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:
How Is Enlarged Prostate Treated
Treatments for enlarged prostate include:
Lifestyle changes: These can include reducing liquid intake, bladder training , abstaining from alcohol and caffeinated beverages and regularly exercising the pelvic muscles.
Medication: A class of medication called Alpha Blockers works to relax muscle fibers in the prostate and bladder. This relaxation allows for increased urine flow and less frequent urination. A second class of medication, called Alpha Reductase Inhibitors, works to block the hormones that cause the prostate to swell. Many patients will take a combination of these two types of medication.
Minimally invasive procedures: Our specialists are trained in two minimally invasive procedures that can help remove or reduce the obstructing prostate tissue:
Surgery: For severe cases of a very enlarged prostate, surgical removal of the prostatecalled transurethral resection of the prostate may be the recommended course of action. Patients will decide with their doctor if aggressive treatment is warranted, depending on the size of the prostate and severity of symptoms.
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Basic Demographics And Referrals
Within Group I the mean age of presentation was 71 years . This was comparable to the group with previous TURP where the mean age was 75 years . The degrees of hematuria were identified by type of hematuria, the associated pain and any additional clinical features. These are summarised in table table11 below. Patients referred with painless hematuria formed the largest subgroup within both cohorts. The vast majority had no prior urological diagnoses with 1 patient identified as having a solitary renal cyst.
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How Is A Prostate Problem Diagnosed
A prostate problem is most often diagnosed because of the symptoms that it causes. Your doctor will also do a physical examination called a digital rectal exam, or DRE. Other tests can be done to measure the urine flow, which can help the doctor decide how much the prostate is blocking the urine stream.
Bladder And Kidney Stones
Kidney and bladder stones are one of the most common causes of blood clots in urine. The stones are mostly painless, meaning you wont know until they grow bigger and cause blockage or are being passed in your urinary system. Minerals in concentrated urine form crystals on the walls of your kidneys or bladder. In time, these deposits made of minerals and salt turn into stones. They can affect any part of the urinary tract, from kidneys to bladder. The stones occur mostly when the urine is concentrated.
The good news is that there is no way to mistake the symptoms. Kidney stones cause excruciating pain, one that is hard to stomach and bear. Bladder and kidney stones can cause both gross and microscopic bleeding.
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Change In Radiation Dose Distribution May Reduce Late Rectal Bleeding
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Men with shorter rectums who receive intermediate to high doses of radiation are more likely to experience rectal bleeding following radiation treatment for prostate cancer, according to study findings presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
Thus, considering rectum length and radiation therapy dose may help predict a patients risk for experiencing late rectal bleeding, which occurs in approximately one in 10 men with prostate cancer who undergo radiation, according to the researchers.
Radiation dose distribution can be designed for each individual patient, and while it covers the prostate, it often comes in contact with the rectum or the bladder too, study researcher Joseph O. Deasy, PhD, chair of the department of medical physics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, said during a press conference. By reducing the dose to the edge of the area being irradiated in men with shorter rectums, possibly using better treatment image guidance, we can significantly reduce the risk of late-stage rectal bleeding.
The researchers identified 1,001 men who were treated with a variety of radiation therapy techniques for prostate cancer . The men received between 70 Gy to 86 Gy at 2 Gy per fraction between 1991 and 2007 at five participating hospitals.
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Blood That You Cant See
Sometimes there is blood in your urine that you canât see. This is called microscopic hematuria because it is only visible under a microscope. âGuidelines state that any more than three red blood cells in a urine sample under microscope should prompt a referral to a urologist,â Dr. Bakare says. Routine urine tests can be part of annual wellness exams.
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Symptomatic treatment of an enlarged prostate usually involves a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may be the best option if you suffer from chronic urination. It will help the body adjust to the increased size of the prostate. Also, taking regular urination intervals will help retrain the bladder to function properly. Inactivity also contributes to urine retention, and cold temperatures can increase the urge to urinate.
Invasive treatment of enlarged prostate includes medication that relieves the pressure on the urethra and bladder. However, if the condition is severe, it may require surgical intervention. If treatment is not successful, the enlarged prostate can become a potentially life-threatening disease. As the hormone levels in the body change, the enlarged prostate can lead to various complications, including urinary retention and even cancer. This is why it is critical to see a doctor for further evaluation.
Kidney And Bladder Stones
If the blood contains too little liquid and too much waste, the waste products can bind with chemicals in the urine, forming hard stones in the kidneys or bladder.
Often, the stones are small enough to pass through urination. Larger stones may remain in the kidney or bladder or get stuck elsewhere in the urinary tract.
Larger stones generally cause more noticeable symptoms, such as:
- blood in the urine
- cloudy or strong-smelling urine
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Is Rectal Bleeding A Side Effect Of Radiation Treatment
Pelvic radiation disease is one of the major complication after radiotherapy for pelvic cancers. The most commonly reported symptom is rectal bleeding which affects patients quality of life.
