Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Early Signs, Causes, and Solutions

A man finds himself waking up at night five times simply to relieve himself. Initially, it seems trivial, but it continues to occur. The flow of urine starts to diminish. The bladder rarely feels completely emptied. Long drives start to become annoying due to a persistent urge to pee. This is how Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia usually begins-quiet, slow and almost unnoticeable.

Many men live with the symptoms for years before realizing that prostate may be involved. Since the changes take place gradually, they often get dismissed as “normal aging”. But when urinary problems begin interfering with sleep and normal day to day activities, it is important to look into it. 

The good news is that Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia commonly known as BPH is easily treatable and manageable in most cases. 

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Let’s simplify the three letters:

Benign stands for non-cancerous. 

Prostate is a small walnut sized organ situated below the bladder and is surrounded by urethra. 

Hyperplasia is the increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue which often causes the organ to enlarge. 

Basically, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a condition in which your prostate grows in size and may cause problems in passing the urine. So, we can come to a conclusion that Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is not prostate cancer although the symptoms can feel concerning enough to make men worry. 

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy vs Hyperplasia

Many people search for Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy vs Hyperplasia online because the terms are quite similar. But do you know that both the terms are exactly similar with just a small difference. Technically, Hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of prostate cells whereas Hypertrophy refers to enlargement caused by increased cell size. Even though “Benign prostatic hypertrophy” is used commonly the actual medical term is “Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia” because the condition is around the increase in cells. 

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Causes

The causes of benign prostatic hyperplasia are not known. According to medical experts, the primary cause can be hormonal changes or aging. The prostate goes through two stages of growth: In early puberty, it doubles in size. At around the age of 25, the prostate begins to grow again. All this growth of the prostate does not cause any problem in the body. The second stage of growth may result in issues like Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. 

Additional possible causes are:

• Increased levels of dihydrotestosterone(DHT)
• Chronic inflammation
• Genetic vulnerability 

Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Obstructive symptoms are:

• Hesitancy: It is the trouble to start urinating even when the urge is strong enough
• Weak stream: The urine flow is usually weak, slow or fails to maintain a steady pressure
• Straining: Needing to push or strain the muscles to begin or maintain urination
• Dribbling: urine leaks or dribbles at the very end of urination

Irritative symptoms are:

• Need to urinate frequently
• A sudden urge to urinate which is difficult to hold
• Frequent wakes in the night to urinate
• Involuntary leakage

If left untreated the following symptoms can be observed:

• Inability to completely empty your bladder
• Presence of blood in the urine
• Voiding dysfunction (incomplete emptying of bladder)
• UTIs 

Some men experience mild symptoms for years, while others notice rapid worsening. 

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia without lower urinary tract symptoms

Interestingly, some men may have Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia without lower urinary tract symptoms. This means that the prostate becomes large but noticeable urinary problems do not occur immediately. In some cases, the enlargement is discovered during routine medical exams or imaging tests done for unrelated reasons. The size of the prostate does not have any severity on the occurrence of symptoms. A man with a moderately enlarged prostate may have severe symptoms while the other person with significant enlargement may experience very little discomfort. 

What does an enlarged prostate feel like?

The prostate itself does not cause the pain. Instead the discomfort comes from the urinary symptoms it creates. Most men often complain of constant bladder pressure, feeling unable to fully empty the bladder, anxiety about finding restrooms, interrupted sleep, frustration during urination and sudden urgency that feels difficult to control. Some men begin planning their day around bathroom access without even realizing how much the symptoms are affecting their lifestyle.

How physicians diagnose Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Physicians usually diagnose Benign prostatic hyperplasia by a combination of things such as:

• Symptom discussion
• Physical examination
• Urine tests
• Prostate evaluation
• Blood tests
• Ultrasound or bladder studies in some cases

There is a blood test that measures PSA which stands for Prostate specific antigen test. Elevated PSA does not automatically mean cancer, but doctors may use it to evaluate prostate health further. 

Lifestyle changes that may help 

Physicians usually recommend starting with lifestyle adjustments as they can be the first step to a better life rather than using medications. Few of the lifestyle adjustments that can be done are:

• Reducing fluids at evening

Limiting the intake of water or any other fluids before bed time can reduce nighttime urination. 

• Limit caffeine and alcohol intake 

Alcohol and caffeine both are the things that can irritate the bladder and also worsen urinary urgency. 

• Bladder training

Scheduled urination may help to take control over the bladder and improve bladder control over time. 

• Staying physically active

Exercise may help improve urinary health and reduce symptom progression. 

• Managing obesity

Obesity is one of the causes of Benign prostatic hyperplasia and thus management of weight is quite essential. 

Final Thoughts

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is quite common especially as men age, yet many continue ignoring the symptoms and then one day everything becomes difficult. All the symptoms might feel very normal at the beginning but it gradually affects the quality of life in many ways. The encouraging part is that there are benign prostatic hyperplasia medications to treat the condition. From lifestyle changes to medications, surgery and invasive procedures, many men successfully manage symptoms and regain control. The most important and changing step is recognizing that ongoing urinary problems deserve attention instead of silent frustration. 

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