Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Meaning, Diagnosis and Overview

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

  • Prostate gland enlargement is a common condition as men get older.
  • The prostate is a small gland found only in men, located between the penis and bladder.
  • If the prostate becomes enlarged, it can place pressure on the bladder and urethra, the tube through which urine passes.
  • Around 60% of men who are aged 60 or over have some degree of prostate enlargement.
BPH Overview

Recovery Time

  • Mild symptoms get treated with medication or monitoring symptoms with exercises.
  • Severe symptoms are treated by surgery and it recovers in 4 to 6 weeks.

Diagnosis

  • Medical history
  • Physical examination
  • Digital rectal exam
  • Urinalysis
  • Neurological teat
  • Prostate-specific antigen blood test (PSA)
  • Urinary flow test
  • Trans rectal ultrasound
  • Prostate biopsy
  • Postvoid residual volume test
  • Intravenous urography (X-ray)

FAQs prepared by doctor


Q1.  Why is alcohol, tea and caffeine is advised restriction in BPH?
  • Alcohol, caffeine, tea is diuretic
  • They increase the amount of urine that enters your bladder.
  • Alcohol can directly cause the bladder neck to constrict, making urination more difficult and the bladder less efficient. Alcohol also can hinder the ability of the prostate muscle to relax, further irritating the bladder and making benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarge prostate symptoms worse. Finally, with an obstructed urinary tract, alcohol can trigger a complete blockage.
  • The caffeine (in coffee) and theophylline (found in tea) can stimulate an already overactive bladder, which means it can increase urinary frequency and urgency and may even result in urge incontinence. Another way caffeine can affect prostate health is through its ability to irritate the bladder because it is a theoxanthine). Theophylline also stimulates and irritates the bladder.
Q2.  Is BPH a sign of cancer?
  • No.
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate; usually begin in the fifth decade of life in men. It is possible to have both BPH and prostate cancer, having BPH does not increase your risk of having prostate cancer. However, because early symptoms of both conditions are similar, it is important to see your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms associated with a urinary condition.
Q3.  Is surgery the best option for BPH?
  • NO
  • Watchful waiting: Is recommended as an important and best option for men who have mild symptoms and do not find them particularly bothersome.
  • Medical therapy: Today most common method for controlling moderate symptoms of BPH. Several medications are available to control moderate symptoms of BPH.
  • Minimally invasive treatment: Several minimally invasive therapies are available that allows the doctor to access the prostate through urethra and reduce the size of the prostate or decrease obstruction of the urethra.
Surgical treatment:
  • Surgical options for such patients include transurethral resection of the prostate, transurethral laser prostatectomy (which consists of resection, ablation, and vaporization), transurethral incision of the prostate, and open prostatectomy (usually when the prostate weight is >100 g).




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