Camel Humps are Big, But Prostates Shouldn’t Be
You’re halfway into the week, and prostate enlargement might or might not be on your mind, but it sure is worth talking about. As men age, their prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system that secretes seminal fluid, grows larger in size. This increase in size can interfere with the urinary system, namely the bladder and urethra. This prostate enlargement condition is known as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), and some men may not get a proper diagnosis until the symptoms have significantly affected their sleep and urinary patterns. It is also worth noting that BPH is not a malignant or cancerous condition. However, BPH symptoms share many commonalities with other prostate conditions, so rather than self diagnosing it’s important to speak to your urologist to confirm that there aren’t other underlying issues with your prostate.
In an ideal world, maybe the prostate wouldn’t be situated beneath the bladder and surrounding the urethra, and it certainly wouldn’t grow to the point where the urethra could no longer pass urine. There are options to help older men who develop BPH. Men with mild BPH could go the natural route in addition to lifestyle changes that would reduce the impact of BPH in their lives, while men with moderate to severe BPH may need medical and surgical interventions as determined by their doctor and other considerations.
Keeping yourself informed and actively bringing attention to BPH could encourage medical researchers to find more solutions to support older men. BPH shouldn’t become a big problem in your life, so seek the support that you need, be it emotional or medical. Reducing stress with breathing techniques, anxiety reducing music, and a support network can be a great start to staying healthy and reducing the frustration with urinary issues. Also, pelvic floor exercises could help with urges, struggling to push out urine, and incontinence control. Enjoy the rest of your hump days, and even with prostate enlargement you can regain control of your quality of life!