Prostate Enlargement

BPH is the enlargement of the male prostate gland. It can have many associated problems including the need to urinate frequently, difficulty in urinating and inability to completely empty the bladder. The main cause of BPH is age. It's a very common complaint in older men - indeed over 50% of males 55 years old and over is thought to be suffering with BPH.

Digital rectal exam (or DRE) is usually the first test done. And it's just what it says: your doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the part of the prostate next to the rectum. A DRE exam can give a general idea of the size and condition of the gland, but it's not highly reliable in detecting prostate enlargement, since the part of the prostate that presses on the urethra can't be felt by DRE. It is, however, more useful in diagnosingprostatitis or detecting prostate cancer.

Physicians sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between the symptoms of prostatitis and benign prostate enlargement (BPH). A Harvard University study showed that urologists seeing patients with the same symptoms diagnosed them with prostatitis if they were under 50 and with BPH if they were over 50. In addition, there are four types of prostatitis, the most common of which is unfortunately the one that is the most baffling.

Experts in diet strongly recommend that a good diet and exercise routine help in preventive and treatment of prostate problems. THe general recommendations are to reduce red meat and saturated fat in the diet and eat more fruit and vegetables. Drinking more water rather that coke and a good exercise program are essential both for prostate care and leading a better, healthier and happier life.

Saw palmetto has long been touted as a natural herbal remedy for prostate enlargement. Some studies have shown results in which saw palmetto apparently reduced gland swelling and improved symptoms over several weeks. But a more recent study published in 2006 has cast doubt on the previous studies' results, with clinical tests showing that saw palmetto appears to have no better effect than a placebo. There are sure to be further studies, but in the meantime it is difficult to say whether saw palmetto can still be considered an effective herbal remedy for BPH.

During the second phase of growth, the condition of an enlarged prostate may occur when the layer of tissue surrounding the prostate stops it from expanding and presses it against the urethra. It is generally accepted that men over the age of 45 start to experience some prostate enlargement, though they may not have any significant symptoms, and by age 60, it is believed that 80% of all men experience some enlargement which affects urination.

What you put into your body can actually strengthen or weaken your immune system, and can help fortify you against getting prostate cancer, as well as heart disease, stroke, and other major killer diseases. Your body needs many nutrients to continue functioning in top form and to maintain prostate health, and thus giving you the best chance to avoid prostate enlargement and even prostate cancer.

Benign prostate hyperplasia begins through the formation of small nodules in the periurethal glands in the inner layers of the organ. This is known as hyperplasia. AT the same time there is also an enlargement of the glandular cells which is called hypertrophy. It can take a long period of time for these changes to slowly occur.

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