How to Cope With an Enlarged Prostate

The prostate is part of a man's urinary and reproductive system. Its main function is to produce the white fluid that transports sperm, but it also keeps both urine and sperm flowing in the right direction. It surrounds the urethra, and is normally the size of a walnut, but can grow in middle aged men to the point where it impedes the flow of urine from the bladder, creating a need for frequent urination. If severe enough, the swelling can back up urine to the kidneys and cause infection. This condition is known as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, or BPH. Here's how to handle the situation.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. If you suspect you have prostate problems, get a physical examination. A doctor can detect an enlarged prostate through a digital rectal exam, DRE or a cytoscope inserted through the urethra. Men over 50 should get a DRE annually, as well as test for elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, which is a warning sign of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer affects more than 220,000 men in the U.S. each year, killing 27,000, so if you have prostate problems, it's vital to get tested for cancer.

2. If you have BPH, your physician may offer to prescribe Finasteride, sold as Proscar, a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor. This drug works by slowing the body's production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Proscar takes 3 to 6 months to work, and is not effective in many cases. In later studies, Merk, the manufacturer, noticed that men on Proscar started to regrow their hair, so it's now also marketed as ****. Unfortunately, the drug can produce erectile dysfunction and depression. In some head to head studies, a common herb, Saw palmetto, has also been shown to shrink prostates as effectively as Proscar, but while Procar sells for $100 a month, Saw Palmetto can be had for $7. So far, there have been no major studies on whether or not saw palmetto ameliorates hair loss.

3. Consider tamsulosin hydrochloride, or Flomax. As an alpha blocker, it belongs to the same class of drugs that relieve high blood pressure. It doesn't work on the cause, but BPH's symptoms, relaxing the smooth muscles in the prostate for better urine flow.

4. A drug-free method of reducing BPH symptoms is to learn Kegel exercises which will strengthen the pelvic muscles. These exercises are usually employed by women to strengthen vaginal muscles after pregnancy, but they can also help men regain bladder control. Additionally, men can achieve stronger erections and manage their ejaculations better.

5. Practice better fluid control. Don't drink a lot at once. Spread beverage consumption throughout the day and don't drink 2 hours before bed. Avoid diuretics like alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner.

6. Don't take over-the-counter medicine with anti-histamines or decongestants, which can accentuate symptoms.

7. Consider surgery as a last resort. The most common procedure is transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP. A scope is inserted in the ****, and the prostate is removed piece by piece. If you opt for transurethral incision of the prostate, or TUIP, a small incision is made in the prostate to enlarge the opening for the urethra, but the gland stays. An open prostatectomy is the most invasive BHP operation, where the body is slit open from scrotum to anus and the entire prostate is removed.

Resources

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