Research>Enlarged Prostate

How Stress Enlarges Your Prostate And What To Do About It

When we think of stress, we think that it makes us absentminded,
not able to do what we're supposed to as well as we could. We
think depression, time off work and generally a mental issue.

Stress is actually a whole lot more. Everything that goes in on your
emotions, your head, and your thoughts actually physically affects you.
A person who is stressed is almost certainly a person who feels under
the weather constantly, and is not aware of the root causes.

Being stressed runs down your immune system, and when you get
stressed your body tenses up, getting ready for a wound, a cut, or a
bite. This tension also restricts blood flow and energy causing you to
be constantly tired. The worst stresses - those horrible ones that seem
beyond your control or seem like they're never going to end - result in
every single area of your immunity being suppressed and your immune
system function to drop significantly in all parts of your body.

Your prostate relies on tiny blood vessels for nutrition and cleansing
and when that blood flow is restricted it fails to function correctly.
These effects can be damaging and set you on a course to developing
a prostate problem, or making one you already have even worse.

One clinical trial of more than 300 men, found that high stress levels
are associated with elevated PSA readings. Prostate-specific antigen
(PSA) is produced by the prostate so obviously the higher the reading,
the larger the prostate. Not good for you!! Another study conducted at
a US university, looked at the relationship between stress and prostatitis
in rats. This research found that even mild stress produced increased
inflammation of the prostate. Conversely, inflammation diminished in the
rats not placed under stress.

At the next level above prostate problems, a May 1998 issue of Cancer
magazine reported that among men with prostate disease, anxiety and
depression were very common. They noted that 80% of prostate disease
occurs in men over 65 years of age and though the prostate was also
physically enlarging at this time, this group was experiencing a higher than
normal number of stresses. These were age-related, loss of a spouse,
retirement and friends or other family members passing away.

Physically, when you feel positive emotions like love or acceptance,
happy hormones are released into your bloodstream, giving you a feeling
of well-being and 'on-top-of-thew-world'. The opposite is also true
though, putting you into that tensed fight or flight mode which is completely
instinctive.

Your ability to deal with stress varies immensely from anyone else you
know. A little stress is good, otherwise you'll go senile, but you will have
to find out for yourself, (or you should know be now) what stress makes
you perform better, and what causes you to crumple.

If you have trouble dealing with stress, you should consider getting rid
of negative people from your life, the people that cause you problems
and stress. Choose your friends carefully, surround yourself with people
who you can trust and make you feel good. If you can, avoid dealing
with people you stress you out.

In regards to the physical stresses, take note that tight underpants and
trousers can restrict the flow of blood to the groin and restrict body
movement, leading to tight muscles. Your testicles need to be free to
regulate their temperature by raising or lowering themselves, something
they cannot do if they are held firmly in place. Instead, go for loose pants
and boxer shorts.

If you are spiritually minded then mediate on the Bible or anything else
you consider appropriate. This helps you to be calm and have your
life more centered. If you are not, then consider doing yoga, or something
slow and relaxing that clears the mind and relaxes the body. Just find
something, de-stress yourself and it's one more little thing towards the
end goal of a better prostate for life.

Enlarged Prostate Herbal Treatment - Why it Works

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is also known as an enlarged prostate and is the second most common prostate disorder (prostatitis is considered the most common). BPH is not a cancerous condition but it can be very serious when left untreated.

When your prostate becomes enlarged you will notice gradual symptoms occurring over time such as:

• Dribbling urination instead of a steady stream
• Weak stream
• Urine leakage
• Incontinence

The symptoms will increase in severity if your BPH is not treated. When it comes to treating BPH you have a choice of either prescribed drugs or enlarged prostate herbal treatment options.

BPH Prescription Treatment

The two categories of prescription medications used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia are Alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Both work in different ways but have one thing in common: they treat the symptoms of BPH rather than trying to fix the underlying cause.

That means, if you stop using the medication your prostate symptoms will simply reappear.

They will also cause a range of side effects ranging from mild to severe, including:

• Impotence
• Incontinence
• Breast tenderness and enlargement
• Decreased sex drive
• Retrograde ejaculation (ejaculation back into the bladder)
• Erectile dysfunction

Enlarged Prostate Herbal Treatment Options
You have a few options for all natural prostate remedies. These include:

• Ayurvedic medicines
• Saw palmetto based herbal remedies

Saw Palmetto

Still a highly popular active ingredient, Saw Palmetto is now known not to be effective in treating enlarged prostate.

Ayurvedic Remedies

Ayurveda is a 5000 year old herbal teaching that uses 100% natural extracts to treat health conditions.
Ayurstate is the Ayurvedic remedy for BPH and has proven to work for thousands of men the world over - without side effects.

You will find a host of positive testimonials about Ayurstate. I have extracted a comment from one:
"I started taking it 6 months ago and it has given me an excellent result. The growth of my prostate has been completely stopped."

