What Is Enlarged Prostate
Enlarged prostate refers to the state in which the prostate is enlarged but not cancerous.
Hormonal changes and cell growth resulting from the aging process may cause the prostate to swell, often impinging upon and compressing the urethra. This causes the bladder walls to become thicker and can prevent the bladder from emptying completely.
The Path To Better Prostate Health
Because the PAE procedure does not involve surgery or physical removal of part of the prostate, patients will not see results immediately. The first changes are seen most commonly one to two months after the procedure, with continued improvement until about four months.
The most common side effects of PAE immediately after the procedure include urethral burning and increased urinary frequency. These side effects usually stop within a week.
The good news? According to Dr. Isaacson, about 75 to 80 percent of men treated with PAE experience a significant and lasting improvement.
UNC Medical Center is one of just a few hospitals in the U.S. that offers PAE to patients who are not enrolled in a clinical trial. Appointments for evaluation are available in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Hillsborough and Siler City. You can make an appointment or .
How Effective Is Combining Drugs
Alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are sometimes combined to try to relieve the symptoms as quickly as possible and at the same time prevent the prostate from growing further. This combination is considered for men who have severe symptoms and a very enlarged prostate gland. Their prostate gland is more likely to grow even larger.
Combining these drugs can lower the risk of the symptoms getting worse or complications arising. But these advantages only became apparent after one to two years of treatment, and only in men with very large prostate glands.
The disadvantage: Ejaculation problems and erection problems are more likely in people who use this combination than in people who only use alpha blockers.
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Enlarged Prostate This Treatment Can Help You Avoid Sexual Side Effects
Benign prostatic hyperplasia , or enlarged prostate, is a common condition in men older than age 50. BPH occurs when the prostate gland becomes enlarged and begins to press on the urethra the tube that carries urine out of the body.
When the prostate continues to grow, it can lead to urinary symptoms that include:
- Leaking or dribbling of urine
- Frequent nighttime awakenings to urinate
- Urinary retention or urgency
- A weak urine stream
BPH is not prostate cancer and it doesnt lead to cancer. However, the two conditions may have similar symptoms in the early stages
So its important that men who experience these symptoms be evaluated by a mens health specialist to rule out cancer and determine the best treatment options to relieve their symptoms.
Without treatment, BPH can lead to serious complications in some men, including incontinence, kidney or bladder damage, urinary tract infections and bladder stones. In some extreme cases, BPH can cause a total inability to urinate and require emergency catheterization.
Table 4 Common Dosages Of Bph Drugs
| Generic Name | ||
| 2 mg to 8 mg daily | ||
| Doxazosin extended-release | 4 mg to 8 mg daily | |
| Prazosin | 2 mg to 10 mg daily | |
| Silodosin | 4 mg to 8 mg daily | 4 mg to 8 mg daily |
| Tamsulosin | 0.4 mg or 0.8 mg daily | |
| Terazosin | 2 mg to 10 mg daily | |
| Finasteride | ||
| 0.5 mg daily | 0.5 mg daily |
Also, little research has been done on whether race or age makes a difference in how men respond to the BPH drugs. Some major studies have included very elderly men and black men, but so far there is no definitive evidence that the effectiveness or side effects of treatment differ between black and white men or older men.
Silodosin is the newest alpha-blocker. The FDA approved this medicine in late 2008. In two studies involving a total of 923 men, those receiving Rapaflo showed an improvement in their symptoms and urinary-flow rate compared with those who took a placebo pill over 12 weeks. But since the drug does not have the long track record of use of some of the other alpha-blockers, its safety profile is not yet firmly established. In addition, its more expensive. At $159-$163 per month, depending on dose, it is one of the most expensive alpha-blockers, and costs significantly more than generic doxazosin, which runs $8 or less per month. For those reasons, wed advise it not be used as initial treatment at this time.
How the drugs work
Studies dont indicate any difference in the effectiveness or safety of finasteride and dutasteride, and, at the current time, neither is known to have any advantages over the other.
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How Prostate Supplements Help To Reduce* Enlarged Prostate
Prostate supplements are believed to reduce an enlarged prostate by supporting prostate health with nutrients, antioxidants, minerals, and other beneficial ingredients. Shrinking the prostate gland as well as slowing down its growth rate is what conventional prostate medication also does.
However, medication for the treatment of an enlarged prostate can cause side effects, and some men dont like the idea of taking medicine.
For this and many other reasons, men will turn to prostate supplements as a natural way to treat their enlarged prostate.
Supplements That Show Promise
Other supplements show hopeful signs of helping in studies so far, but thereâs less research on these than the more common options.
Pumpkin seeds: These and pumpkin seed oil extract seem to help with BPH symptoms and may shrink the size of the prostate. It may also be helpful when used along with other supplements such as saw palmetto.
