Inside The Most Common Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Signs And Enlarged Prostate Symptoms


by Tim Gorman - Date: 2007-02-11 - Word Count: 444 Share This!

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, otherwise known as an enlarged prostate, is a condition most common in man over the age of forty.

Enlarged prostate is the most common health problem in men over sixty. Approximately ninety percent of men in their seventies and eighties have an enlarged prostate. Having a family history of the condition slightly elevates a man's risk of developing an enlarged prostate himself.

The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut. The prostate gland grows from the size of a pea until maturity. The prostate undergoes another growth spurt in your mid to late forties. This period of growth is more rapid in the central interior part of the gland. This rapid growth of the prostate gland can result in one of two common problems:

Compress the urethra, while partially or completely blocking the flow of urine. Muscles around the urethra to contract, making it difficult for the urethra to relax and let urine flow.

As the prostate becomes larger, it will begin to squeeze the urethra-it then in turn narrows. The bladder must then push urine through the newly slimmed down urethra more forcefully, which makes urination difficult with an enlarged prostate. Leaving this enlarged prostate symptom untreated can lead to acute urinary retention, a complete shutdown of urination. It is a serious condition.

Other serious conditions that can develop as a result of an untreated enlarged prostate gland are kidney damage, bladder damage, and bladder stones.

Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate

Urinary problems are the most common enlarged prostate symptom. Other signs associated with this condition include, he inability to empty the bladder, urine leakage, frequent trips to the restroom (particularly around bedtime), difficulty starting urination.

Serious enlarged prostate conditions are characterized by symptoms like losing the ability to urinate,nausea, fever, and chills, or if lower back pain becomes accompanied by blood in the urine.

Treating an Enlarged Prostate Gland

Treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia vary in accordance with individual cases. Some patients may be treated with monitoring, other, more serious cases, may require medication or surgery. There are two medications used for enlarged prostate treatment- Alpha-blockers and Finasteride. Alpha-blockers may relieve the symptoms of enlarged prostate by relaxing the gland's muscles. Finasteride can prompt shrinkage of the prostate gland.

The trans urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the most common surgical procedure for treating enlarged prostate symptoms. The procedure consist of scraping away at the core of the prostate while implementing the help of a telescope. Tissue is removed from the prostate gland during the procedure. The trans urethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) is a relatively new surgical option. This surgery makes a few small cuts in the prostate to relieve it's pressure on the urethra.


Related Tags: prostate gland, enlarged prostate symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia, enlarged prostate gland

For more information on the most common enlarged prostate symptoms try visiting http://www.onlineprostatehealthguide.com, a popular website that provides prostate gland health tips, advice and resources to include information on Gleason scores and prostate cancer.

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