The prostate is one of the most crucial organs in the male human reproductive system as it is responsible for helping to produce fluid for semen. At the age of 25, the prostate often begins what could be termed a natural growth that continues throughout a man’s life, with all men known to experience prostate growth.
However, many men often develop what is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate enlargement. It is a condition that affects mostly men over 50, but could also start affecting some men once they reach the age of 30. According to Dan Brennan of Webmd, enlargement of the prostate may sometimes have similar symptoms to prostate cancer.
Scientists believe that about 50% of men in their 50s and 60s exhibit symptoms similar to those of prostate enlargement, with this making their daily life frustrating. On the other hand, 90% of men of age 80 or older are also affected by prostate enlargement. So what are some famed symptoms of an enlarged prostate? They are presented below:
1. Frequent and urgent urination.
2. Troubles with urine stream.
3. Incontinence and dribbling.
4. Pain after urination.
5. Urine remaining in the bladder.
Having stated some of the characteristic symptoms of prostate enlargement, it is worth stating that even if you have an enlarged prostate, it does not mean that you have to live with the condition and its associated symptoms for the rest of your life. This is because lifestyle changes and medication changes, among other things, can help you.
With that in mind, below are a few things you can do to reduce the symptoms of prostate enlargement:
1. Get sufficient exercise
Engaging in exercise will not only improve your overall health alone but would also benefit your prostate health, with increased physical activity linked to a reduced risk of enlargement of the prostate. Thus, you should engage in physical activities, as well as Kegel exercise, which can help strengthen your pelvic muscles and reduce urine dribbling.
2. Slow down
Another approach you can try to reduce the severity of your symptoms if you have an enlarged prostate is to always slow down when you use the bathroom. This would require you to relax your muscles and allow time for delayed urination, as well as possible dribbling. This would help you empty your bladder and avoid urinary tract infections or painful bladder stones.
. Reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption
It is also important that you watch your consumption of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages as they can irritate your bladder, thus causing you to have more urgency to empty your bladder. Over time, if care is not taken, it can weaken bladder muscles and cause increased kidney stimulation. Thus, it is recommended that you reduce your intake of alcohol and coffee.
4. Switch to comparable medications
Additionally, according to WebMD, certain general over-the-counter medications are capable of aggravating the symptoms of prostate enlargement, thus your doctor must know the types of medications you take. Thus, you need to watch your consumption of drugs such as antidepressants, antihistamines, decongestants, and diuretics.
Foods to avoid
The intake of certain foods and beverages is known to have an impact on prostate health, considering the effects of such foods on testosterone and other hormones. With that in mind, below are some foods to avoid:
Red meat
Studies have shown a positive linkage between the non-intake of red meat and improved prostate health. Daily meat intake is believed to triple the risk of prostate enlargement.
2. Dairy
The regular consumption of dairy products such as milk, butter, and cheese is also known to significantly increase the risk of prostate enlargement. Thus, it is believed that reduced intake of such foods can help reduce the symptoms of prostate enlargement.
3. Caffeine
It is believed that caffeine acts as a diuretic, capable of increasing how much, how often, and how urgently you need to urinate. Thus, cutting back on your intake of coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate can help reduce your BPH symptoms.
4. Alcohol
If you are experiencing the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, then avoiding alcohol altogether can be just what you need, as alcohol can stimulate the production of urine. Thus, avoiding alcohol can bring improvements in your symptoms.
