Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Treatment And Diet For BPH

What is Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)?

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy is also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperlasia. The prostate is a male gland, located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It secretes a fluid which carries sperm from the testicles during ejaculation. The prostate gland usually begins to enlarge after we cross the middle ages. The condition in which the prostate gets enlarged is known as BPH.

The prostate gland continues to grow during most of man’s life.

This enlargement usually does not pose a threat until the later stages in life. Some symptoms of BPH are present in approximately 75% of the men over the age of 50.

Normally, when the news cells are formed in the prostate gland, the old ones die. The benign growth, however, occurs when the old cells do not die. The cell accumulation thickens the prostate, narrowing the urethra. This can result in urination problems. BPH can also damage the kidneys or cause urinary tract infections. It can also cause an inability to urinate. This requires urgent medical attention.

The exact causes of BPH are unknown. However, researches believe that the possible causes could be:

Aging phenomena

Decrease of active testosterones in the blood
Dihydrotestosterone, derived from testosterone in the prostate gland, can encourage the growth of the gland
Some people believe that cells are given instructions in one’s early life to grow, as a result of which cells re-awake later on and start growing.

Symptoms of BPH

Inability or difficulty to urinate
Weak, interrupted urine
Blood in the urine
Leaking of the urine
With time, the urethra gets narrower causing:
Irritability in the bladder
Frequency of urination
Urge to urinate

BPH Diet And BPH Treatment

A well-balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle can provide a lot of relief to the patients of BPH. Men should urinate regularly, even when there is no urge for it. Cold weather can increase risk of urine retention. It is, therefore, advised to keep yourself warm. Exercises are also very useful

Some improvements needed in the diet include:

Reduce the intake of alcohol and caffeinated products
Green tea contains chemicals called flavonoids that are beneficial for the prostate
Eating soy products can reduce the symptoms and risk of BPH
Increase the intake of fruits
Zinc is useful as it protects the body from prostate cancer

Before getting into the details of what exactly benign prostatic hyperplasia is, it is important to have a decent understanding of exactly what the affected gland – the prostate gland, plays in the workings of our body.

The prostate gland is an important part of the male reproductive system and is primarily made up of two lobes that are enclosed by an outer layer of tissue. While one of the main roles of the gland is to squeeze fluid into the urethra while the sperm moves through during the moment of sexual climax. Besides the fact that this fluid energizes the sperm, it also serves the purpose of making the vaginal canal less acidic. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a rather common condition that is also known to be a consequence of aging. During the continued aging of an individual, the prostate gland goes through two main instances of growth – the first one taking place during early puberty (during which the prostate gland doubles in size) and the other at the age of about 25 (when the gland doubles again). It is usually this second phase of growth of the prostate gland that leads to the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is characterized by a string of symptoms that also include problems with urination such as a weak and unsteady stream, urgency that is often accompanied by leaking or dribbling as well as an increase in the frequency of urination. One of the biggest problems with the condition is the fact that benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms are not always present. It is not uncommon for an individual to not realize that he is affected by the condition and only really realize its presence when he experiences a sudden blockage of the urinary tract. Studies have shown that the condition most often tends to develop around the age of 30 years.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment will usually require some amount of time. Because of the fact that the condition is known to cause urinary tract infections, most doctors will suggest antibiotics as a regular course of benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment. However, not all cases will cause require the administration of antibiotics as it may clear up on its own after a period of time. However, this does not mean that you take things too lightly hoping that it clears up on its own and make it a point to consult your physician.

With regards to benign prostatic hyperplasia home remedies, a healthy intake of zinc is known to be a very effective form of treatment. An intake of about 30 milligrams of the mineral on a daily basis is considered to be the ideal consumption. Another option is to add about 300 ml of carrot juice in about 200 ml of spinach juice and consume this on a daily basis. You should also make it a point to consume a lot of vitamin E as it is known to be extremely beneficial for prostate health and including wholegrain products that have high vitamin E content should help substantially.

Submitted on January 16, 2014