Enlarged Prostate (BPH): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Is an enlarged prostate serious?

An enlarged prostate is not usually serious, but can cause troubling symptoms needing treatment. The prostate is a gland that should be about the size of a walnut. It sits at the base of the bladder - the organ that stores urine. When men urinate, the urine flows into a long tube called the urethra, which passes through the centre of the prostate.

What are the symptoms of enlarged prostate?

Some other health problems can lead to symptoms that are like those caused by enlarged prostate. These include: Urinary tract infection. Inflamed prostate. Narrowing of the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. Scarring in the bladder neck due to past surgery. Bladder or kidney stones. Problems with nerves that control the bladder.

What causes prostate enlargement?

In others, they can be very troublesome. The cause of prostate enlargement is unknown, but it's believed to be linked to hormonal changes as a man gets older. The balance of hormones in your body changes as you get older and this may cause your prostate gland to grow.

Can enlarged prostate be treated without treatment?

For some people, symptoms of BPH can ease without treatment. Taking medicine is the most common treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Options include: Alpha blockers. Alpha blockers work by relaxing the smooth muscle of the bladder neck and prostate. This makes peeing easier.

What is an enlarged prostate?

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 also can cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.

What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are called lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). See the separate leaflet called Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men for more details. LUTS can also be caused by other conditions. As the prostate enlarges it may cause narrowing of the urethra. This may partially obstruct the flow of urine.

Why is my prostate swollen and enlarged?

It can sometimes become swollen or enlarged by conditions such as: Prostate enlargement is a very common condition associated with ageing. More than 1 in 3 of all men over 50 will have some symptoms of prostate enlargement.

What is benign prostate enlargement?

Doctors call the condition benign prostate enlargement. Benign means a growth that is not cancer. The risk of prostate cancer is no greater for men with an enlarged prostate. But the chances of developing prostate cancer also increase with age - and the symptoms can be similar. So those with prostate problems should ask their doctor for a check-up.

What Is Enlarged Prostate

1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-enlargement/
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/enlarged-prostate-symptoms
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20370087
4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68016928
5. https://patient.info/mens-health/prostate-and-urethra-problems/prostate-gland-enlargement
6. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/prostate-problems/prostate-enlargement-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia
7. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/kidneys-bladder-and-prostate/benign-prostate-enlargement/

Enlarged Prostate Information

1. https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/just-diagnosed/other-prostate-problems/enlarged-prostate-treatment