BPH - Benign Prostate Hyperplasia BPH or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia is a swelling of the prostate gland that commonly occurs in men over 40.  Pressure on the bladder restricts the flow of urine.  It begins gradually but can progress to the stage where the urine stream is weak and needs to be forced, and then the bladder doesn't empty fully. This will cause you to need to urinate more often, usually at night, when it will become obvious to you and your partner. BPH is not related to cancer and can be helped by herbal products such as Saw Palmetto , over the counter medicines such as Flomax Relief and also by prescription medicines.

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See Also Prostate Health
Related Pages : Flomax Relief : Flomax Relief Checklist : Saw Palmetto : Bladder Weakness : Cystitis : Impotence :
Related Articles : BPH - Benign Prostate Hyperplasia ::

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What Is BPH?

BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is the medical term for an enlarged prostate gland which is not caused by prostate cancer. Benign means that it isn't serious, in the way that cancer is, and hyperplasia means producing more cells and growing larger, rather than just swelling.

The symptoms of BPH are caused by  the urethra (the tube emptying the bladder) being restricted due to the swelling of the prostate. This results in having to exert more pressure to empty the bladder. It then becomes harder to pass urine and the urine flow now restricted to a dribble, just starts and stops, or continues to dribble after you have stopped urinating.. The bladder does not fully empty, and this causes the feeling that there is more urine to pass, but it won't come. It also causes you to urinate more frequently, something that is especially noticeable at night. There is also an increase in urgency, so when you need to urinate you can't hold it and you may have an accident. This can reach the stage where it can severely restrict what you can do, as you must always be aware where the toilet is in case you have to suddenly need it.

One in four men over the age of 40 are estimated to suffer from BPH.  It is something to watch out for because it begins and progresses so gradually that sometimes your partner will be the first to notice the changes and bring up the subject.

The cause of BPH is far from clear. It appears to be stimulated by testosterone but is also influenced by oestrogen levels (men have oestrogen as well as women). Lifestyle also plays a big part. Western lifestyle greatly increases the incidence, while a rural lifestyle diminishes it.

Some medicines can cause urine retention, where it is difficult to urinate. Prescribed medicines include some antidepressants, and over the counter medicines include some decongestants and antihistamines. Check if any medicines you are taking have this side effect.

Treatment Of BPH

BPH should be diagnosed by a doctor to confirm what is being treated and the best course of action discussed. However, an initial trial of Saw Palmetto or up to six weeks use of Flomax Relief may be tried before visiting the doctor to see if these products help. Treatment options should then be discussed with your doctor.

The muscles in the bladder wall thicken in BPH due to the extra work they have to do. This makes them less stretchy and able to hold less urine. Try to hold on a bit longer in between urinating as this causes your bladder to get used to holding more urine. This is called bladder training.

If the condition has become serious your doctor should be consulted straight away. Some symptoms that would indicate something more serious would include:

• Pain on passing urine
• Leaking of urine or urinary incontinence
• High temperature, fever or sweating could indicate a urine infection
• Bloody or cloudy urine could indicate a urine infection

Lifestyle Advice

Some men with BPH have found that the following lifestyle changes can ease the symptoms:

• Avoid drinking any liquids for one to two hours before going to bed. This can help to reduce the amount of times you have to get up at night to pass water. However, you should not restrict drinking during the rest of the day as this may cause dehydration. If anything you will need to drink a little more to keep flushing through fresh urine into the bladder, otherwise it may stagnate and increase the chance of cystitis and urine infection
• Stop drinking alcohol or caffeine, or limit consumption of them, because they can irritate the bladder and make the symptoms worse.
• Take regular exercise such as walking 30 to 60 minutes a day. This can improve symptoms by toning muscles.
• Increasing the amount of fruit and fibre eaten to avoid constipation, which can put pressure on the bladder
• Avoid unnecessary use of cold and allergy medicines such as decongestants and anti-histamines, which can affect muscles in the bladder

Further Information & References

• Benign Prostate Hyperplasia - Patient UK
• What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia? - Prostate UK