Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or
Hypertrophy
The condition known
as benign prostatic
hyperplasia or BPH
is a condition that affects men in the middle age or above. BPH is
swelling of the prostatic gland because of prostatic cancer or
benign tumor. The diagnostic of benign prostate hyperplasia can be
made by the sufferer itself or the physician.
The prostate gland
grows wrapped around the upper portion of the urethra and sometimes
it swells and causes negative side effects on the
body. The other
name of benign prostatic hyperplasia is benign prostatic
hypertrophy.
Some of the
symptoms of benign
hyperplasia are involuntary urination, difficulty urination,
weak stream, painful urination and sometimes even complete
inability to urinate. This condition is very uncomfortable and
harmful in the ability of properly working and a healthy urinary
system.
The contemporary
medicine still does not know what cause benign prostatic
hyperplasia.The scientific
studies conducted have not been able to locate specific risk
factors and causes and thus make it hard or impossible to prevent
BPH through the lifestyle, diet or exercise changes.
It has been known
from long ago that people who suffer from BPH and there is a link
between the male hormones and aging and growth of the prostate
gland.
Throughout their
lives men mainly produce their male hormone testosterone and a
small amount of the female hormone estrogen.
The natural
side-effect of aging is the amount of testosterone active in the
bloodstream diminishes. This minimizes the ration between the
testosterone and estrogen and the increased estrogen in the blood
could be of significance of the stimulating growth of the prostate
gland later in life.
Another reason for
benign prostatic hyperplasia is the increase in the levels
of dihydrotestosterone
. This
substance is derived of testosterone and has important part in the
regulation of the prostate growth. In nature when animals get older
they stop producing dihydrotestosterone
.
But in humans even
when the testosterone levels diminish during the aging process,
men’s body are still able to produce high levels of
dihydrotestosterone
in the
prostate gland.
Researchers have
found out that high levels of this hormone promotes cell growth in
the prostate and for men who do not produce dihydrotestosterone
it
is known not to develop benign prostatic
hyperplasia.
A small surgical
operation is the treatment to correct the BPH. It
is known as transurethral resection
of the prostate and represents
removal of portion of the prostate gland in order to relieve the
pressure on the urethra and to restore the proper urine
flow.
After the surgery
patients will stay in the hospital for one or two days just for
observation.
The side effects of
the surgery treatment are frequent urination because of the
swelling and strenuous activities as well as sexual intercourse
have to be avoided for a period of six weeks. After that period of
time there should be no side effects.
BPH can also be
corrected with operation and it is known as less severe
cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. It can be
treated with some medications and massage therapy.
Some men will
develop BPH during their lifetime. That is why it is good to do
regular prostate exams and knowledge of the BPH’s symptoms. They
can lead to early recognition and diagnosis of the benign prostatic
hyperplasia.
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