Benefits of Herbal Remedies

• All natural treatments do not produce the side effects of prescription drugs.
• They are also cheaper and safer to use in the long term.
• They treat the cause rather than just covering up the symptoms of enlarged prostate

It is good to know that you have viable and safe alternatives to aggressive and expensive prescription medications that you may not be comfortable using.

Herbal Treatment For Enlarged Prostate

The baby boomers are just now discovering something that their grand-grandfathers likely knew - herbal therapy can be effective in relieving symptoms of BPH (benign prostate hypertrophy). Saw palmetto was on the National Formulary and the U.S. Pharmacopoeia for decades. In the 19th century every pharmacy in the country had a supply of saw palmetto berries so they could make extracts. 

Then, the FDA and modern medicine got in the act and decided that herbs were ancient history.

You don't have to look very hard to find supporting evidence on saw palmetto and its use for symptoms of enlarged prostate. In study after study, researchers reported improvement in almost any measure they could dream up for tracking prostate problems: 

• Volume voided increased
• maximum flow increased, painful urination decreased
• having to get up at night decreased
• frequent of urination decreased
• Residual urine (urine left in bladder after urination) decreased
• Prostate volume decreased

Just how effective is saw palmetto? Well, in one study, 305 men received 160 mg of saw palmetto extract twice a day. In 45 days, 83% said they felt the drug was effective.  After 90 days, 88% said it worked. And the test confirmed what the men already knew. Men could pee almost 50% better, as measured by maximum and average urinary flow rates. Our readers agree, as evidence by this letter.

Saw palmetto has a couple of different actions. First, it interferes with the action of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that's crucial to the process of converting testosterone to DHT. At the same time, saw palmetto seems to reduce the uptake of both testosterone and DHT by tissue. Saw palmetto also appears to have an anti-inflammatory effect. From what we know today it's hard to imagine what more one could ask of a substance being used to treat BHP.

Enlarged Prostate Alternative Medicine

There are numerous theories as to what causes the prostate to grow, mostly dealing with the testosterone chemical in a man's body. If you are diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, the doctor will go over several treatment options. If your condition is not severe, then prescription medications can be very effective. He or she will prescribe one type of medicine to start shrinking the prostate, and a second medicine to relax the muscles and take the pain away.

In some circumstances, the prostate is so enlarged that the doctor has no option but surgery. There are also two types of surgical procedures involved with this condition. One procedure is when the doctor scrapes some of the tissue away from the prostate in order to take the pressure off of the bladder. The second, and the most preferred, procedure involves making several small cuts around the prostate.

If you would prefer to try an alternative medical treatment, there are two that have been found to be the most effective. While this may sound out of the ordinary, pumpkin seeds have several healing properties which have been found to be very effective in men suffering with an enlarged prostate.

Pumpkin seeds have a fatty oil that acts as a natural diuretic and helps to improve the flow of urine. In turn, this helps to counteract the effect of the enlarged prostate gland on the urethra. Pumpkin seeds also contain high levels of zinc, approximately eight milligrams of zinc. Many doctors will recommend their patients to take sixty milligrams per day of zinc, due to the fact that it has proven to reduce the size of the enlarged gland. Another benefit of pumpkin seeds is that they have a high count of amino acids, such as alanine, glycerin, and glutei acid.

Saw palmetto is another alternative. Saw palmetto is a small palm tree with seeds that were an important part of the Seminole Indians' diet. You can purchase it in capsules at most stores. It helps turn the testosterone in the man's body into dihyrotestosterone, which is the same effect that many medicines would have. The largest benefit is that it increases urine flow without having the issue of frequent urination.

There are many opinions of saw palmetto as to whether or not it is effective. However, all of the studies that have been produced have shown a large benefit from using saw palmetto in treating an enlarged prostate. A study was conducted in Germany with more than three thousand men, and saw palmetto brought to greatest results. There are many alternative medical treatments for an enlarged prostate, but the two mentioned above have had the most benefits. Make sure that you consult with your doctor prior to trying any form of medical treatment in order to determine which method is the safest and most effective for your condition.

What Is An Enlarged Prostate And What Are The Symptoms And Treament For An Enlarged Prostate?

What Is An Enlarged Prostate?

So, just what is an enlarged prostate gland? Well, it is important to stress that an enlarged prostate does not necessarily scream prostate cancer. But boy can the whole ordeal by uncomfortable. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate gland, is an condition that usually manifest itself in man over the age of forty and just might be the most common medical problem facing men over sixty.

