Blog

Tick tock the clock is ticking men…

look around some of use are a decade or 2 from 50…

 some of us are 50 and could be dealing with this right now and don’t know it.

What am I talking about three letters BPH.

 

BPH is simply benign (meaning not cancerous) prostatic (prostate) hypertrophy (enlarged) so all that  means an enlarged prostate so no it’s not going to kill you but it can be very bothersome.

And there is something you can do to avoid BPH.

 

What is BPH?

BPH is when the prostate which surrounds the urethra enlarges so that it squeezes the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine and semen out of the penis.

So think of BPH as a clamp surrounding your urethra (yes take in that mental picture).

 

Symptoms:

When the prostate enlarges large enough it causes a man’s urine stream to become weaker. It causes him to leak pee after urinating. It makes it harder for a man to start to urinate. It also causes a man to have to urinate more frequently. So think of BPH as causing a lot of urination problems. If you think your suffering from BPH what will your provider do?

 

The provider will first listen to your symptoms (see above). Then he may order some blood work.

 

Urinalysis: Your provider will take a look at your urine to make sure that you are not suffering from a urinary tract infection which can mimic the symptoms of BPH.

 

PSA (prostate specific antigen): the goal is to have a level less than 2 but it is age specific because your prostate grows with you..

At age 40: PSA of 2.5 is ok

At age  50: PSA of 3.5

At age 60: PSA of. 4.5

 

If your level is elevated based on your age your doctor may choose to observe you, or start you on medication based on your symptoms.

 

 

Medications:

Zosins: (tamsulosin: Flomax),( terazosin: hytrin)- these drugs relax the prostate so that it decreases the grip on the urethra . May take up to two weeks to work. Does not decrease size of prostate just grip

Finasteride: Proscar- decreases the size of the prostate given for very large prostates.  Not as effective as zosins

 

 

Prevention:

Studies have linked BPH with:

• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Lack of exercise
• Cigarette smoking.
• Low to moderate alcohol intake appears to reduce

 

So yes BPH is a problem that affects 50% of men after the age of 50. ..and 90% of the men after 70, but now you the symptoms what options are available to you…so please do not take your urine stream for granted.