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Prostate Health: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Prostate Health: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous (benign) growth of the prostate gland. BPH is very common in men over 50 years old. It affects about 10% of men under the age of 40, and increases to about 80% by 80 years of age. BPH is more common among American and European men than Asian men.



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What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?

The prostate gland is only in men. It is about the size of a walnut, and sits just below the bladder in front of the rectum. The urethra (a tube that carries urine) runs through the prostate. The role of the prostate gland is to manufacture a fluid that is part of the semen (the fluid that contains sperm).

As men reach their 40's, the prostate gland begins to enlarge through a process called cell multiplication, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia:

Benign means noncancerous,
Prostatic refers to the prostate, and
Hyperplasia is defined as excess cell replication.

This overgrowth occurs in the central area of the prostate, unlike prostate cancer, which develops in the outer region where most of the glandular tissue is located.

What are the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia?

When the prostate enlarges, it begins to block the flow of urine. Men may have difficulty urinating, either in starting urination or completing it. Men are often unable to empty their bladder completely and need to urinate frequently. This is the most serious complication and requires medication attention. Nocturnal (nighttime) urination is common. Men may also have unpredictable leakage, or they experience pain or irritation when urinating. The need to urinate becomes more urgent over time. Small veins of the urethra may burst when a man strains to urinate, and this can cause blood to appear in the urine.

The size of the prostate does not determine the severity of the symptoms. A very large prostate could have minimal symptoms and a small prostate could cause a great deal of discomfort.

What causes benign prostatic hypertrophy?

Although the actual cause is not completely understood, experts believe it may be due to an increase in the androgen (male) hormones. Testosterone is one type of androgen and is produced continuously in a man's lifetime. The prostate converts testosterone to another hormone called dihyrotestosterone (DTH), which is much more powerful. DTH causes the cells in the prostate to grow and actually plays a role in prostate growth in puberty and young adulthood. It is believed that DTH also stimulates cell growth later in life, leading to BPH. Other experts suspect that estrogen may be involved - estrogen is also present in men. As they get older, testosterone levels decrease and the ratio of estrogen to testosterone increases, which may cause prostate enlargement.

What are the risk factors? ...

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Pritikin Perspective - Healthy Living Made Easier
Pritikin Perspective is a publication for Alumni of the Pritikin Longevity Center. It is dedicated to helping people make healthy changes in their lives. The articles in this publication should not be considered specific medical advice, as each individual circumstance is different. You are strongly encouraged to seek medical advice before beginning a program of diet and exercise.
Editor/Writer: Eugenia Killoran.

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