Stinging nettle: This is a type of herb, and its root may help with urine flow and waking up a lot at night to pee. Itâs sometimes used along with other supplements to treat BPH symptoms.
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Table 1 Classes Of Drugs Used To Treat Bph
| Generic Name | Available as a Generic Drug? |
| Alpha-blockers | |
| Yes |
1. Prazosin is prescribed off-label to treat BPH.
The erectile dysfunction medication, tadalafil , is approved for treating enlarged prostate symptoms, and a combination pill, Jalyn, which contains both dutasteride and tamsulosin, is also available. Neither of those were included in the analysis that forms the basis of this report, so we do not discuss them. However, the pros and cons of combination therapy with an alpha blocker and a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor are discussed further below.
How To Reduce Prostate Size
This article was medically reviewed by . Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 65,131 times.
The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system that can enlarge with age, putting uncomfortable pressure on the urethra. This can cause urinary difficulties, urinary tract infections , and even bladder stones. By making lifestyle changes and using medication, most men can reduce their urinary troubles. A few men, though, may need to consider minimally invasive or traditional surgery options to feel their best.
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Vitamin D Deficiency: Health Complications
Additionally, vitamin D deficiency can increase cardiovascular risk factors. Some of them increases the risk of BPH. These parameters are inversely related to prostate volume. In other words, as obesity or hypertension becomes worse, the prostate gland tends to increase.
Another vitamin D deficiency risk that causes prostate enlargement is oxidative stress. In an environment with excess free radicals, the structures of the molecules start to change. The prostate tissue undergoes changes as well and starts to grow in response.
Thats why a recent study evaluated all of these associations, and the authors gave their opinion. They suggest that vitamin D deficiency counts as an independent risk factor for BPH. In other words, you can have normal health, but vitamin D deficiency alone will cause BPH. The authors of this study published in the journal Urology recommend vitamin D as a therapeutic target and a potential marker of BPH .
Similarly, other studies have evaluated the effect of vitamin D levels in the incidence of prostate cancer. The authors report that vitamin D levels are lower in patients with BPH. However, they are still lower in patients with prostate cancer. As vitamin D levels were reduced, the Gleason score and the aggressiveness of cancer increased .
Best Evidence Yet: Ejaculation Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk
Nick Mulcahy
May 17, 2015
NEW ORLEANS Good news, men: you may be able to decrease your risk for prostate cancer by ejaculating frequently, according to research presented here at American Urological Association 2015 Annual Meeting.
The frothy advice is not new but is now backed up by the strongest evidence to date on the subject, according to lead author Jennifer Rider, ScD, MPH, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
There is no modifiable risk factor for developing prostate cancer, Dr Rider told Medscape Medical News. It would be exciting to tell men that there was a way to modify their risk.
However, she noted that these are observational data and urged caution when interpreting them.
The results are fascinating, said Jesse Sammon, MD, a urologist at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, who attended Dr Riders presentation. It was the highlight of the session on cancer epidemiology the moderator called it the study most likely to be tweeted.
These are incredibly high-quality data, said Dr Sammon, who was not involved with the study.
The data come from nearly 32,000 men in the prospective Health Professionals Follow-up Study, who now have been followed for 18 years.
During the study period, 3839 men have been diagnosed with incident prostate cancer, 384 cases of which were lethal.
At ages 40 to 49, men most reported 8 to 12 ejaculations per month only 8.8% reported at least 21 ejaculations per month.
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How Is This Cancer Diagnosed
Your veterinarian may feel an enlarged prostate during a physical examination. With this finding, your veterinarian may recommend certain diagnostics to determine why the prostate is enlarged and if it could be due to a tumor. This may include obtaining a sample of cells from the prostate either by catheterization or by performing an ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the prostate.
Your veterinarian may feel an enlarged prostate during a physical examination.
FNA involves taking a small needle with a syringe and suctioning a sample of cells directly from the prostate. The cells are placed on a microscope slide. A veterinary pathologist then examines the slide under a microscope. When a diagnosis cannot be made with either of these procedures, a surgical biopsy may need to be considered.
Bloodwork may also be recommended. This may show a higher than normal calcium level due to a protein produced by the tumor.
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How Do You Find The Prostate
Now for the how-to: You can first access the prostate via the perineum, a spot right in between the testicles and the anus. Communication is important during every step. Even before you begin, consider talking to your partner about what feels right for both of you. You can decide on things like how many fingers might feel best. You can agree on whether a firm touch or a lighter touch is in order. Maybe as you talk things through, youll discover you both feel comfortable enough to explore and see what feels right in the moment. That way, even if prostate massage isnt something you regularly want to incorporate into your sex life, youll have explored it in a way that feels safe and fun for everyone involved.
