treatment for a mildly enlarged prostate unless their symptoms are bothersome and affecting their quality of life. In these cases, instead of treatment, a urologist may recommend regular checkups. If benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms become bothersome or present a health risk, a urologist most often recommends treatment.

The 4 Causes Of An Enlarged Prostate

It is normal for a prostate to become enlarged as a man ages. The prostate is approximately the size of a walnut in younger men but can grow to be much larger as they get older. An enlarged prostate can cause no visible symptoms but will eventually impact urinary and erectile functions if not properly treated.

There are many reasons a prostate gets enlarged, and most of them arent cancerous. Here are the most common:

Personal And Family Medical History

Taking a personal and family medical history is one of the first things a health care provider may do to help diagnose benign prostatic hyperplasia. A health care provider may ask a man

what symptoms are present
when the symptoms began and how often they occur
whether he has a history of recurrent UTIs
what medications he takes, both prescription and over the counter
how much liquid he typically drinks each day
whether he consumes caffeine and alcohol
about his general medical history, including any significant illnesses or surgeries

The Most Common Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate Are Urinary Tract Symptoms

Frequent urination.
Interrupted or weak urine flow.
Sexual dysfunction.

The problem with an enlarged prostate is that it obstructs healthy urine flow. When this happens, urine gets backed up into the bladder, kidneys, and even the liver. This can cause toxicity and negative side effects.

A common issue with BPH is an increased risk for urinary tract infections. If you have BPH symptoms, watch out for urinary tract infections. You want to catch them before they cause too much harm.

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Is An Enlarged Prostate Dangerous

Did you know that by age 55, about a quarter of all men develop an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia ? As men age, the numbers rise, with 50% having BPH by age 60 and 90% by age 85.

The good news is that an enlarged prostate doesn’t mean you have prostate cancer, and it doesnt increase your risk of getting this disease in the future. But that doesnt mean BPH is free of all dangers.

At Urology Associates Medical Group, our providers are committed to giving men in Burbank, California, the safest and most effective treatments available when it comes to BPH. We also believe in educating our patients about the condition and how it affects their health.

Take a moment to learn what you need to know about an enlarged prostate and whether its dangerous to your health.

Medications For Enlarged Prostate

There are two main classes of pharmaceuticals that work to alleviate enlarged prostate symptoms: alpha blockers and alpha reductase inhibitors

Alpha Blockers. Alpha blockers relax the smooth muscle around the bladder neck and within the urethra.
Inhibitors. Inhibitors stop the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to DHT to reduce the prostate’s size, eliminating blockage.

Dont be surprised if your physician prescribes a combination of the two medications, as they have been shown to work more effectively together than alone. The downside is that combination therapy may increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects from the medications. Be sure to work with your doctor to assess the benefits and costs before starting on combination therapy.

What Role Does Choline Play

Choline is an essential nutrient found in eggs that helps cells repair and rebuild every time they divide.

Eggs are the most abundant source of choline, with about 683 mg choline per 100 grams of yolk.

The problem is that choline is also found in prostate cancer cells. As such, there are fears about whether or not choline can increase your risk of developing prostate cancer.

Another factor is that dietary choline is transformed into trimethylamine in the gut.

Research has suggested that the trimethylamine produced from high levels of dietary choline intake may increase inflammation, which in turn, could promote prostate cancer progression to lethal disease.

A study looking at the relationship between choline intake and aggressive prostate cancer was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition .

There were 47896 men involved in the study. Their diet was assessed 6 times over 22 years.

Men who consumed the highest amount of choline had a 70% increase in developing aggressive prostate cancer compared to men with the lowest intake of choline.

However, this finding is confined to a small population in America. Studies in other countries are required to determine if choline is truly linked to prostate cancer .

One of the issues with the theory that choline in eggs increases prostate cancer risk is that there are more prominent contributors to choline in the American diet, such as wheat germ .

What Is The Prostate

Foods to Avoid with Enlarged Prostate | Reduce Symptoms and Risk of Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a small gland in men that helps make semen. Located just below the bladder in front of the rectum, it wraps around the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body. It tends to grow larger as you get older. If your prostate gets too large, it can cause a number of health issues.

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How Does A Mediterranean Diet Help Prostate Cancer

Recent studies show a diet incorporating seeds, nuts, avocado, and an oil-based dressing could decrease the chances of death for men with prostate cancer.

The 2.5 million men living in the US with prostate cancer may have to avoid the smell of those sausages and switch to a Mediterranean diet.

Researchers have found the fat intake of 4,577 men with prostate cancer from 1986 to 2010, who swapped as little as 10 percent of their daily carbohydrates and animal fats, reduced their prostate cancer mortality risk by almost 30% than those who didnt.

Consumption of healthy oils and nuts increases plasma antioxidants and reduces insulin and inflammation, which may deter prostate cancer progression. Lead author Erin L. Richman, ScD, a postdoctoral scholar in the UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Enjoy A Morning Coffee

There has been some controversy surrounding the benefits of coffee for prostate health, with studies showing conflicting results.

However, a recent study revealed that two compounds found in coffee kahweol acetate and cafestol, may help to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells.

The results are preliminary, yet findings of several studies, most recently the 2018 study, indicate that coffee compounds can benefit prostate health and possibly reduce prostate cancer incidence.

However, it is essential to note that for some men experiencing BPH, coffee can irritate, stimulating an already overactive bladder, increasing urinary frequency and urgency.

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Use Vigrx Prostate Support To Help Support A Healthy Prostate

If youre looking for extra help to support prostate health, you wont go wrong with VigRX Prostate Support. Manufactured by VigRX, it contains a proprietary blend of natural ingredients that are clinically proven to encourage prostate wellness.

Stinging nettle and saw palmetto, for example, are commonly used in Europe as a natural remedy for BPH symptoms. Not only that, but it also includes several ingredients that help prevent prostate cancer, like broccoli, green tea leaf, maitake, reishi, and shiitake. Not only that, but most of these ingredients also provide secondary benefits such as reducing your cholesterol, increasing fat burning, and improving cardiovascular health.

What Are The Symptoms Of Bph

Since the prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, it is easy to see that enlargement of the prostate can lead to blockage of the tube. You may develop:

Slowness or dribbling of your urinary stream
Hesitancy or difficulty starting to urinate
Feeling of urgency or sudden need to urinate
Need to get up at night to urinate

As symptoms progress, you may develop:

Damage to your kidneys from back pressure caused by retaining large amounts of extra urine in the bladder
Sudden blockage of the urinary tube, making urination impossible

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Problems With Enlarged Prostate Gland

Benign enlargement of the prostate gland is more common as men get older. It can cause troublesome symptoms, although it doesnt always.

The urethra passes through the prostate gland, so men may have problems urinating if the enlarged gland restricts the flow of urine. If the flow stops completely, a catheter is required to empty the bladder. It is rare for this form of acute urinary retention to cause kidney damage.

An enlarged prostate doesn’t always cause urinary problems. Studies indicate that the size of a man’s prostate gland has little influence on the type or severity of his urination problems. BPH is just one possible cause of urinary symptoms.

Another cause of urinary symptoms can be changes to the muscular wall of the bladder, which may cause spasms of the bladder or weaken the bladder, causing problems passing urine.