Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: What Is Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia? What Are The Causes For The Disease And How
It Affects The Prostate? How It Is Diagnosed And What Are The
Symptoms? The Treatment Options And Medications Along With The
Side-Effects Associated.
In older men and men in their middle ages, sometimes there is
abnormal growth in the prostate gland around the urethra. This might
cause difficulty for those men in passing urine as the enlargement
in prostate causes the urethra to collapse. This condition is often
termed as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Also sometimes wrongly referred to as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy,
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is rather a growth in the number of
cells while Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy is growing size of the
individual cells. There is hyperplasia in epithelial and prostatic
stromal cells which results in a large and discrete nodular
structure in the periurethra region near the prostate gland.
When it becomes quiet large, the enlarged nodules try compressing
the urethral canal. hence obstructing the urethra partially or
sometimes completely. This condition proves as interference in
normal flowing of urine. The symptoms of Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia include hesitancy in urine discharge, painful urination,
frequent urination, an increase in the risk of getting infected in
the urinary tract as well as urinary retention.
Although the prostate antigens might be elevated in such patients
suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia because of inflammation
in the urinary tract and enlargement of the organ, Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia not at all leads to cancer or increase cancer risks.
Symptoms and Signs
Classified as voiding or storage, the symptoms of Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia are detailed below.
Storage symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia are urgency (a
compelling need to discharge urine that cannot be deferred), urinary
frequency, voiding in the night and urgency incontinence.
Voiding symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia are hesitancy (a
need to wait for the beginning of the stream), urinary stream,
straining for voiding, and intermittency (stopping of the stream
intermittently after starting).
Often Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and its conditions worsen if not
treated timely. Many other severe conditions may arise in the
urinary tract due to negligence.
Causes responsible for Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia
Mostly the hormones like testosterone and other androgens are
responsible for BPH syndrome. They might not directly be responsible
for the condition but their presence is certain. Dihydrotestosterone,
which is a metabolite belonging to testosterone is critically
responsible for mediating prostatic growth.
Being synthesized in the gland of prostate by the circulation of
testosterone caused by 5 alpha reductase enzyme, the main site for
the synthesis of DHT are the stromal cells. 5 alpha reductase
inhibitors are supposed to reduce the production of DHT and its
conversion from testosterone. Hence natural extracts such as beta
sitosterol and saw palmetto, also found in Endosterol, which is a 5
alpha reductase inhibitor, is highly beneficial in providing some
relief and suppressing of the symptoms of Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia.
Mostly Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is found in men in older ages
and typically those who lead a western lifestyle as compared to men
who lead a rural lifestyle. Though the reason why it depends on this
cause is still being studied.
How is BPH diagnosed?
A useful method to diagnose the condition of Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia is by rectal examination. This is done by taking the
tissue samples of the prostate gland by inserting a needle from the
rectum.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the
epithelial cells of the prostate gland. It is usually present in
semen of men, protecting the sperms. But sometimes it may also get
absorbed by the blood vessels and travel in the blood. Hence blood
tests can be done to investigate the PSA levels in a man. Men with
higher PSA levels are at a greater risk of developing Benign
Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Often ultrasound examination is also performed of the prostate,
testicles, and kidneys to check for malignant cancerous cells. The
signs that are noted down include bladder pain, ejaculation
problems, prolonged bladder emptying, abdominal straining, and
inflammation during urination, urgency, frequent urination,
hesitancy, weak urinary flow, etc.
Treatment options and medications
Some changes in your lifestyle can be helpful in
relieving you with the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Decreasing fluid intake before sleeping and cutting down on the
consumption of alcohol or caffeine related products can aid you
a lot.
Managing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is possible
with medicines that are either alpha blockers or 5 alpha
reductase inhibitors. Herbs like Beta sitosterol and saw
palmetto along with other herbs can be highly beneficial in
maintaining a balance of hormones in your body and providing you
a healthy life. A supplement such as Endosterol which contains
the above stated extracts is recommended to provide you an easy
going and happy life!