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Diagnosis Of An Enlarged Prostate
The doctor will ask some detailed questions about the symptoms and by doing a physical exam. This will include:
- Urine test: The doctor will analyze the sample of your urine which can help to detect the infection or conditions which can cause the symptoms.
- Blood test: This will indicate kidney problems
- Digital rectal exam: The doctor here inserts a finger into the rectum to check for prostate enlargement
If the condition is bad, the doctor will recommend:
- Prostate biopsy: In transrectal ultrasound, needles are used to take some tissue samples of the prostate. By examining the tissue, the doctor can determine the problem.
- Cystoscopy: This is a lighted, flexible instrument which is inserted into the urethra, which allows the doctor to see the inside of the bladder. The doctor will give the anesthesia.
- Transrectal ultrasound: An ultrasound probe is inserted in the rectum to measure and examine your prostate.
How To Treat Enlarged Prostate Naturally At Home: 5 Tips
Enlarged prostate, aka benign prostatic hyperplasia , is the disorder generally impacting males over 50 years old and older. This condition is not similar to prostate cancer.
The prostate is a muscular, small gland featuring with the shape of a walnut in the male reproductive system. It surrounds the urethra, below the urinary bladder and adds fluids to semen to let sperm mobile. Overtime and with age, the cells of the gland start to multiply, resulting in an enlarged prostate. Despite the precise cause of enlarged prostate is not known, changes in male sex hormones with age might be a basic factor.
If left untreated, an enlarged prostate could block the urine flow, resulting in other complications such as UTIs, kidney damage, urinary retention, and bladder stones.
There are a few effective treatments for this condition, containing medications, surgery, and therapies. However, before you go for those treatments, consider using some natural ingredients available in your home to deal with your problem naturally. Here, VKool.com introduces some useful tips on how to treat enlarged prostate naturally at home that you could implement right instantly. Check out now!
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Foods High In Vitamin D
So, what vitamin D foods that shrink the prostate gland do we recommend?
Heres a list you can consider for your next visit to the grocery store:
- Salmon: 3 ounces provide your body with 647 IU of vitamin D, which is a lot. It also has omega 3 fatty acids that aid in the absorption of vitamin D. Other types of fish are excellent, too, including cod, tuna, and halibut.
- Soymilk: Regular milk has vitamin D when fortified, and soymilk is an alternative for vegetarians. It has up to 119 IU of vitamin D for each cup.
- Eggs: If you do not take out the yolk, you get a total of 118 IU of vitamin D for each cup of boiled eggs.
- Foods fortified with vitamin D: Other foods such as breakfast cereals and dairy are fortified with vitamin D. You can find fortified foods by looking at the labels.
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Proven Ingredients In Best Prostate Supplements Learn The Science
The research on prostate supplements and natural ingredients used in the treatment of BPH is insufficient to know for sure if these products work.
Most research was done on Saw Palmetto, Green Tea, Zinc, and Calcium and the study findings are frequently inconclusive. However, these ingredients were found to help some men find relief from their symptoms, and more research is needed to understand how these products help men treat BPH.
Saw Palmetto An herbal extract thats been consistently found useful in clinical trials investigating its effect on prostate function.
One such study was published in 2000 in the Journal of Urology by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine.
In this study, 44 men with an enlarged prostate received either a saw palmetto supplement or a placebo pill. Saw Palmetto can help shrink your prostate and improve urinary symptoms.
Beta-Sitosterol It has powerful prostate-shrinking effects. A clinical trial conducted by researchers in Germany followed a group of men randomly selected to receive either a beta-sitosterol supplement or a placebo for six months.
After six months of follow-up, the researchers reviewed the results and determined that the beta-sitosterol supplement was effective at reducing symptoms compared to a placebo. The researchers then followed a subset of these subjects for another twelve months.
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The Importance Of Prostate Massage
Prostate massage is a treatment that addresses the root cause of most prostate issues. Treatments like surgery and medications only provide temporary relief by treating the symptoms and not the cause.
> > > Prostate Massage for Optimal Prostate Health
On the other hand, regular prostate massages encourage the gland to work without problems. A man will not be subjected to dangerous side effects from medication or complications from surgery. Massage also helps make the prostate stronger and more resistant from disease and infection.
Advantages Of Prostate Massage
Although regular prostate massage can help to eliminate or reduce the severity of any symptoms a man may have, it can also offer other benefits especially with improved sexual enjoyment and function.
It is a fact that modern medicine has not been able to determine the causes and treatments for many conditions related to the prostate. Even though prevention is the best medicine, prostate massage will help improve your prostateâs health and prevent existing conditions from becoming worse.
A manâs sexual health is directly related to the health of his prostate. It is common for men with prostate problem to either lose the desire to be intimate due to a painful prostate or experienced burning sensations during the ejaculation process.
However, in the case of bacterial prostatitis, left untreated, can cause intense inflammation and increased bacterial growth.
- | May 30, 2016