Getting Older with a Growing Prostate
The most common problem afflicting men over the age of 50 is prostate enlargement.
The prostate is a gland located beneath the bladder. If it becomes enlarged, it squeezes the urinary tract, causing a number of problems.
Incontinence causes leakage of urine. Prostate enlargement can also affect the urine stream, making it much weaker. This can become extremely uncomfortable, but you should take heart in knowing there are ways to relieve the condition.
Many people with prostate enlargement do not need surgery or even medical attention. However, if you notice symptoms, it is best to have a doctor monitor your condition.
Symptoms may flare up that require medications. Flomax is one such drug that can help reduce the size of the prostate and allow urine to flow normally.
When you first notice symptoms, consult your doctor. If you feel they have become worse or more severe, do not hesitate to contact him again. It is also recommended that men over forty have regular prostate exams.
If you have frequent urinary tract infections, bladder stones, blood in your urine or acute urinary retention, you need treatment. Waiting too long to have mild symptoms checked can result in much more serious methods of intervention.
Unfortunately, lack of action or increasing severity of enlargement can require more than medication. Invasive procedures are available, and they are mainly conducted through the urethra.
Because the prostate is blocking the flow of urine, these surgeries seek to remove extra tissue or widen the passage to make urination easier and more comfortable.
Electromagnetically-generated heat, microwave thermotherapy or photo-selective vaporization of the prostate are all performed through the urethra and destroy a select amount of tissue.
Photo-selective vaporization involves incisions in the bladder. These procedures alleviate discomfort and maximize performance. There is usually only a temporary period of sexual dysfunction afterwards.
The above procedures may still not be enough to alleviate an enlarged prostate, especially if the condition has escalated into prostate cancer.
Again, there are surgical options if this is the case. Transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP, involves removal of portions of the prostate. In more severe cases, a radical prostatectomy may be performed. This involves the removal of the entire prostate.
TURP and prostate removal can severely impact sexual function and ejaculation. Further surgical procedures can be performed to fix any sexual dysfunction.
You can prevent serious prostate problems and health effects if you are aware of symptoms and take necessary precautions. It is likely that, as a man over fifty, you will suffer from some type of prostate problem. Take action before symptoms become worse.
Every man over forty should have yearly prostate exams. You may be resistant to the idea of prostate exams, but they can help you avoid more serious problems and even cancer.