Week One Holiday Hump Day and BPH Awareness
It’s the first holiday hump day of the winter holiday season! Smack dab in the middle of the week, and people doing their holiday shopping. But while many are checking the next store, many older men are checking where the closest bathroom is. And when they get to the bathroom for the umpteenth time, they once again struggle to push out their pee, and when they do it’s a weak stream. Once they’re done, they never really feel like they’re done. If that sounds unpleasant, imagine being the man going through that in his older age. These are some of the symptoms men with BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) may experience. BPH is the enlargement of the prostate in older men. The prostate naturally grows in size twice in a man’s life: in puberty and in adulthood. The second growth never really seems to stop and this can create health complications when it squeezes the urethra making it more narrow (the tube leading urine out of the body) and pushes against the bladder (which holds the urine). This is why you can simultaneously feel urges to go to the bathroom but then have trouble emptying.
This holiday season the last thing you want to think about is prostate problems. However, awareness to the public is important for supporting men and helping to both end the stigma for seeking health support and find relief from BPH. A doctor visit is always encouraged, but if you’re unsure of the options discussed, second opinions and research by reliable sources can help inform your decision. For those who are interested in natural treatments, there are also study reports on natural ingredients that you and/or your doctor can review. In the meantime, a balanced and positive health conscious lifestyle is not only good for your prostate but also for your whole body and mind!