Symptoms of An Enlarged Prostate

The actual cause of enlarged prostate joins the cure for the common cold as one of medicine's greatest mystery, but if you've got one, chances are you don't have to be Jessica Fletcher to figure it out. A normal prostate gland is about the size of those walnuts that the fancy airlines like to substitute in place of the traditionally cliche plane peanut, as the prostate grows it will generally begin to squeeze the urethra-it then in turn narrows. The bladder then feels compelled to push urine through the newly slimmed down urethra more forcefully-this will result in the urge to make more frequent trips to the Little Boy's Room. As the problem progresses, the bladder may get just a little perturbed at having to do extra credit and ultimately may not be able to completely empty itself. And when the bladder get really peeved, prostate patients may find themselves with acute urinary retention, a complete shutdown of urination. It is a serious condition which should be followed by an immediate trip to the nearest healthcare facility.

Some of the enlarged prostate symptoms to keep your eyes peeled for include:

· Leaking of urine

· The inability to empty the bladder

· Frequent trips to the bathroom-especially at bedtime

· Difficulty starting urination

What is an enlarged prostate sign of danger? It's time to head to a doctor if you lose the ability to urinate, begin to experience nausea, fever, and chills, or if lower back pain becomes accompanied by blood in the urine-none of which are good signs.

Treatment for An Enlarged Prostate

Treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia vary in accordance with individual cases. Whereas some patients while be treated with simple yearly test and monitoring of their condition, more serious cases may require medication or surgery. There are currently two medications which have passed muster to be used for enlarged prostate treatment, they are Alpha-blockers and Finasteride. Alpha-blockers may relieve the symptoms of enlarged prostate by relaxing the gland's muscles. Finasteride, on the other hand, can cause shrinkage of the prostate gland, which subsequently helps make urinating fun again-or as fun as can be expected.

More On What Is An Enlarged Prostate

The transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the more common surgical procedure for treating an enlarged prostate, when a surgical procedure needs to be implement of course. Ther TURP procedure consist of scraping away at the core of the prostate with the help of a telescope. The transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP) has become a surgical option for some men. Unlike TURP, in which tissue is removed from the prostate, the TUIP surgery simply makes a few small cuts in the prostate to relieve it's pressure on the urethra.

Tips For Healing Enlarged Prostate Part I - Enlarged Prostate Symptoms

Human aging is a result of a number of biological and pathological processes and starting at age 40, the levels of by-product prolactin of testosterone of men increases, stimulating the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that causes the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT triggering prostate enlargement and other problems. Therefore in order to prevent the symptoms of enlarged prostate is to naturally impend the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

If you have the below symptoms, you might already have enlarged prostate:

1. Not completely emptying your bladder after you finish urinating. This is caused by an enlarged prostate pressing against the bladder.

2. Strong need to empty your bladder right away, your body only give you seconds to a minute to reach the toilet.

3. You need to urinate again less than 2 hours after you finished urinating.

4. Stopped and started again several times when you urinate.

5. Decreasing of urine stream that takes longer than usual to empty the bladder.

6. Find it difficult to postpone urination.

7. Difficult to urinate.

8. Had to push or strain to start urination.

9. Got up to urinate many times at night.

10. Burning or scalding and pain in the lower abdomen or urinary tract when you urinate.

The Pain And Discomfort Of An Enlarged Prostate

Poor health is a major cause for an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate may be exacerbated by low quality diets and unhealthy lifestyles wrought with stress, worry and a lack of exercise. Most men take special care about their diet and exercise only when they are young. These habits often disappear once they get older. This might one of the reasons enlarged prostates are more common in older men. Your doctor will be able to suggest a healthy diet and exercise regimen so as to minimize the damage already done to the prostate gland.

The prostate plays a key role in the reproductive mechanism of a man. It is a tiny gland, the size of a walnut, found in the groin area of a male. This gland is positioned just under the urinary bladder, above the rectum and encircles the urethra. The prostate gland plays a major role in the production of semen. The urethra is a tubular organ through which urine passes out of the body. It is possible to reach the prostate gland through the anus for medical examination by a physician.

It may be difficult for a man to detect an enlarged prostate gland since it enlarges over time and may not show any sudden symptoms of an illness. A key indicator would be difficulty in urinating. For avoidance of doubt, men should schedule regular visits, at least once annually, for medical examinations to detect an enlarged prostate amongst other medical conditions. From an early prognosis, a physician can proceed to make a proper diagnosis to determine if prostate cancer is the reason for the enlarged prostate.

An Enlarged Prostate Is A Cause for Worry

If a medical checkup has detected an enlarged prostate, the first thing that you need to bear in mind is not to panic or descend into a despondent state. What will be instead required is to build a steely resolve to overcome this illness with the help of advanced medical technologies available today.

It is true that an enlarged prostate may be the symptom of a serious illness like prostate cancer. However in many cases this prognosis may not hold true. Discuss your predicament with your doctor and he or she may recommend additional tests to confirm the cause of the enlarged prostate. If the enlarged prostate is due to cancer, do note that the chances of recovering from prostate cancer are high if it has been detected early.

