Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a medical condition characterized by prostate enlargement this results in urinary symptoms such as difficulty passing urine, incomplete bladder emptying, or frequently urinating at night. This condition only affects men as women do not have prostate glands. This condition increases in prevalence with age. Progressive enlargement of the prostate may cause significantly bothersome symptoms and can increase the risk of urinary tract infections.
Due to the importance of this condition, it is critical that patients understand its causes, symptoms, and treatment. By the end of this article, you will have the answers to these essential questions: …show more content…
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is diagnosed based on symptoms and physical examination. The palpation of an enlarged prostate on rectal examination is the classic feature.
Your doctor will also likely order blood tests such as a CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel), CBC (complete blood cell count), and urine analysis. They may send urine for a bacterial culture as well.
If you are over the age of 50, you doctor may consider checking a serum PSA level. This blood tests is usually elevated in prostate cancer, but can also increase in the setting of prostate infection or inflammation.
How is benign prostatic hyperplasia treated?
If you prostate enlargement has gotten severe enough to completely block of the urinary tract, this is a medical emergency. Acute urinary retention often requires the placement of a Foley catheter to relieve pressure off the urinary tract and bladder. If a Foley catheter cannot be placed, a suprapubic catheter may need to be inserted by a urologist.
In mild to moderate cases of prostate enlargement, patients often benefit from the use of medications. The most commonly prescribed drugs for benign prostatic hyperplasia …show more content…
• It is typically caused by increasing age and elevated DHT levels in the prostate gland.
• This condition only affects men as women do not have prostate glands.
• It affects about 25% of American men in their 50s, 33% of men in their 60s, and 50% of men age 80 or older.
• The most common symptoms are urinary frequency, urinary urgency, nocturia, incomplete bladder emptying, trouble passing urine, and suprapubic or pelvic pain.
• Diagnosis usually requires a prostate examination and urine and blood tests.
• Your doctor will often order a urinalysis and urine culture to evaluate for infection and blood in the urine.
• They may also check a PSA to screen for prostate cancer.
• Treatment typically consists of alpha blockers such as: Uroxatral (alfuzosin), Cardura (doxazosin), Flomax (tamsulosin), and Rapaflo (silodosin).
• They may also recommend 5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Proscar (finasteride) and Avodart (dutasteride).
• If patients do not respond these medications or are not interested in drug therapy, they may be candidates for prostate
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a medical condition characterized by prostate enlargement this results in urinary symptoms such as difficulty passing urine, incomplete bladder emptying, or frequently urinating at night. This condition only affects men as women do not have prostate glands. This condition increases in prevalence with age. Progressive enlargement of the prostate may cause significantly bothersome symptoms and can increase the risk of urinary tract infections.
Due to the importance of this condition, it is critical that patients understand its causes, symptoms, and treatment. By the end of this article, you will have the answers to these essential questions: …show more content…
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is diagnosed based on symptoms and physical examination. The palpation of an enlarged prostate on rectal examination is the classic feature.
Your doctor will also likely order blood tests such as a CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel), CBC (complete blood cell count), and urine analysis. They may send urine for a bacterial culture as well.
If you are over the age of 50, you doctor may consider checking a serum PSA level. This blood tests is usually elevated in prostate cancer, but can also increase in the setting of prostate infection or inflammation.
How is benign prostatic hyperplasia treated?
If you prostate enlargement has gotten severe enough to completely block of the urinary tract, this is a medical emergency. Acute urinary retention often requires the placement of a Foley catheter to relieve pressure off the urinary tract and bladder. If a Foley catheter cannot be placed, a suprapubic catheter may need to be inserted by a urologist.
In mild to moderate cases of prostate enlargement, patients often benefit from the use of medications. The most commonly prescribed drugs for benign prostatic hyperplasia …show more content…
• It is typically caused by increasing age and elevated DHT levels in the prostate gland.
• This condition only affects men as women do not have prostate glands.
• It affects about 25% of American men in their 50s, 33% of men in their 60s, and 50% of men age 80 or older.
• The most common symptoms are urinary frequency, urinary urgency, nocturia, incomplete bladder emptying, trouble passing urine, and suprapubic or pelvic pain.
• Diagnosis usually requires a prostate examination and urine and blood tests.
• Your doctor will often order a urinalysis and urine culture to evaluate for infection and blood in the urine.
• They may also check a PSA to screen for prostate cancer.
• Treatment typically consists of alpha blockers such as: Uroxatral (alfuzosin), Cardura (doxazosin), Flomax (tamsulosin), and Rapaflo (silodosin).
• They may also recommend 5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Proscar (finasteride) and Avodart (dutasteride).
• If patients do not respond these medications or are not interested in drug therapy, they may be candidates for prostate