The prostate is a male
sex gland which produces a thick fluid that forms
part of the semen. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
is an enlargement of the prostate due to non-cancerous
growth within the gland.
What causes it?
It is believed to be due
to a normal physiological process of aging.
Although the growth is
benign, progressive enlargement of the gland may cause
significant obstruction of the urethra and interfere
with the normal flow of urine.
Benign prostatic
hyperplasia affects more than half of all men
aged over 60 years, and up to 90% of men aged
over 80 years.
What are
the common symptoms?
Not every men with BPH experience
symptoms. Less than half of all men with BPH do not show
any symptoms of the disease. For the symptomatic ones, common
symptoms are:
Urgency: finding it difficult to postpone urination
Hesitancy: having to wait before you start to urinate
Frequency: having to urinate more often than previously
Nocturia: needing to get up at night to urinate
Weak urine flow
A burning sensation or pain while urinating
In sever cases, the bladder cannot
expel urine and results in urinary retention, causing swelling
and pain in the lower abdominal area.
Many symptoms of BPH are similar
to those found with prostate cancer, but they are not related.
Having BPH does not automatically increase the risk of prostate
cancer.
How
can I prevent it?
The benign enlargement
of the prostate is a normal physiological process.
There is no specific preventive method.
What should I do if
I have suspicious symptoms?
If you notice any symptoms
as described above, you should consult a doctor immediately.
For suspected cases, the
doctor may carry out some investigations. These include
rectal examination, blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound
examination and procedures to obtain tissue samples
for laboratory examination to isolate any cancerous
cells.
What
is the treatment?
The doctor will recommend
the optimal treatment depending on the size of prostate
gland, along with the extent to which it affects the
patient's life, and the presence of any other medical
conditions. For some men, especially those who are
old or having other medical problems, the "treatment"
of choice may simply be "watchful waiting"
with regular medical examination to monitor the situation
and prevent complications.
Effective treatments for
BPH include surgery and drug therapies, alone or in
combination, to decrease the size of the prostate
or reduce the severity of symptoms.
How can I help myself?
If you have a diagnosis of BPH,
there are many things you can do to cope better and to improve
your quality of life, including:
Avoid drinking large volumes of fluids at one time,
or before bed.
Limit your intake of drinks containing alcohol or caffeine.
Use prescribed medications properly. Some cough mixtures,
anti-cold or decongestant medications may aggravate the
symptoms.
Treat urinary infection early.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Understand your illness and its
treatment will enable you to cope better. If you have any
suspicions, you should seek medical advice.
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