What is an Enlarged Prostate - Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy - Remedies For An Enlarged Prostate
When a male hits puberty, the prostate gland grows from the size of a small marble to the
size of a small orange. The prostate is a walnut shaped organ that surrounds the urethra and is located just below the bladder. This small organ carries urine and semen through the penis. The prostate continues to grow for a short time after puberty and suddenly stops growing.
Around the age of 50 the prostate starts to grow again and can cause a variety of medical
problems. When the prostate starts to grow, it is a medical condition called "Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy" or BPH. The condition is commonly known as an enlarged prostate. The reasons for the enlargement of the prostate are not positively agreed on by the medical community.
However, there are variety of clinical trials that provide some evidence that age and
an hormonal change may be contributing factors to the sudden growth of the prostate gland. The change in hormonal levels of estrogen and prolactin. The enlarged prostate is also related to reduction of the male hormones testosterone.
As a man ages estrogen and prolactin increase while decreasing the rate at which testosterone and the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) reduces the ability of testosterone to be released from the prostate gland. This reduction causes the DHT to accumulates in the gland and is thought to be the major cause of the prostate enlargement.
The cells that are not eliminated in the form of testosterone form nodules. It is these small nodules that put pressure the urethra The pressure causes pain and discomfort. When left untreated BPH can lead to prostatitis. Some of the common symptoms of an enlarged prostrate include:
Weakening of strength
Frequency of urination
Urgency of urination
Takes longer to urinate
Feeling of always needing to urinate
Getting up during the night to urinate
Reduction of urine stream
The
enlargement of the prostate gland does not mean that the gland is malignant. After the age of 40 men should routinely have the prostrate test done at their annual check up.
The Doctor can perform a simple test to determine the health of the prostate. The test for an enlarged prostrate is simple and the results usually show that the enlargement is harmless.
The enlargement starts by causing discomfort but should be checked by a medical specialist. Problems can occur when the bladder is unable to empty completely. This problem will can cause infection in the bladder and the kidneys.
Common remedies for an enlarged prostate include using the Alpha Blockers drug treatment to relax the muscles around the prostrate and the muscle where the bladder and prostrate come together.
To protect the health of the prostate , nutritionist and medical experts suggest a healthy diet including lots of fruits and vegetables. The restriction of dietary fats is recommended. Avoiding high -fat junk food and as many toxins in the environment are recommended. Taking a proactive approach to nutrition is a vital element is avoiding prostrate problems. Vitamin supplementation of the diet including antioxidants is recommended to protect the tissues in the prostrate from oxidative damage.
Lifestyle changes may be recommended to insure that the prostrate remains healthy is a critical element in the overall protection of this problem. Regular medical checkups can serve as a preventive measure before any symptoms are encountered. Traditional and non traditional treatments for prostate health should be discussed with a medical professional who can recommend specific actions to improve prostrate health.
