Life
Mens Health: The enlarged prostate
The symptoms of an enlarged prostate include slow-flowing urine, increased night-time urination, increased overall frequency of urination, straining to pass urine, a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, and increased time for urination…
Possibility of obstruction
There may be obstruction without an enlarged prostate and vice versa. The symptoms are usually more aggressive in black populations.
Some lifestyle changes that may help include reducing alcohol and caffeine intake as they increase the production of urine. Also, reduce the intake of fluids close to bedtime and seek to have regular planned time so urinate.
Nutritional and herbal supplements (e.g. saw palmetto) have not been proven reliable in treating this condition either in relieving the symptoms or slowing down its growth. There are medications available that can relax the muscles of the urethra in the prostate that give relatively fast relief of the symptoms. Some medications can shrink the prostate over time. Combining them has the better outcome.
Surgery (prostatectomy) may be used to remove the obstruction and heat may be used to selectively destroy some of the prostate, reducing the size. The heat may be supplied by laser, high-intensity ultrasound, microwaves, radiofrequency energy and high-voltage electrical energy.
