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Men’s Health: What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Why You Need to Learn About It

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Published: 8th of June, 2023

Last updated: June 9, 2023 at 15:39 pm

The urethra is the upper part of the tube that drains the bladder in the male reproductive system. Surrounding the urethra, and just below the bladder, is the prostate gland. Its function is to produce the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm (seminal fluid).

As men age, typically upwards of 40 years old, the prostate develops a tendency to enlarge. This is a natural aging process similar to greying hair, but it is far more dangerous. In strict medical terminology, the enlargement of the prostate gland as men age is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Let’s break that medical term down a little:

Benign – not harmful

Prostatic – of the prostate

Hyperplasia – enlargement due to increased rate of production of cells.

Actually, benign prostatic hyperplasia is not that benign. What the medical term implies is that it is not cancerous. But the effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia can be harmful to men. It can actually cause death if it is not treated properly.

As the prostate enlarges, it has a tendency to constrict the urethra, making urination painful and difficult. Men may find that they need to get up numerous times in the night to visit the washroom, and when they do, it’s difficult and painful to pass urine. They may only be able to pass a few drops each time, leading to discomfort and pain, and needless to say, a poor night’s sleep.

Left untreated, benign prostatic hyperplasia can result in a very painful death. If the prostate enlarges too much, it constricts the urethra and blocks the flow of urine. The urine pushes down, but cannot pass due to a constricted urethra. The sufferer feels intense pain, and unless he can get to a medical facility in time, dies.

On several occasions, I have had to rush persons with benign prostatic hyperplasia to the hospital. The first phase of treatment is to insert a catheter up the urethra, pushing open the constricted urethra and draining the bladder. The next phase of treatment is the patient’s choice: surgery to remove the prostate gland or prescription medication to shrink the prostate gland.

Mostly obviously, surgery is the most effective and once-and-for-all solution to benign prostatic hyperplasia. After surgery, you do not have to worry about a recurrence for life. But some men prefer not to do surgery, taking medication instead.

So why would men choose not to do surgery? For starters, removing the prostate makes it impossible for the man to have children. Most men who suffer from the condition might have already passed their phase of reproductivity and decided that they do not want to have more children, so removing the prostate would not be a problem. But some are still hesitant, and opt not to have the prostate removed because they still harbor an inkling of a hope that they might want to make children again in the future. Aside from that, some men are just scared of going under the knife for surgery. Some fear they might not come out alive, and yet others may opt out of surgery for religious reasons.

For men who choose not to surgically remove the prostate gland after suffering complications of benign prostatic hyperplasia, the only other option is prescription medications which are very effective in shrinking the prostate. One of the most popular of these is finasteride. Long term use of finasteride, however, tends to produce too much feminine hormones in the man’s body. This medication should only be used for short term emergency treatment. Once the prostate has been shrunk and the urine can pass normally again, the patient should research foods and herbs that support prostate health, including those which keep prostate enlargement in check.

If a man develops an enlarged prostate, it is standard medical procedure to check to see if the prostate has developed cancerous cells. An enlarged prostate is sometimes the sign of prostate cancer. However, most enlarged prostate conditions are not cancerous. They are benign, or as the name suggests, benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The most effective weapon against benign prostatic hyperplasia is to attack it before it begins. Since we can establish that all or most men will develop benign prostatic hyperplasia after reaching a certain age, a wise thing to do is to start using foods and herbs that keep prostate enlargement in check just as you hit your early forties. Some herbal products that support prostate health include:

  • Saw Palmetto
  • Pumpkin Seed Oil
  • Sesame seeds
  • Salmon
  • Tomatoes
  • Avocados

According to my research, pumpkin seed oil is highly effective in keeping prostate enlargement in check. It also reduces the risk of prostate cancer and supports reproductive functions such as the healthy production of sperm.

Saw Palmetto is another great herb that supports prostate health. In addition to preventing prostate enlargement, it also helps regrow lost hair.

There may be side effects to both Saw Palmetto and pumpkin seed oil, but I have not researched this thoroughly.

If you have already experienced light symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or if you are over 40 years old, you should talk to your doctor. You should also consider employing preventative measures by consuming foods and supplements that are known to prevent prostate enlargement.

Important Note: Foods and herbal products mentioned here may be effective in preventing prostate enlargement, but their effect is not powerful enough to shrink the prostate once it has already enlarged significantly.

Where can You Get Herbal Products that Prevent Prostate Enlargement?

Herbal products such as pumpkin seed oil and Saw Palmetto in their various forms can be found in stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets around the world. You can also find them on Amazon.

Please note that most herbal products sold on Amazon only ship within the United States, so if your Amazon shipping address is set outside of the United States, it may show as unavailable. If you live outside of the USA, you can get around this hurdle by using the address of a friend or relative in the United States who can receive the product and then forward it to you.

If you don’t have a friend or relative in the United States whom you can rely on, we recommend you use a freight forwarding service such as USA to Me Mail and Package Forwarding Services.

Recommend Products to Prevent Prostate Enlargement

Click Here for Recommended Pumpkin Seed Oil Products on Amazon

Click here for Recommend Saw Palmetto Products on Amazon

Legal Notice and Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is not medical advice, and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical attention. The products described in this article are not intended to treat or cure any disease. Neither the author nor the publisher of this article will be held responsible for the use or misuse of the information contained in this article.

Article Source: Nutrition, Fitness and Medicine (Reprinted with Permission)

This publication asked Dr. Elber Borrego, a Cuban Trained Medical Doctor practicing in Guyana, to review this article before publication here. Here are his comments.

Response from Dr. Elber Borrego

This is a good article, but I would change a few things. After our 40s, and specifically after our 50s, all males suffer from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, but not all get symptoms because the prostate grows differently in each individual. So what we should do and what doctors recommend is to be concerned and do regular checkups. Men over 50 should do a yearly rectal examination. This is where the doctor examines the prostate by inserting the finger via the anus. Normally, the prostate is soft. If the doctor feels that it is hard, it may be a sign of malignant growth. In that case, the next step would be to do an ultrasound so we can be able to see the exact size…along with a blood test called PSA (prostate specific antigen). All three exams together can give us an idea if the patient might have cancer or not.

Here’s an example scenario…

  1. On physical examination, the prostate feels soft and swollen.
  2. Ultrasound shows enlargement
  3. PSA shows less than ten.

In the above scenario, we conclude that the patient suffers from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and we place him on treatment. We do recommend herbs and natural medicines such as pumpkin seed – which is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Dr. Elber Borrego (MD), offers free medical advice via WhatsApp. To learn more, visit: https://www.guyanasouthamerica.gy/askadoctor

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