Cancer is rare as a cause for an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate is often seen as an indicator of aging. It tends to enlarge in men from their forties. If there are no contra indications, then accept it gracefully as a by-product of aging. Regular checkups are required to monitor the condition of your prostate gland in order to be early in detecting any issues so that corrective measures can be taken to cure any illnesses.

An Enlarged Prostate Requires Urgent Medical Attention

A qualified doctor will be able to confirm if an enlarged prostate is a symptom of an underling illness. The first thing a doctor would do upon suspecting an enlarged prostate is to conduct a prostate test to rule out the possibility of cancer. Even in the cases of cancer detection, there is no need to panic or become depressed. Efficient and effective treatment plans are available now to cure prostate cancer.

The Link Between An Enlarged Prostate And Prostate Cancer

Men who discover that they have an enlarged prostate or have been inflicted with prostate cancer need not lose hope. Although the news is devastating to say the least, there may be ways to overcome the predicament. With the advances in medical technology today, it is possible to overcome the problems associated with an enlarged prostate and even prostate cancer.

Seeking a qualified and experienced doctor is critical to begin the treatment process. Some of the techniques available today have only been discovered in the last decade. Keeping a positive and combative attitude towards overcoming this medical predicament goes along way during the treatment process.

Prostate cancer is truly a miserable condition but discovering it in the early stages is critical to it's treatment. It is important for men in their fifties to include an examination for an enlarged prostate as part of the annual medical checkup. Early detection increases the chances of recovering from prostate cancer since aggressive treatments to quell the cancer can begin. Men whose ancestors have contracted prostate cancer may wish to start their detection regimens a little earlier; perhaps from their forties.

Prostate Health Part 2 - How to Prevent Enlarged Prostate and Prostate Cancer With Foods

We know that starting at age 40, the levels of the by-product prolactin of testosterone of men increases, stimulating the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that causes the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT thus triggering prostate enlargement and other problems. Therefore in order to prevent the symptoms of enlarged prostate and prostate cancer are to naturally impend the conversion of testosterone to DHT. We have also discussed other causes of enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. In this article we will focus in how to prevent and treat enlarged prostate and prostate cancer with natural foods.

1. Tomato
Tomatoes contain a high amount of lycopene that can help to protect the prostate and keep it healthy, but raw tomato is hard to digest. Be sure to take tomato with dark green leafy vegetables for helping the absorption of lycopene.

2. Soy bean and legume
Soybeans and legumes contains isoflavones and is a unique source of phytochemicals It directly inhibits the growth of different types of cancer cells and protects the prostate from being enlarged. Study shows that isoflavones were found to markedly inhibit prostate tumors in mice implanted with prostate cancer cells. Try adding soy or rice milk to your morning cereal or oatmeal.

2. Grapefruit
Grapefruits contain high amounts of vitamin C, minerals, bioflavonnoids and other plant chemicals that help to prevent enlarged prostate, prostate cancer and other forms of cancer and heart diseases.

3. Papaya
Papayas are rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, carotenoids and flavonoids that have cardio protective and anti-cancer effects. Eating papayas help to promote lung health and prevents the prostate from becoming enlarged and prevents prostate cancer.

4. Bean
Beans are rich in inositol pentakisphosphate. Beans are high in fiber, which helps the body rid itself of excess testosterone that reduces the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT thus triggering prostate enlargement and other problems.

5. Green tea
Green tea contains the antioxidant phytochemicals called polyphenols that attack growth factors and proteins, interrupting processes that increase the size of tumors, thus preventing them from spreading to other parts of the body. Green tea also help to prevent the development of benign prostate hyperplasia such as enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.

6. Broccoli
Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, including kale and cauliflower, are rich in sulphoraphane, a cancer-fighting phytochemical that helps rid the body of excess testosterone and reduces the risk of benign protatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

7.. Cold water fish
Cold water fish contains high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids. Study shows that omega-3 fatty acids inhibit carcinogenesis that helps significantly lower levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in men with benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Experience Relief From Prostate Enlargement Today!

Believe it or not, many men over the age of 40 have never figured out why it is they have to go to the bathroom more frequently. My objective is to make them aware that it is most likely their prostate causing them all that grief! Once they have discovered it is very common condition they are in a much better position to deal with it and find relief quickly!

A lot of men feel uncomfortable talking about the prostate since it serves a function in urination and sex. Many people suffer in silence and hesitate to talk to their doctor. The average male begins to have to urinate more frequently once he reaches the age of forty. While this may be a mild nuisance, it is disregarded as just the way it is. They don't think too much about it and don't take action to correct it. However, it is in your best interest to they should do something, before it gets worse.

