Symptoms of Prostate Enlargement
It’s not uncommon for many males to display no symptoms of prostate enlargement. These symptoms are commonly referred to as LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) and can be quite different, ranging from mild to severe. However, unlike most patients think, the severity of the symptoms (the amount of prostate pain) doesn’t always indicate the seriousness of the condition. It means that men with a significant enlargement may experience no or little pain, while those with smaller ones can suffer from acute prostate pain.
The symptoms of prostate enlargement are likely to worsen in cold weather or when you experience a lot of stress, either physical or emotional.
There are some drugs that can negatively affect your symptoms:
Over the counter: oxymetazoline spray (Afrin), pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (Contac and Sudafed), diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl).
Prescription: testosterone (gels, implants or injections), pain medicines (narcotics), water pills (diuretics), antidepressants.
There are other problems you may experience as a result of BPH symptoms, for example, bladder storage problems.
The following symptoms can occur that are related to bladder emptying:
• Trouble starting to urinate (straining)
• Unusually weak urine flow
• Dribbling after you have urinated, staining of clothes
• Feeling of incomplete emptiness of the bladder
• An urge to urinate again
• Dysuria – pain during urination
The symptoms related to bladder storage are the following:
• Nocturia – waking up at night to go to the bathroom
• Unusually frequent urination
• Uncontrollable urges to urinate
Although the symptoms listed above are not always related to benign prostate hyperplasia and can be caused by a number of other illnesses, you should keep an eye on them and visit your doctor if they seem stable. The signs you display are likely to balance between the two kinds listed above. If they are symptoms of BPH, their onset is usually slow and gradual. There are a number of conditions that can display the same symptoms, for instance, diabetes, heart failure, prostate cancer, urinary tract infections, prostatitis and neurologic diseases.
The prostate gland increases in size with age, and the period of the fastest growth occurs at middle age. The prostate gland grows as men age, with the fastest growth occurring at middle age. According to statistics, by the time they are 50 five out of every ten men will have developed an enlarged prostate; however, this doesn’t mean they will experience any symptoms. As the prostate grows, the urethra is narrowed or blocked completely, which typically causes some BPH symptoms.
Although this is quite rare, some people experience the obstruction of the urine flow, which can cause serious complications, such as bladder stones, urinary tract infection, blood in the urine or complete blockage of the urethra.
Benign prostate hyperplasia should not be considered a cause of cancer, while cancer can display symptoms that may be confused with those typical of this condition. Also, it’s very different for everyone – some people have frequent or stable symptoms that can be clearly interpreted, others have only mild symptoms that can be easily treated. No matter what your symptoms are, you need to talk to your doctor before attempting any methods of treatment. There are a number of methods to make sure your diagnosis is accurate (prostate biopsy, screening, blood tests, etc.). Self-diagnosis is unacceptable and even if you are positive that you have an enlarged prostate, get your doctor’s confirmation first.
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