Does radiation cause bloody stools?
Radiation therapy to the pelvic area can damage the lining of the rectum, causing inflammation and swelling known as radiation proctitis. This can cause a range of symptoms including blood and mucus in bowel motions discomfort opening the bowels or the need to empty the bowels often, perhaps with little result.
Can prostate radiation cause rectal cancer?
The risk of developing cancer of the rectum after radiation therapy for prostate cancer is similar to the risk of having a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer. There is evidence that radiation shifts the patients from normal to moderate risk for rectal cancer.
Information About Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs And Cats
What is haematuria?
Haematuria is the medical term used to describe blood in the urine that occurs due to bleeding in the urinary system. When this happens the urine typically looks red and, occasionally, blood clots are seen. Sometimes bleeding can be on a microscopic level and the urine may appear normal. In these cases, blood may only be detected by laboratory analysis.
Are there other clinical signs that can be associated with haematuria?
Other clinical signs that may be present would include straining to urinate and squatting frequently to pass small amounts of urine. Straining to defecate can sometimes occur in male dogs with an enlarged prostate.
What can cause blood in the urine?
Causes Lower urinary tract bleeding
In cases where the lower urinary tract is involved other clinical signs typical of cystitis are normally seen.
Bladder inflammation of the bladder wall and subsequent bleeding can occur due to uroliths , polyps , infections and occasionally tumours. In the cat, there is a relatively common form of cystitis that without infection called feline lower urinary tract disease . FLUTD has been linked to stress and anxiety.
Prostate the most common causes of bleeding from the prostate in an unneutered dog are prostatitis and benign hyperplasia. Benign hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate as a consequence of testosterone stimulation. In a neutered dog cancer of the prostate must be considered.
Causes Upper urinary tract bleeding
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See Your Doctor Or A Urologist
If the bleeding coincides with a fever, you may have an infection that could require antibiotics or other medications to treat it.
Regardless of the cause or specific symptoms, you should see your doctor or a urologist. A urologist is a physician who specializes in the health of male reproductive organs and treating diseases of the male and female urinary tracts.
Hematospermia and hematuria are common symptoms that urologists see every day. Though you may feel awkward at first discussing your symptoms, rest assured that your doctor has heard it all before.
Because the signs of some causes tend to overlap, its important to be as thorough as possible in describing your symptoms and when they first started. This will help your doctor diagnose your condition.
When Is Bph Treatment Necessary
The course of BPH in any individual is not predictable. Symptoms, as well as objective measurements of urethral obstruction, can remain stable for many years and may even improve over time for as many as one-third of men, according to some studies. In a study from the Mayo Clinic, urinary symptoms did not worsen over a 3.5-year period in 73% of men with mild BPH. A progressive decrease in the size and force of the urinary stream and the feeling of incomplete bladder emptying are the symptoms most correlated with the eventual need for treatment. Although nocturia is one of the most annoying BPH symptoms, it does not predict the need for future intervention.
If worsening urethral obstruction is left untreated, possible complications are a thickened, irritable bladder with reduced capacity for urine infected residual urine or bladder stones and a backup of pressure that damages the kidneys.
- Inadequate bladder emptying resulting in damage to the kidneys
- Complete inability to urinate after acute urinary retention
- Incontinence due to overfilling or increased sensitivity of the bladder
- Recurrent severe hematuria
- Symptoms that trouble the patient enough to diminish his quality of life
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Two Mechanisms: Static Dynamic
BPH is a histologic diagnosis of proliferation of smooth muscle, epithelium, and stromal cells within the transition zone of the prostate, which surrounds the proximal urethra.
Symptoms arise through two mechanisms: static, in which the hyperplastic prostatic tissue compresses the urethra and dynamic, with increased adrenergic nervous system and prostatic smooth muscle tone . Both mechanisms increase resistance to urinary flow at the level of the bladder outlet. As an adaptive change to overcome outlet resistance and maintain urinary flow, the detrusor muscles undergo hypertrophy. However, over time the bladder may develop diminished compliance and increased detrusor activity, causing symptoms such as urinary frequency and urgency. Chronic bladder outlet obstruction can lead to bladder decompensation and detrusor underactivity, manifesting as incomplete emptying, urinary hesitancy, intermittency , a weakened urinary stream and urinary retention.
Figure 1. The static component of benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms, with hyperplasia leading to urethral compression.
Figure 2. The dynamic component of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The bladder outlet and prostate are richly supplied with alpha-1 receptors , which increase smooth muscle tone, promoting obstruction to the flow of urine. Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers counteract this effect.
