Enlarged Prostate Treatment. Conventional Treatment For BPH May Not Always Be Your Best Option According to Several Studies

Enlarged Prostate Treatment. Conventional Treatment For BPH May Not Always Be Your Best Option According to Several Studies. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, (BPH), affects half of all Australian men over 60. While it is not cancer, it can cause serious problems and complications if left untreated. Many men only experience minor symptoms, so simple lifestyle and diet changes are often the best first course of action.

If you notice slight changes in your bathroom habits, such as increased frequency and urgency to urinate, you may be experiencing the first signs of Enlarged Prostate Treatment. While you should always consult with your physician there are some things you can do to reduce symptoms before considering treatment. For instance, urinate when you first get the urge, don’t wait. Take the opportunity to use the bathroom when you can, even if you don’t feel the immediate urge.

Enlarged Prostate Treatment: For those who have more advanced BPH symptoms, traditional treatment normally starts with prescription medications such as finasteride (Proscar), which lower prostate hormone levels in order to shrink the gland. Like most medications however, finasteride can cause side effects such as decreased sex drive and impotence in some cases. Other medications include Alpha 1-Blockers such as Terazosin®, which are also used to treat high blood pressure.

These drugs relax the muscles of the bladder allowing for easier urination. Side effects occur in 10 percent of men and include weakness , dizziness, faintness, swelling due to fluid retention and problems with posture. As well, patients using Terazosin® may develop intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS), a semipermanent loss of muscle tone in the eye. For those suffering from prostatitis, antibiotics are the drug of choice however recent studies show that only 5 to10 percent of men actually have a true bacteriologic condition that can be improved with antibiotic treatment, making this treatment highly impractical .

Enlarged Prostate Treatment: Often surgery is recommended for men who experience incontinence, chronic blood in their urine, urinary tract infections and urinary retention. Three types of surgery are most commonly preformed including, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), which both use a scope to either remove the prostate in pieces or make a small incision to enlarge the opening of the urethra and bladder outlet.

The most invasive procedure is an open prostatectomy in which the prostate is removed through the abdomen. Although the majority of men who have surgery report improvement in urine flow and symptoms, there are possible complications such as incontinence, retrograde ejaculation, infertility and a narrowing of the urethral structure.

Enlarged Prostate Treatment:While these traditional treatments are usually the primary options offered to patients, they are not always the best choice. More natural approaches are often as effective in many cases and include such treatments as Kegel exercises, which increase pelvic muscle tone and circulation. Sitz baths and massage of the lower abdominal area, back and sacrum are also helpful.

As well, acupuncture is used successfully in many cases to improve urinary flow and reduce inflammation and swelling. One study reports participants who used acupuncture, experienced a 94.8 percent improvement in BPH symptoms.

Enlarged Prostate Treatment: In Europe, the first line of treatment in 80 percent of BPH cases is saw palmetto, a herbal remedy recognised by Germany’s Commission E to be as effective as Finasteride, without the harmful side effects. Studies show 67 percent of all patients who used saw palmetto did not endure side effects such as decreased libido and impotence compared to those using the conventional drug.

Other effective herbal remedies include pumpkin seed, epilobium, pygeum, stinging nettle, red clover and cernilton, often used to treat prostatitis. Vitamin C, zinc, selenium, lycopene and essential fatty acids (EFAs) are also important.

If you are experiencing symptoms of prostate disease, consult you physician. Traditional medical treatments for Enlarged Prostate Treatment are not always the best option and in many cases and they often come with harmful side effects. Research your options carefully so you can make an informed choice based one what is best in your situation.

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2 Carro, J-C. et al. 1996. Comparison of Phytotherapy (Permixon ® with Finasteride in the Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Randomized International Study of 1,098 Patients. The Prostate, 29: 213-240, 1996

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5 Johnstone PA, Bloom TL, Niemtzow RC, Crain D, Riffenburgh RH, Amling CL. A prospective, randomized pilot trial of acupuncture of the kidney-bladder distinct meridian for lower urinary tract symptoms. J Urol. 2003;169(3):1037-1039.

6 Acupuncture Treatment for retention of Urine: Clinical observation of 45 cases. Gao Xian-jie. Int. J. of Clin. Acup. Vol. 6, No. 4, 1995.

7 Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:201.

8 Carro, J-C. et al. 1996. Comparison of Phytotherapy (Permixon ® with Finasteride in the Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Randomized International Study of 1,098 Patients. The Prostate, 29: 213-240, 1996

Enlarged Prostate Treatment