In medical terms, benign prostatic hyperplasia is referred to as BPH. It is a disorder in which males’ prostate glands enlarge. This condition is linked to old age and worsens as one gets older. It’s a urological condition in which the urinary system is irritated to be a bearer of prostate enlargement and urinary problems, such as a halt in the flow or diseases in the urethra. The kidneys and urinary tract are visible. There are a variety of medications, procedures, and other treatments available for the treatment of prostatic enlargement.
What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
The symptoms of the enlarged prostate vary from man to man as every patient has different sizes of prostate and body types. In males, the enlarged [prostate is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It has different BPH symptoms and complications associated with the disease. It is equally possible that a major-sized prostate can have minute symptoms that are hard to diagnose, and a minor-sized prostate can cause some trouble in the body. The visible BPH symptoms of an enlarged prostate are.
- Unable to pee
- Increase in frequency of pee
- Excessive urination during the night
- Change in the urine flow(stream)
- Dribbling of the urine at the end
- Unable to empty the bladder
- Excessive urination
The modern medical team has created a BPH Symptom Index, which helps the doctor know about the enlarged prostate symptoms. If the rating in the index is lesser than seven, then the symptoms are considered mild. If the index chart increases above eight, these symptoms and levels of the disease are severe.
- If the AUA score is 0 – 7
The score shows the mildness of the symptoms, and at this stage, usually, the symptoms don’t appear. The signs do not bother the patient and don’t affect the lifestyle. The doctors and urologists recommend preventing the disease by suggesting ways and asking to look after the symptoms for early prevention and diagnosis.
- If the score is eight and symptoms are mild
If the patient’s BPH symptoms are 8-or above and are mild and manageable, doctors suggest medication to slow down the enlargement. Keeping track of the symptoms is a wise decision. Medication, Invasive surgery, and other medical procedures are adopted to treat mild Enlarged prostate.
- If the AUA score is 8 or more with complicated symptoms
If the BPH symptoms are widely visible and they interrupt the patient’s lifestyle, they are experiencing chronic pain with excessive urination issues. The condition is severe and bothersome to patients, and during this time, they develop the habit of being unable to urinate, and the excess waste is not able to be pushed away by the body. The urologist uses catheters, major surgeries, and medication to control the complications of the enlarged symptoms.
Suppose a patient chooses to opt for invasive surgery for enlarged prostate over major surgery. In that case, there is a possibility that the patient has to undergo surgery again because there is a probability that invasive treatments cannot vanish the prostate completely. Therefore, expect an invasive treatment again in the short term.
How is the enlarged prostate treated?
The symptoms and BPH symptom index help the doctor know the severity of the enlarged prostate. The indications are mild to complicated, which depicts the mode of treatment that the doctor would prescribe. The urologist recommends three factors while treating enlarged prostate, and these are.
Keep track of the symptoms.
This is recommended when the symptoms are mild and are not bothersome to the patient. In such a case, look for a few indications.
- Look if there is the drilling of urine.
- Look for the excessive urge to urine.
- See if there is a weak stream of urine.
- Try to drink less amount of liquid during the night times.
- Avoid antihistamines, decongestants, and sinus medicine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) because they tickle the enlarged prostate symptoms worse.
- Try to know if your bladder is emptied or not.
Medications
Three types of medicine are prescribed for enlarged prostate patients, and these are
- Alpha-blockers
They help relax the prostate and the muscle around it and help the patient from the symptoms. A few examples are tamsulosin, terazosin, alfuzosin, and doxazosin.
- Five alpha-reductase inhibitors
It helps to shrink the enlarged prostate and prevent its further growth. It slows down the process of growth by controlling its symptoms. Example – dutasteride and finasteride.
- Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors
It also helps to shrink the growth and reduce the growth of benign cells. It also offers relief to the complicated symptoms. Example – vardenafil, tadalafil, and sildenafil.
Supplements
Different supplements are provided, such as
- Beta-sitosterol
- Rye grass
- Pygeum
Invasive and major surgery
A few of the invasive surgery are listed below
- Zum water vapor therapy
- Urolift system
- Transurethral microwave therapy
- Transurethral needle ablation
- Transurethral resection of the prostate
- Laser surgery
Types of major surgery include
- Open prostatectomy
- Laparoscopic and robotic prostatectomy.
How can an enlarged prostate be diagnosed?
There are some methods and tests which doctors prescribe to every patient to check the components in the blood, and these are listed below.
- A digital rectal examination is a physical exam where a doctor checks via manual examination to determine if an enlarged prostate is present. The doctor places his finger in the patient’s rectum and looks for an enlarged prostate.
- Urine test: A urine test is performed to determine the presence of infections and assess the various urine components.
- PSA- PSA is a component produced by the prostate gland. If PSA levels rise and the prostate has enlarged, treatment should begin immediately.
- Blood test -A blood test determines the infection in the urinary system.
When to see a doctor?
If you have a kidney problem or prostate enlargement but don’t want surgery, you’ll be treated by a nephrologist. Because nephrology is a subspecialty, doctors and specialists in this field cannot do surgery. However, they do have a wealth of understanding in dealing with kidney problems and other disorders linked to the kidney. If a patient’s high blood pressure isn’t controlled by his or her doctors, he or she may be referred to nephrology. As a result, urologists can operate on both the reproductive and urinary systems. They can help with prostate enlargement and other problems. If you are troubled by any of the symptoms listed above, you should consult with a doctor.
Conclusion
Due to a lack of technology and medical methods, doctors used to indicate the severity of the disease by the look of the urine. They used to look for blood, bubbles, and other inspection signs. In today’s world, technology has improved, resulting in the development of several laboratory tests and procedures for therapy and alleviation. Urologists are medical doctors who specialize in examining and treating illnesses of the urinary and reproductive systems, including prostate enlargement. Urologists are specialists who treat urinary problems in both genders. Treatments include medications, remedies, exercise, and surgery. Urology treatment is a medical and surgical department. Surgery is something that urologists are capable of. Credihealth is a website where you may get cost estimates and schedule appointments with miracle medicines. Miracle Mediclinic offers advanced treatment in urology, and you can check out the credihealth website for the available list of doctors and their ratings. Contact support@credihealth.com for more information and details.