The prostate is a gland that is roughly the size of a walnut and it forms part of the male reproductive system. The prostate is composed of two lobes, and enclosed by an outer layer of surrounding tissue. The prostate surrounds the urethra, which is the canal that urine leaves the body through. Scientists are still unsure of all the functions of the prostate. One of the main roles is to squeeze fluid into the urethra as the sperm move through during ejaculation. As men age the prostate enlarges, but the layer of surrounding tissue stops it from expanding. This causes the gland to press up against the urethra similar to a clamp on a garden hose. When this happens the bladder wall starts to thicken and become more irritable. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains only small amounts of urine, causing the sensation that you have to urinate more frequently. Eventually over time the bladder begins to weaken and looses the ability to empty itself completely, and urine starts to remain in the bladder causing discomfort.

Some symptoms of an enlarged prostate include:

• An interrupted or weak urine stream

• Frequent urgency or leaking

• Increase in intervals of urination

• More instances of waking up to urinate throughout the night

The prostate size does not always dictate the severity of the obstruction, or indicate what the symptoms will be. Some men who have greatly enlarged prostates have very little obstruction; while others with less enlarged glands, have greater blockage and more problems. Sometimes a man will be completely unaware that he has any obstruction at all until he suddenly finds himself unable to urinate. This condition, referred to as acute urinary retention, can be triggered by taking over the counter allergy or cold medications. If you a man who has enlargement of the prostate gland, you may want to avoid taking medicines that contain the drug called sympathomimetic, which is a drug commonly found in decongestants.

It is very crucial that if you suspect that you may be experiencing enlargement of the prostate you talk to your doctor. Left untreated prostate enlargement can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder stones, kidney or bladder damage or the inability to control urination. Many men are hesitant to take prescription medication because of the many side effects. If you are one of these people you will be relieved to know that there is an all natural alternative available. Bell Prostate Ezee Flow Tea is a herbal tea designed to aid in relief from enlarged prostate glands.

What Causes Enlarged Prostate Conditions In Men Over The Age Of 50

Commonly known as enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition routinely affecting middle aged and elderly men. More than fifty percent of American men between the ages of sixty and seventy exhibit symptoms of BPH. Having an enlarged prostate itself isn't life-threatening, in fact in many cases, BPH treatment simply involves close monitoring of the condition. But the existence of enlarged prostate can lead to more serious conditions like a bladder and kidney damage, bladder stones, urinary tract infection and even a complete halt of the urinary system, in a condition known as acute urinary retention. But what just what causes enlarged prostate hyperplasia?

What Is an Enlarged Prostate?

Here's how it happens, the prostate gland, which is ordinarily the size of a small walnut snuggly manuevers it's way right between the urethra and the pubic bone. As the onset of prostate enlargement begins to first mainfest itself, the bladder will have to work with more force to push urine through the now narrowed and somewhat "smushed" urethra. Subsequently, the muscles of the bladder become more sensitive-hence the frequent need to urinate that accompanies benign prostatic hyperplasia. The already enlarged prostate gland continues to grow and ultimately the bladder loses the ability to completely empty itself, and that is precisely what can go on to cause some of the harmful medical conditions associated with advanced enlarged prostate conditions.

What Causes Enlarged Prostate Conditions?

Just like the medical mystery of "Whatever happened to King Tut," physicans are sure definitively just what causes enlarged prostate. But of course, everyone has a theory, especially when it comes to testosterone. Many medical professionals believe that androgens, which include testosterone and similar hormones, play a direct role in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The school of thought isn't that testosterone and other androgens actually cause an enlarged prostate, but studies have shown that in order for the condition to occur, androgens must be in the midst. Men who were castrated as young boys do not experience prostate troubles as adults.

Diagnosing and Enlarged Prostate

BPH can be diagnosed in three ways, through a rectal examination, via blood tests, or through an ultrasound. A digit rectal examination may be able to catch an enlarged prostate, although the condition is typically advanced by this time. In an effort to determine if a patient has prostate cancer, physicans will order an ultrasound examination of the testicles, prostate, and kidneys, it is through this process that they may find that their patient isn't suffering from prostate cancer at all, but rather an enlarged prostate. But it is through blood testing that benign prostatic hyperplasia is most often caught. Blood tests are able to pick up on high levels of prostate specific antigens (PSA) affiliated with prostate cancer, however rectal examinations have been known to elevate levels PSA levels.

Can't Sleep? - Better Check To See If You Have an An Enlarged Prostate

Prostate enlargement is a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), and is very common among men over the age of 40. The prostate is a small walnut shaped gland that surrounds the urethra. It is responsible for secreting fluid that is released with sperm. The prostate gland is located around the urethra between the pubic bone and the rectum, just below the bladder.

Because the prostate surrounds the urethra, its enlargement causes a compression of the urethra. This compression of the urethra can impede the flow of urine in the bladder causing acute urinary retention. Acute urinary retention is the backup of urine in the bladder and urethra. This symptom of prostate enlargement causes frequent urination in the sufferer of prostate enlargement.