Most Men Eventually Develop Bph
Autopsy studies have shown that BPH increases in prevalence with age beginning around age 30 and reaching a peak prevalence of 88 percent in men in their 80s. This trend parallels those of the incidence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms. In the year 2000 alone, BPH was responsible for 4.5 million physician visits at an estimated direct cost of $1.1 billion, not including the cost of pharmacotherapy.
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When Does A Prostate Problem Need Treatment
BPH requires treatment only if the symptoms are severe enough to be troublesome to the patient, if the function of the urinary tract is seriously affected or if there are other complications, such as bleeding, kidney infections or kidney damage. An enlarged prostate by itself is not enough reason to need treatment.
Medications For Enlarged Prostate
There are two main classes of pharmaceuticals that work to alleviate enlarged prostate symptoms: alpha blockers and alpha reductase inhibitors
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Alpha Blockers. Alpha blockers relax the smooth muscle around the bladder neck and within the urethra.
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Inhibitors. Inhibitors stop the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to DHT to reduce the prostates 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.
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Diagnosis Of Blood In Urine
To understand why blood is appearing in the urine, doctors take a medical history and ask about possible reasons for the hematuria. A visible and microscopic evaluation of a urine sample may point to a cause. He or she also might order tests will check for kidney disease or other conditions.
If the physician suspects other physical abnormalities that might be causing blood to appear in the urine, he or she may order additional tests, including:
- Imaging tests: These might include a computed tomography scan, an ultrasound scan or a magnetic resonance imaging scan. These scans create images of the urinary tract to check for tumors, stones or abnormalities of the bladder, kidneys and urinary vessels.
- Cystoscopy: The physician inserts a small, lighted tube with a camera through the urethra to look for any issues. A small sample of tissue may be taken to check for any abnormal cells.
- Intravenous pyelogram: Dye is used before taking an x-ray, which can reveal structural issues of the urinary tract. This test is rarely obtained in modern practice.
- Kidney biopsy: A physician who suspects kidney disease may request a kidney biopsy, the removal of a small sample of kidney tissue for examination beneath a microscope.
If the doctor discovers an underlying condition that is causing the hematuria, he or she will treat that cause.
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What Treatments Are Used For An Enlarged Prostate
A number of treatments are available for an enlarged prostate that is causing urine problems.
- Medicine: Two types of medicines are now in use to treat prostate enlargement. A medicine that is normally used for high blood pressure helps to relax the muscle tissue in the prostate, relieving part of the blockage. The second type of medicine used shrinks the enlarged prostate by blocking the effect on the prostate of the male hormone, testosterone. These medicines are helpful to some of the men who have enlarged prostates.
- Surgery: This is currently the most widely accepted method of treating enlarged prostate when symptoms are severe. Basically, the operation removes some of the enlarged tissue to relieve the symptoms. More limited types of surgery are also done, which just make cuts in the prostate instead of removing tissue.
- Newer treatments: High levels of electric current can be used to destroy enlarged prostate tissue. Thermal therapy uses microwave or radiofrequency energy to reduce the gland’s size. Herbal extracts such as saw palmetto have been reported to help reduce symptoms in some cases. These new treatments are still being evaluated by doctors, and the long-term risks and benefits are not yet known. Your doctor will advise you about what treatment is best for you.
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Frequent Urinary Tract Infections
When the bladder doesnt fully void, there runs a risk of developing chronic urinary tract infections. While more common in women, UTIs are do occur in men with enlarged prostate thats because bacteria can build up over time if it is not carried away through urination. Any sort of burning sensation, chills, or cloudy urine may be signs of a urinary tract infection and, thus, an enlarged prostate.
How To Prevent Prostate Cancer Naturally
Follow these prostate cancer prevention tips:
#1. Follow a Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle ideally protects you from various diseases, including prostate cancer.
Hence, smoking and drinking should be avoided as much as one can do!
In fact, smoking is one of the major causes responsible for the widespread menace of cancer.
Hence its ideal to stay away from smoking.
And that is, obviously, independent of the fact whether celibacy can cause prostate cancer or not.
#2. Following a Proper Meal Plan
A healthy diet rich in fruits and veggies and low in refined foods is ideal for a healthy prostate.
It protects as well as promotes the healthy functioning of your gland.
According to experts, you can have a diet plan containing whole grains, fruits, veggies, tomatoes, and yogurt.
#3. Do Not Use Supplements
People usually prefer going for nutrient supplements or for supplements that boost performance.
But such supplements may have a negative impact on your glands increasing the risk of prostate cancer.
Hence, try taking foods rich in specific nutrients instead of supplements.
#4. Using Medicines Right
People often skip the medications or overdo them the wrong way.
Apart from this, it has also been seen that people take medicines without proper consultation.
For example, long usage of aspirin.
Such practices harm your glands.
Ejaculatory frequency has a controversial link with reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
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