Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia ?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a health issue that becomes more common with age. It’s also called an enlarged prostate. The prostate is a small gland that helps make semen. It’s found just below the bladder. And it often gets bigger as you get older.
An enlarged prostate can cause symptoms that may bother you, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It can also cause bladder, urinary tract, or kidney problems. Many treatments can help BPH. These include medicines, surgery, and other procedures. Your health care provider can help you choose.
Symptoms
- Frequent or urgent need to pee
- Peeing more often at night
- Trouble starting to pee
- Weak urine stream
- Dribbling at the end of urination
- Not being able to fully empty the bladder
- Urinary tract infection
- Not being able to pee
- Blood in the urine
- Leaking
- Difficulty starting to pee
- Your pee smells
Cause
The prostate gland is located beneath the bladder. The tube that moves urine from the bladder out of the penis is called the urethra. This tube passes through the center of the prostate. When the prostate gets bigger, it starts to block urine flow. The prostate is a gland that typically continues to grow throughout life. This growth often enlarges the prostate enough to cause symptoms or to block urine flow. It isn’t clear what causes the prostate to get bigger. It might be due to changes in the balance of sex hormones as you grow older.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for an enlarged prostate include: Aging. An enlarged prostate gland rarely causes symptoms before age 40. After that, the chance of having an enlarged prostate and related symptoms starts to rise. Family history. Having a blood relative with prostate problems makes you more likely to have problems with your prostate. Diabetes and heart disease. Studies show that diabetes might raise the risk of BPH. So might heart disease. Lifestyle. Obesity raises the risk of BPH. Exercise can help lower the risk.
When to see a Doctor
Talk to your health care provider about your symptoms, even if they don’t bother you. It’s important to find out if there are any causes that could be treated. Without treatment, the risk of a dangerous blockage of the urinary tract can rise. If you can’t pass any urine, get medical help right away.