One may feel that there are not a lot of options for enlarged prostate patients, but as a matter of fact, more and better treatment options are being discovered by the day. Thanks to modern technology, different techniques are being developed and improved in order to handle different kinds of prostate enlargement conditions.
It may be an age-old affliction, but that doesn't mean we have to stick with outdated treatment options for enlarged prostate. Traditionally, an enlarged prostate would be treated with physical therapy and painful, invasive surgery. In the past, these methods sometimes came with significant health risks.
But in the modern age, methods that are less invasive - and often also less risky - are being used to treat these conditions. Among these methods is laser surgery, which involves the use of highly concentrated laser light in eliminating overgrown tissue on the prostate. The laser light does not penetrate too deeply, so the tissues around the prostate itself are not damaged. This method still requires some hospital stay, similar to a traditional surgery, but it could be as brief as an overnight stay. Laser prostatectomy is now a popular method of controlling prostate enlargement, though many would still consider it a drastic measure.
Transurethral incision and resection are two less invasive methods of surgery. They are different in that transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered a major surgery, contrary to transurethral incision (TUIP). As their names imply, TURP involves the surgical removal of obstructing tissues on the prostate, thus making urination easier; on the other hand, TUIP only involves the creation of small incisions that would allow urine to pass out of the body more freely. The chance of needing to return for a second surgery is less in TURP than in TUIP, though the cost of surgery and the recuperation time is often more with TURP.
Medication is a tried and tested method of treating prostate enlargement, one that is most often recommended for men who only suffer from mild to moderate symptoms. Alpha blockers such as Terazosin (Hytrin) and Doxazosin (Cardura) relax the muscles around the neck of the bladder and make it easier to urinate. These medicines, incidentally, are also used in treating high blood conditions. Side effects are often minimal and controllable. Combined with lifestyle changes such as healthier eating, sleeping and exercise routines, medication could be the most cost efficient and most effective treatment options for enlarged prostate, in the long run.
Treatments For Enlarged Prostate
There are thousands and quite possibly millions of men who are suffering with an enlarged prostate at this very moment. Also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, this condition affects most males over the age of 40, and more commonly over the age of 60. While being diagnosed with this might scare men, it is not a sign of future prostate cancer.
It is known that men produce a male hormone called testosterone, which is also the most important chemical in their body. Men also produce a very small amount of the female hormone estrogen. As a man ages, his amounts of active testosterone will decrease. The ending result is a higher level of estrogen. Some research studies have shown that when there is a higher amount of estrogen, it might promote more growth of cells in the prostate, which later results in BPH. There is another theory that suggests that when dihydrotestosterone accumulates within the prostate, cell growth is also promoted.
It has been studied and revealed that a man's age plays an important role in determining if he will have an enlarged prostate. This is one of the most common risk factors associated with BPH. There have also been studies that have proven that if other men in your family have had an enlarged prostate, then you are at a higher risk as well.
Even after you have your enlarged prostate treated, there will be a certain amount of risk factors that follow you through the rest of your life. Many men have complained of having a larger amount of urinary tract infections after being diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, frequent urination problems, and other bladder related issues.
In order to prevent certain risk factors from coming true, it is important for each man to have annual check-ups of the prostate as well as tests. The proper precautions are much smarter than waiting until a complication occurs to have your prostate checked. There are many health insurance companies that require their patients to have annual prostate check-ups if they are over a certain age or else they could have a higher premium. It is best to go ahead and have the evaluation conducted instead of taking the risk.
The good news is that if you have all of the risk factors and you are diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, there are two types of medication to help reduce the size of the prostate and alleviate the pains of an enlarged prostate. Finasteride helps reduce the size of the prostate while Alpha-blockers help relax the muscles at the neck of the bladder to make urination a simpler task.
When the medication does not work, there are two types of surgical procedures that can be conducted. One procedure involves scraping away at the prostate to reduce the size. Since this can be painful after the anesthetics wear off, many men are opting for another procedure. This involves making a few small cuts around the prostate to help alleviate the pressure on the bladder. There are many factors that are involved with an enlarged prostate. Make sure that you are taking the necessary precautions to prevent yourself from going through this painful situation.
Both Trevor Mulholland & Allen Gelbl are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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