Should I reduce my sodium intake if I have benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Yes, you should lower your daily sodium intake. A high salt intake is linked with an increase in urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH. Your doctor may advise you to follow a low sodium diet. Avoid adding extra salt to your meals and keep it to a minimum. Avoiding processed foods is also helpful for men who have BPH.

What is catheterization?

Catheterization is a tube that is inserted into the bladder. This tube allows urine to pass and makes draining the bladder easy. Some prostate surgeries require catheterization for a few days after the surgery is done.

How much does the prostate weigh on average?

The prostate gland weighs around 25-30 grams for men between the age of 40 to 49 years. It weighs 30-40 grams in the age group of 50 to 59 years and 35-45 grams in 60 years old.

How common is benign prostatic hyperplasia?

BPH is quite common in men with increasing age. Almost all men develop some kind of enlargement of the prostate as their age increases. By the age of 60, nearly 50% of men are likely to show some signs of BPH. 90% of men will have signs of the condition by the age of 85. Almost half of these men will develop symptoms that need treatment.

What is the link between benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer?

BPH doesn't increase the chances of developing prostate cancer, according to experts. But, BPH and prostate cancer have symptoms that mimic each other. Hence, a patient suffering from BPH may have undetected prostate cancer.

How can prostate cancer be detected?

To detect prostate cancer, doctors recommend getting a prostate screening every year for men between the age of 55 to 69 years. Doctors also recommend men with a family history of prostate cancer get checked from the age of 40.

What are minimally invasive treatments?

Minimally invasive surgeries for BPH include prostatic urethral lift and water vapour therapy. These surgeries are less invasive procedures and result in fewer side effects. They also allow a quicker rate of recovery. Other treatment options include laser therapy, hyperthermia, transurethral needle ablation, high intensity focussed ultrasound, and intraurethral stents.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Written By Dr. Syeda AafiaMBA, BDS

Reviewed By Dr. Lalit Kanodia

MD (Pharmacology), MBBS

Last updated on: 27 Sep 2022 | 06:23 PM (IST)

Overview

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a medical condition that commonly occurs in older men. It is a benign (non-cancerous) condition in which the prostate (a walnut-sized gland) enlarges in size. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, a tube that carries urine and semen outside of the body. When the prostate gland enlarges, it can make the passage of urine and semen through the urethra a difficult process. This causes symptoms such as blocking urine outflow, frequent urge to urinate, difficulty in starting urination, dribbling at the end of urine flow, urinary tract infection etc.

In India, benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common elderly problem with an incidence rate of 92.97% and 93.3%. AUA guidelines suggested that BPH incidence worldwide will increase, and by the age of 60 years, more than 50% of men would have some evidence of the disease.

There are several treatment options available for benign prostate hyperplasia. If you have been diagnosed with the condition, you might be prescribed medications such as finasteride and dutasteride. These medications have proven to be effective in treating BPH. Depending on your condition, your doctor may also advise different types of surgeries that can be used to remove the prostate tissue that is blocking the urinary flow.

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