Latest Developments On Enlarged Prostate Problems
Prostate enlargement hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia typically occurs in men as they age but as the gland enlarges it may press on the urethra and cause urination and bladder problems.
The prostate is a male reproductive gland that produces the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. It surrounds the urethra the tube through which urine leaves the body. An enlarged prostate means the gland is has grown bigger and happen to almost all men as they age. As the gland grows it can press on the urethra and cause urination and prostate problems.
BPH
An enlarged prostate is called benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostatic hypertrophy. It is important to clarify that hyperplasia is the abnormal growth (only in size) of existing cells in a tissue while hypertrophy increased the number of cells in a tissue.
As the age of the male increases so does the prostate. Between 45% and 50% of men over age 50 have HBP and mostly due to changes Hormonal the testes produce testosterone (the hormone man) which becomes dihidrosterona (DHT a variation of testosterone) and estradiol (a female hormone).
The prostate is sized and symptoms begin such as frequent urination at night difficulty starting urination increased the number of trips to the bathroom and feeling urgency to download the bladder.
Diagnosis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Initially the DRE or Digital Rectum Examination may reveal a remarkably large prostate and rough texture could also be symptoms of cancer.
The blood used to verify malignancy in the prostate where high levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) warrant further examinations such as reinterpretation of the results of PSA in terms of density and percentage free PSA digital rectal examination transrectal ultrasonography (ultrasound prostate) and prostate index.
The ultrasound examination (ultrasonography) in testes prostate and kidneys help to differentiate malignancy and hydronephrosis.
The most reliable test is the prostate biopsy. Although its very complex sometimes differentiate adenocarcinoma of benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The first step of treatment should be to reduce fluid intake before bedtime, alcohol and caffeine.
The alpha blockers (a1-adrenergic receptor antagonists) provide symptomatic relief of symptoms of BPH by relaxing the smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder neck to decrease the degree of blockage in the flow of urine. Drugs available include doxazosin terazosin alfuzosin tamsulosin. Viejas drugs such as phenoxybenzamine and prazosin are not recommended for treat BPH. However alpha blockers may cause ejaculation retrograde into the bladder.
The 5a-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride (which is also used to prevent hair loss) and dutasteride are treatment options to address causes of problem (excess dihidrosterona). You can also use more effectively together with alpha-blockers.
There are studies that suggest evidence of the effectiveness of Serenoa repens ( Saw Palmetto ) to relieve mild to moderate symptoms of BPH one of which found comparable efficacy of finasteride. Other herbs may have positive effects are the Hypoxis rooperi (star grass) and Pygeum (extracted from the bark of Prunus africana).
Prostate Surgery
Usually when treatment fails surgery is required to correct the condition of the prostate this may be through recession transurethral prostate (RTP) which removes part of prostate through the urethra. However there are alternative methods and new procedures are under study.
Among the new surgical techniques that can be alternatives are:
- Holmium thermal ablation of the prostate (HOLAP)
- Transureral electrovaporization prostate (ETP)
- Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP)
- Laser TURP
- Visual laser ablation (VLAP)
- Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT)
- Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA)
- Ethanol injection
The increased size of the prostate is not cancer and does not relate to the incidence of Prostate Cancer which is the second leading cause of death in men. However size Enlarged prostate can be caused by hyperplasia (cell enlarged) hypertrophy (more cells in number) or malignant tumors (such as cancer cells).