Frequent urination, is often times a cause of loss of sleep for many men suffering from prostate enlargement. When the prostate is enlarged, it becomes hard for the bladder to empty completely or even pass urine. This is what contributes to frequent urination. A sufferer of prostate enlargement can awaken several times during the night to urinate. Prostate enlargement causes loss of sleep and is disruptive during the night. Nighttime urinary frequency is a very troubling symptom of prostate enlargement because it causes the sufferer to loose sleep. Loss of sleep, however, is only one troubling symptom of prostate enlargement.

There is really no known prevention for prostate enlargement because it is a natural occurrence for most men over the age of 40. Although there is no known prevention of prostate disease, there are steps you can take to maintain a healthy prostate. A healthy diet combined with a healthy lifestyle can help in maintaining a healthy prostate. Living well is one of the simplest things that you can do to help prevent prostate enlargement and the troubles of frequent nighttime urination.

There a number of natural and medical treatments, that can be used to treat prostate enlargement. If sleep becomes severely deprived because of frequent urination, you should seek medical treatment. Although sleep deprivation can be troublesome to men suffering from prostate enlargement, it is only one symptom of this condition.

Other symptoms of prostate enlargement are:

Frequent urination (especially at night)
A hesitant, weak or interrupted stream when urinating
Feeling of urgency, leaking or dribbling (after urinating)
Delayed onset of urinary stream
Straining to urinate
Inability to urinate
Bloody urine
Pain with urination, ejaculation and bowel movement

If frequent urination at night is becoming very troublesome there are two types of drugs that can help. If you visit a doctor and are diagnosed with prostate enlargement. You may be given alpha-blockers. Alpha-blockers are drugs that relax the muscles that contract the prostate gland and the neck of the bladder. This makes it possible for the urine to flow freely. The alpha-blockers Doxazosin and Terazosin were originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure. Men suffering with an enlarged prostate must start with low doses of these drugs. The reason for this is that these are blood pressure medications, and may make you dizzy from excessively low blood pressure. Another alpha-blocker, Tamsulosin (Flomax), is helpful in treating an enlarged prostate while avoiding excessive low blood pressure in patients.

Another drug used to treat prostate enlargement is known as Finasteride (Proscar). Finasteride actually shrinks the prostate gland about 20 percent. This drug reduces the risk of an increase o severity in symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Use of these types of drugs is usually together. The use of alpha-blockers and Finasteride helps prevent and delay the progression of enlarged prostate symptoms.

Enlarged Prostate - The Consequences and Possible Repercussions

For a lay man a prostate gland can be simply described as a walnut. This part is found in males only and is responsive for the production and release of white cells found in semen which are the basic source of reproduction. This part of the male body is prone to malfunction in males as they grow older.

The prostate gland secretes a fluid that is discharged with sperm. The gland itself surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the tip of the penis. As the prostate grows larger, it may press on the urethra. This narrowing of the urethra can cause some men with prostate enlargement to have trouble with urination. Prostate enlargement may be the most common health problem in men older than 60 years

Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate:

Signs and symptoms vary from person to person with only about half of men with prostate enlargement experiencing any difficulties. Signs and symptoms can include, difficulty with starting to urinate, difficulty maintaining a constant flow of urine, dribbling at the end of urination, feeling you need to urinate frequently, increasing need to urinate during the night, urgency to urinate, not being able to empty your bladder completely, urinary tract infections, blood in your urine.

Many studies have been conducted in order to uncover the root cause and risk factors of enlarged prostate but so far, researchers are unable to determine any. The only observable explanation is man's aging process and the changes brought about by it.

Testosterone and estrogen hormones balance cell growth. Recent studies conducted on animals showed hormonal imbalance such as decreased level of testosterone can leave an increased level of estrogen in the prostate gland, which can trigger cell growth. As the level of testosterone continue to decrease, cell growth is likely to be observed. Decrease of testosterone level usually happens as man ages, which might be a proof of enlarged prostate.

Precautions Regarding Enlarged Prostate:

It order to have the awareness of enlarged prostate of one's body, it is advised that men should have an annual check-up and undergo several tests and examinations done by doctors. Proper preparation is better than waiting for further complications brought about by enlarged prostate.

Prostate enlargement has various treatment approaches from drug therapy to herbal supplements, to surgery and to many other alternative ways of curing the condition.

There are two types of medication that help to control the symptoms of an enlarged prostate; they are alpha blockers and finasteride Proscar, Propecia. Alpha blockers are effective in about 75% of men. They work by relaxing the muscles at the neck of the bladder making urination easier. The FDA has approved three types: doxazosin Cardura; tamsulosin Flomax and terazosin Hytrin.

Treating an Enlarged Prostate

Having an enlarged prostate is not only annoying. It can be embarrassing as well. To make matters worse, the condition can lead to life-threatening complications.

