Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)

What Every Man Needs to Know

Many men resist getting a prostate exam.  In general, men see their doctors less frequently than women.  The prostate exam, like getting blood pressure taken, provides your physician with important information about your health, in this case prostate health.

Growth changes to prostate cells occur with increased frequency as men age. The most common prostatic enlargement is Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH).  BPH, a benign growth of prostate cells, does not equal cancer.  BPH occurs rarely in men under the age of 40 and increases with age. About 90% of men in their seventies and eighties experience symptoms of BPH. If you live long enough, you’ll likely get BPH.

A discussion of symptoms caused by prostate enlargement requires an explanation about the anatomy of the prostate.  The prostate gland sits just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine flows. A healthy-sized prostate measures about the size of a walnut. The prostate grows throughout a man’s life.  Problems don’t usually occur until later in life. As the prostate grows it often causes a squeezing effect on the urethra, making the passing of urine difficult.

Over time, a greater urinary force is required to overcome this squeezing effect.  Typical symptoms of prostate enlargement include: inability to urinate, difficulty with  starting or stopping urination, uncontrollable starting or stopping, weak stream, pain or burning during urination, erectile difficulty, blood in urine, urinary frequency especially at night, and pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

If the squeezing becomes severe, urinary retention can occur and may require catheterization.  Most men would agree that catheterization is much less appealing than a simple prostate exam.

The importance of observing and addressing prostate changes stems from the high number of prostate cancer cases each year.  Prostate cancer sits just below skin cancer as the number two cancer in men.  About 220,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and about 27,000 of them will be fatal at about 1 in 9 diagnoses. 

The greatest risk factor for prostate cancer is age. Most cases of prostate cancer occur in men older than 65.  Individual risk increases if a family history of prostate cancer exists.  Prostate cancer affects African American men more than white men, including Hispanic white men.  Asian and American Indian men have the lowest incidence. 

Diet and lifestyle habits contribute to prostate cancer risk and prevention.  Eating a lot of animal protein, especially charred meats, contributes to cancer risk.  High stress, beer consumption, and excess body weight contribute to prostate cancer risk.  Excessive calcium consumption may also be a risk for prostate cancer and so should be used under the guidance of a physician. This includes the use of calcium- fortified antacids.

Preventative strategies include eating a diet high in vegetables and fiber.  Anti-oxidants are key nutrients in preventing cancerous changes to cells.  Eating a variety of colorful foods including reds, oranges, yellows, and dark leafy greens daily will provide your body with an excellent food source of anti-oxidants.  Cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, broccoli, kale, and collard greens possess specific cancer fighting properties.  Finally, fish, soy, and green tea consumption have shown specific protective properties for prostate cancer.

Though BPH occurs in virtually every American man reaching his seventies and eighties, symptom relief or reduction can be achieved.  Natural treatment approaches used alone or in combination with pharmaceuticals, will address both symptom relief and underlying causes of prostate enlargement.