With the development of society and the improvement of living standards, men's health issues have attracted more and more attention. Among the many men's health problems, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease with a significant increase in incidence with age. Because prostatic hyperplasia is often overlooked or mistaken for a natural manifestation of aging in the early stages, many patients fail to seek medical attention in time, leading to worsening of the condition and even triggering a series of serious complications. This article will provide a comprehensive and in-depth scientific knowledge for male friends from the basic concepts, symptoms, harms, prevention and treatment of prostatic hyperplasia.
Basic concept of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short, is a common disease in middle-aged and older men. It is mainly due to the proliferation of glands and/or fibrous and muscle tissues caused by sex hormone metabolism disorders in the elderly, resulting in an increase in the volume of the prostate gland and causing a series of dysfunctions. The incidence of prostatic hyperplasia gradually increases with age. According to the survey, more than 50% of men over the age of 60 in mainland China suffer from this disease, and it is as high as 83% at the age of 80.
Typical symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Although prostatic hyperplasia is a benign disease, its symptoms cannot be ignored. Here are a few typical symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia:
Frequent and urgent urination: increased frequency during the day and night, and gradually worsening. In particular, the frequency of nocturia increases, which seriously affects the quality of sleep.
Dysuria: patients may initially present with waiting to urinate, and as the disease progresses, symptoms such as a thin urine stream, interrupted urination, incomplete urination, or dripping urine will gradually appear.
Urinary incontinence: Filling incontinence can occur when a certain amount of urine is retained in the bladder and the pressure in the bladder is increased to a certain level, and some patients may experience enuresis at night.
Hematuria: When the bladder neck is congested or accompanied by inflammation, stones, and tumors, different degrees of hematuria can occur.
Acute urinary retention: some patients with prostatic hyperplasia may present with acute urinary retention, characterized by a sudden inability to urinate with excruciating lower abdominal distension.
In addition, prostatic hyperplasia may cause systemic symptoms, such as renal impairment due to urinary tract obstruction in advanced patients.
Harm of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Although prostatic hyperplasia itself is not directly life-threatening, the symptoms and complications caused by it cannot be ignored. If left untreated, it can have the following serious consequences:
Urinary retention: Long-term urinary retention can lead to impaired bladder function, and even hydronephrosis and renal insufficiency.
Urinary tract infection: Urinary retention can easily lead to the growth of bacteria, causing urinary tract infection, and in severe cases, pyelonephritis.
Stone formation: excess or retention of residual urine and urinary tract infections can promote stone formation, further exacerbating urinary tract obstruction.
Renal impairment: Renal impairment in advanced patients due to urinary tract obstruction, and uremia may occur in severe cases, which is life-threatening.
Decreased quality of life: Symptoms such as frequent waking up at night and difficulty urinating seriously affect the patient's daily life and quality of work.
Prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia
The key to preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia is to adjust your lifestyle and maintain good lifestyle habits. Here are some effective precautions:
Avoid sitting for long periods of time: Prolonged sitting can lead to prostate congestion, increasing the risk of prostatic hyperplasia. Therefore, activities should be performed appropriately and the same position should be avoided for long periods of time.
Reasonable diet: The diet should be light, eat more vegetables and fruits, and eat less spicy and irritating foods. Moderate intake of foods rich in zinc and selenium can help protect prostate health.
Moderate exercise: Moderate exercise can enhance physical fitness, improve immunity, and have a certain effect on the prevention of prostatic hyperplasia. Aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, etc., are recommended.
Regular work and rest: Maintain a good work and rest routine and avoid staying up late and overwork. Adequate sleep helps the body to recover and endocrine balance.
Avoid bad habits: Bad habits such as holding urine, drinking too much, and having too much sex may aggravate the symptoms of prostatic hyperplasia. Therefore, these bad habits should be avoided and a healthy lifestyle should be maintained.
Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Routine blood draws to screen for prostate-specific antigen. The treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia should comprehensively consider the patient's condition, age, physical condition and other factors, and choose the appropriate treatment. Here are some common treatments:
Non-surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia includes watchful waiting and behavioral modification and dietary modification.
Medication: Medication is the preferred treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Commonly used drugs are α blockers (e.g., terazosin, tamsulosin, etc.) and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride, dutasteride, etc.). These drugs can relieve symptoms of urinary tract obstruction caused by prostatic hyperplasia, but they should be used under the guidance of a doctor.
Surgery: Surgery is an effective option for patients who do not respond to medical therapy or who are more severely ill. Surgical methods include transurethral resection of the prostate, transurethral plasma resection of the prostate, transurethral vaporization resection of the prostate, transurethral enucleation of the prostate, prostate vaporization therapy, ablation techniques, open prostatectomy, etc. Surgery can remove the prostate tissue that has grown and relieve the symptoms of urinary tract obstruction.
As a common urinary system disease in middle-aged and elderly men, the prevention and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia has a long way to go. By gaining a deeper understanding of the causes, symptoms, harms and prevention methods of prostatic hyperplasia, we can better maintain men's health and improve their quality of life. At the same time, it also calls on the majority of male friends to pay attention to their own health, regular physical examinations, timely detection and treatment of urinary diseases such as prostatic hyperplasia.