Benign Prostrate Hyperplasia (Bph): Problem and Treatment
Benign prostrate hyperplasia (BPH) affects older men, mostly sixty years and older. While it is non-cancerous, it can cause a great deal of discomfort that can be avoided through treatment.
There are those that worry about prostrate cancer, but there is a far more common condition, known as prostrate hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostrate gland. Symptoms consist of frequent urination, getting out of bed to urinate at night and incomplete voiding. Those in their sixties and older are usually susceptible to BPH.
Doctors usually perform a rectal examination to feel the prostrate enlargement. A reduced urine flow suggests BPH. A test is also performed for high blood levels of prostrate-specific antigen (PSA), which is a sign of prostrate cancer. Those who suffer from the symptoms are advised to have frequent checkups.
Treatment: Muscle tissues in the prostrate and bladder are treated with alpha blockers for relaxation, in order to facilitate easier urination. These include doxazosin (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax), and terazosin (Hytrin). These drugs are administered in tablet or capsule forms, once daily, at bedtime.
Doctors also usually prescribe finasteride (Proscar) that helps shrink the prostrate, which is in the form of a tablet, given everyday.
A herbal supplement, known as saw palmetto helps relieve symptoms of BPH, including frequent urination. Based on a review, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), saw palmetto is found to be just as effective as finasteride, with fewer side effects. It is advisable to consult your doctor if you are considering taking saw palmetto.
Doctors may recommend surgery in severe cases of BPH. It is a 90-minute operation called transurethral resection of the prostrate (TURP). An electrical loop is attached to an instrument, passed through the urethra into the bladder, in order to cut away extra prostrate tissue.
There are other non-surgical alternatives, such as balloon dilation, or the insertion of stents (wire mesh tubes inserted into the urethra to widen the opening, in order to facilitate easing the urine flow.
In conclusion, those suffering from BPH should not be alarmed, as long as they adhere to the necessary treatments, as specified above.
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Lord Banks | Nov 23, 2009 | Reply
I did not know that, My father passed away from prostrate cancer, I have to have regular check ups, good advice good article.
palak2008 | Nov 23, 2009 | Reply
It’s sad Lord Banks…..It’s a great helpful article..