"If after you think you've emptied your bladder there are still several ounces of urine left behind, you are at risk for acute urinary retention. That means that one day while you are on a train, a plane, climbing a mountain, driving on some remote highway, or scuba diving off a tropical island hours away from medical help, you may suddenly have to 'go' and find that you can't. The signal to void becomes progressively more intense and painful until you have to be rushed to the nearest medical facility where a catheter inserted into the bladder via the penis is the only way to release the retained urine. If help is a long way off, you may be in real trouble," explained Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center in "The Best Treatment."

Before that happens, what are your options? How do you deal with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?

In the past, the only option for people with BPH or an enlarged prostate was surgery. Called transurethral prostate resection (TURP), this procedure involves "shaving" or removing small pieces of the enlarged prostate that block the flow of urine.

TURP is done with a tiny instrument called a resectoscope or operating cystoscope equipped with a light and electric cutting device at its end. The instrument is inserted into the urethra (the tube where urine flows) and a miniature telescope enables the urologist to see the area and cut portions of the prostate gland.

"After the operation, the resectoscope is removed and a catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder, where it remains for a day or two so that that the bladder can void while the enlarged channel heals. The hospital stay generally is about a week," according to Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book."

TURP usually relieves the uncomfortable symptoms of BPH but there are a few problems. First, the prostate may enlarge again, requiring another operation. This is true for one in five men who may have to undergo a second TURP procedure in five years. Secondly, surgery does not prolong life. One study suggests that it actually reduces a person's lifespan by a year.

In rare cases, TURP can cause impotence or complete inability to control urination. The most common side effect, however, is retrograde ejaculation, that is, the ejaculated semen enters the bladder instead of shooting out of the penis. This may impair a man's fertility.

"Men who have had a TURP experience no decrease in sexual desire and retain the ability to have erections, engage in sexual intercourse, and ejaculate. Unfortunately, the surgical procedure may cause damage to the internal bladder sphincter, the valve responsible for forward ejaculation of semen. A damaged bladder sphincter cannot close prior to ejaculation, resulting in retrograde ejaculation of semen into the bladder," said Dr. Richard F. Spark, associate clinical professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in "Male Sexual Health: A Couple's Guide." (Next: Laser for prostate enlargement.)

Enlarged Prostate - When Do I Need To Do Something About It?

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) (also known as Enlarging Prostate, or EP) is a thickening of the prostate tissue surrounding the urethra in older men that is associated with problems with urination. It is a part of normal aging, and with time some men are affected more than others.

After age 50 most men begin to experience some prostate problems. Fifty percent of men over 50 and 90% of men older than 80 have BPH. 6.4 million men visit a doctor for BPH every year. Half of those consider medication or surgery for treatment. The probability of eventually requiring surgery is 39%. The worst outcomes are a loss of sexual function with surgery, acute urinary retention (the sudden inability to urinate caused by untreated BPH) or damage to the kidneys and bladder. In half of cases BPH reduces quality of life for men. Thirty six percent of spouses of BPH men surveyed reported that BPH caused a lack of physical intimacy in their relationships.

The prostate gland is a walnut sized organ in males that is located just below the bladder. The prostate helps to create semen. Fluid created by the prostate is secreted into the urethra (the tube in the penis that is both the conduit for urine as well as semen) where it combines with and protects sperm from the testicles. Semen protects sperm and plays an important role in male fertility.

Fertility isn't usually a major priority for most men over 50 unless they are in a relationship with a younger woman still in her childbearing years who wants to have children. A more odious condition is BPH. The prostate wraps around the urethra where it exits from the bladder. As the prostate enlarges it squeezes off the urethra, resulted in problems urinating, creating the need to urinate frequently day and night, feelings of urgency to urinate, not allowing the bladder to empty completely, and creating weak urine flows that start and stop. BPH is diagnosed by a rectal exam by your doctor.

BPH is not cancer, or a precursor to cancer -- and it does not raise your risk for prostate cancer. The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. Aside from some link to aging, the testicles may play a role in the growth of the gland. Men who have had their testicles removed at a young age as a result of testicular cancer or for another medical reason do not develop BPH, probably as a result of the removal of dihydrotestosterone, which has a stimulatory effect on prostate tissue. Similarly, if after developing BPH, a man has his testicles removed, the prostate begins to shrink in size.

Less than half of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease, which include frequent urination and urgency, urinating at night, weak urine stream, straining to void, dribbling after urination, and incomplete urination. Frequency is caused by mechanical obstruction of the urethra, combined with a thickening of the smooth muscle in the bladder wall secondary to the increased resistance from the urethra. This causes the size of the bladder cavity to become smaller, shortening the times between urination, leading to numerous visits to the restroom.

Treatment is not necessary in the early stages of BPH. Once you regularly (several times a week) start urinating less then two hours after the last time you went, have a feeling like your bladder is not empty after urinating, stopped and started while urinating, had to push or strain, or had a weak stream, can't postpone urinating, and have to get up at night, it is time to do something about it. If you have these problems only once and a while, you won't necessarily benefit from treatment.

