Prostate enlargement – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 by Carol Anderson

Prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, happens when the chiefly glandular tissue overgrows due to an increase in the number of cells. This causes the prostate tissue to push against the urethra and the bladder affecting urine flow.

This condition is common among men aged 50 and older. Because the flow of urine is blocked, patients with prostate enlargement are prone to urinary tract infections, bladder stones, bladder diverticula that may lead to more serious complications.

In worse cases, it causes sudden inability to urinate which can be painful and needs immediate medical attention.

Known risk factors and symptoms of prostate enlargement

Aging is said to be connected to prostate enlargement that’s why older men are normally the ones diagnosed with it. About 1 in 5 men develop this condition at the age of 50, and the numbers increase to 70 percent as a man turn 70 years old.

The only controllable risk factor for prostate enlargement is obesity.

The following are common symptoms of prostate enlargement:

A slow flow of urine
The urgent need to urinate
Difficulty in urinating
A feeling of not fully emptying the bladder
Blood in urine

Although this is a normal case among men, it is still vital to get checked to ensure that the symptoms are stable and that there are no risks of more serious complications.

Body systems affected by prostate enlargement

Prostate enlargement may cause the following complications:

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Formation of stones in either the bladder, kidney or urethra
Bladder and kidney damage
Bleeding in the urinary tract
Sudden difficulty in urinating

A patient who is experiencing worse symptoms needs to seek medical assistance as he/she may already be suffering from serious complications.

Food items or nutrients that may prevent or relieve prostate enlargement

To help prevent or relieve prostate enlargement, one must ensure to eat healthy foods. Here are the top foods that can help:

Avocados – According to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the plant sterol called beta-sitosterol can effectively reduce symptoms of prostate enlargement, and avocados are rich in this substance. Aside from this fruit, soybeans, pecans, and wheat germ are also good sources of beta-sitosterol.
Bell peppers – Vitamin C from vegetables can lower the risk of prostate enlargement, and among the greens, bell peppers have the most vitamin C content.
Salmon – Fatty acid is vital to avoid prostate enlargement. By eating salmon, the body’s also ingesting adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.
Sesame seeds – Sesame seeds are great in helping maintain a healthy prostate due to its high levels of zinc.
Tofu – Soy isoflavones are said to help lower the risk of prostate enlargement.
Tomatoes – High levels of lycopene are found in tomatoes which are known for reducing antigen – a protein connected to prostate inflammation and enlarged prostate.

It’s also recommended to avoid consuming the following list of foods to prevent developing prostate enlargement.

Dairy
Fermented foods
Certain fruits – Pineapple, red plus, orange juice, and yellow cherries.
Protein – Aged beef, sausage, bologna, salami, and dried salted fish
Some vegetables – Squash, white corn, and broad beans.

Treatment and management options for prostate enlargement

Since prostate enlargement is a common condition, many natural ways to treat it have been discovered.

Aerobic and resistance exercise – One of the risk factors for prostate enlargement is obesity. Prevent it by doing at least 30 minutes of exercise a few times a week. Aerobics will help maintain a healthy weight while resistance exercise can reduce inflammation.
Apple cider vinegar – Aside from supporting weight loss, ACV has astringent properties that help shrink swollen prostate glands.
Corn silk – It is a known natural diuretic that aids in improving urine flow.
Dietary changes – By eating the recommended food mentioned above, maintaining a healthy prostate is easier.
Kegel exercise – Also known as pelvic-strengthening exercise, this helps tighten and clench some pelvic muscles to control urination easily.
Pumpkin seeds – It contains diuretic properties and can also aid to shrink an enlarged prostate.
Sitz bath – Pelvic muscles become relaxed on a hot bath, while the cold bath can help ease the pain.
Stinging nettle – It supports elimination od inflammatory wastes through urination and also works as a diuretic.

Where to learn more

Summary

Prostate enlargement is caused by the overgrowth of the prostate glands. This causes the prostate tissue to push against the urethra, blocking the urinal flow. Because of this, patients diagnosed with often suffer from urinary tract infections. This is more common among men who are 50 and older.

Possible signs that mean a person has an enlarged prostate are a slow flow of urine, urgent need to urinate, difficulty in urinating, a feeling of not fully emptying the bladder, and presence of blood in urine.

More severe cases of this condition may lead to complications like bladder and kidney stones, bleeding in the urinary tract and bladder and kidney damage.

Some of the foods that are beneficial to the prostate are salmon, tofu, tomatoes, avocados, and bell peppers. Meanwhile, foods like dairy and some kinds of fruits and vegetables should be avoided to reduce the risk of developing an enlarged prostate.

Specific exercises can help treat this prostate problem, as well as dietary changes, and sitz bath.

Sources include:

DoctorsHealthPress.com

Top10HomeRemedies.com

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