DR. WALKER

Prostate Enlargement or Benign Prosthetic Hyperplasia (BPH)

What is BPH?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland commonly seen in men over the age of 65. Prostate is a gland located just below the urinary bladder. The urethra is a tube that drains urine from the bladder through the penis. As the prostate gland enlarges, there may be pressure on the urethra obstructing urine flow.

Some symptoms of BPH:

Increased urine frequency at night
Inability to empty the bladder
Weak urine flow
Difficulty initiating urine stream
Excessive dribbling at the end of urination
Incomplete emptying

Men at risk for BPH:
Age:

BPH is seldom a problem before age 50 but about half men at age 80 experience some degree of prostate enlargement.

Men with known heart disease.

There is some association between heart disease and drugs commonly used to treat some types of heart disease, to include beta blockade. Beta blockers might increase risk for BPH.

Family history:

Some genetic predisposition for BPH, specifically if brother or father also suffers from BPH.

How is BPH diagnosed?

Generally, evaluation of the prostate gland is done by digital rectal examination (DRE) in which a provider inserts a finger into the rectum to determine if there is prostatic enlargement. Additionally, a prostate specific antigen (PSA) is often done in conjunction with the DRE. PSA elevation can be seen in the setting of an enlarged prostate however, PSA elevation may be nonspecific as other things to include infection and prostate cancer may also have elevated PSA. Finally, an ultrasound may be completed to measure and evaluate the size of the prostate gland.

Home remedies and additional considerations.
Stinging Nettle:

Stinging nettle is a herbal medication sometimes used to treat arthritis and back pain in ancient Egyptian days. The herb is thought to prevent the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. Stopping the conversion may reduce the prostate size. Studies suggest that this extract could help to treat BPH without significant side effects.

Saw palmetto:

There is some evidence that saw palmetto may be able to shrink the prostate to near normal size.

Herbs/nutrients:

Selenium and green tea extract may also help. Avoid milk products/cow’s milk.

Caution:

Some over-the-counter medications to include antihistamines and decongestant could worsen symptoms of BPH as these may prevent muscles near the neck of the bladder to relax adequately to allow urine to flow freely.

References:

https://bit.ly/3u6b6YY
https://mayocl.in/2IsecQr