Prostate Health Part 1 - What Causes Enlarged Prostate and Prostate Cancer

We know that starting at age 40, the levels of the by-product prolactin of testosterone of men increases, stimulating the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that causes the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT triggering prostate enlargement and other problems. Therefore in order to prevent the symptoms of enlarged prostate is to naturally impend the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Unfortunately, aging is not the only cause of enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. In this article, we will discuss other causes of prostate enlargement.

1. Genetics
Genetics may also play a role in enlarged prostate since study shows that prostate cancer and enlarged prostates can be inherited from generation to generation.

2. Hormone imbalance
The outward appearance of a typical middle-aged person shows increased abdominal fat and shrinkage of muscle mass, which is the main factor causing hormone imbalance. Hormone imbalance is also caused by depression, stress, and anxiety that are the most common psychological complications of hormone imbalance.

3. Cell-growth factor
For whatever reason, some people have implicated in enlarged prostate that is a growth factor.

4. Mineral deficiency
Our prostate contains high amounts of zinc to function normally. Zinc deficiency causes the prostate to enlarge. This may be due to aging or uncontrolled diet with excessive alcohol drinking.

5. Obesity
Study shows that uncontrolled diet that is high in saturated and trans fats are the main cause of hormone imbalance that results in prostate enlargement. Researchers suggest that excess calorie consumption could somehow directly stimulate prostate enlargement because the excess body fat that accumulates causes an imbalance of hormone levels.

6. Testosterone

Testosterone deficiency may be caused by high amounts of the by-product prolactin of testosterone of men in the body that stimulates even higher productions of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase resulting in a high amount of the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT thus triggering prostate enlargement. Excess estrogen seems to be the culprit in prostate enlargement that leads to the pathology and favors the development of prostate cancer.

Enlarged Prostate Gland - Should I Be Worried?

If you're a man in your sixties or seventies then there's a better than even chance that you will be suffering from an enlarged prostate gland and will be experiencing a range of common symptoms including a difficulty in urinating, a need to urinate frequently and with some urgency and a dribbling of urine even after you've visited the bathroom. But should you be worried by your enlarged prostate gland?

An enlarged prostate gland is an extremely common condition that will affect most men later in life and is caused by cell growth within the inner core of the prostate at the point at which it encircles the urethra. This causes a constriction on the urethra and interferes with the normal flow of urine.

This cell growth is normally very slow, is benign (non-cancerous) and is confined to the inner area of the prostate. As a result, an enlarged prostate gland in itself is really nothing to worry about and many men will find that the symptoms caused by the enlarged prostate are sufficiently minor that they really don't bother them too much at all.

Except in cases of severe enlargement, an enlarged prostate gland is nothing to worry about. However, the symptoms which are typical of an enlarged prostate gland, and which are often attributed to a swollen prostate, may also indicate the presence of other or additional problems, some of which you should certainly be worried about.

Unfortunately, because most men will suffer from an enlarged prostate, particularly in their sixties and seventies, many men don't worry when the symptoms appear and certainly wouldn't dream of bothering their doctor with the problem. This is a mistake.

Yes, an enlarged prostate gland is generally speaking nothing to worry about but, when the symptoms start to appear you should talk to your doctor and make sure that an enlarged prostate gland is indeed the cause of your symptoms.

Treatment For Enlarged Prostate - Natural Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

This article is about treatment for enlarged prostate and the natural remedies and lifestyle changes you should consider.

If you are faced with an enlarged prostate, it's important to keep all of your treatment options in perspective. Initially, you should always seek a professional medical opinion to determine the extent of your prostate problems - your doctor will be able to help you determine the proper course of treatment. In many cases, a prostate enlargement will be accompanied by discomfort, while other times it is indicative of a larger health problem. It's important to fully evaluate all of your enlarged prostate treatment options before beginning a course of treatment.

There are several potential layers of prostate treatment, which may be incorporated independently or combined in a comprehensive treatment program. If your condition is not yet severe, you can seek out the best option for you, although if your condition is advanced, you should rely upon the immediate advice of a health professional. In this case, certain surgeries may be needed in order to remove excess prostate tissue to restore full urinary functioning - there are a number of techniques and levels of surgery available.

The base level of traditional treatment is to take pharmaceuticals that may help you to alleviate the symptoms and begin to work towards addressing the root cause of your prostate enlargement. Keeping in mind that these drugs will have potential side effects and interactions which you should discuss with your doctor.

Further, it is important to understand that drugs can only give you time in which you can begin to address the root causes through adjustments in your lifestyle by means of your diet and exercise regime. Only through the necessary improvement in your lifestyle can you begin to realize the changes needed to fully address your problem.

Transitioning from enlarged prostate treatment to a full, healthy prostate requires evaluating a combination of options ranging from traditional enlarged prostate treatment to natural adjustments to your lifestyle â€" the combination of these techniques can provide the most effective prostate enlargement treatment.