Enlarged Prostate (BPH) – 7 Symptoms You Must Not Ignore

Enlarged Prostate (BPH) – 7 Symptoms You Must Not Ignore

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia??(BPH) ??? also called prostate gland enlargement ??? is a common condition as men get older. About half of men over age 75 will experience symptoms of BPH. BPH is a minor condition and is not related to??prostate cancer. However, symptoms can cause discomfort and be inconvenient.

What Is BPH and How Does It Affect Me?

The prostate gland surrounds the urethra and is part of the male reproductive system, and wraps around the tube that carries urine out of the bladder. As a man ages, the prostate gets larger and begins to put pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing health issues. It may be responsible for blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder and can cause issues in the bladder, urinary tract, or kidneys.

How Do I Know if My Prostate is Enlarged? (Symptoms of BPH)

If your prostate is enlarged, it may not be a sign of cancer, but it is something that you should discuss with your doctor. Many of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate tend to relate to urination. If you are concerned about enlarged prostate, here are 7 symptoms to look for:

1. Difficulty starting urination. The enlarged prostate alters the pressure of your bladder to pass urine. This can have damaging effects on your kidneys.
2. Weak urine stream. As the urethra becomes constrained, urine passes at a much slower rate.
3. Urgent need to urinate. You may go from not needing to urinate to suddenly needing to go because of how the bladder gets constrained.
4. Issues with sleeping. Pressure from the enlarged prostate can interfere with nerve signalling in the middle of the night. This leads to you thinking you have to urinate when you don???t.
5. Feeling unable to empty your bladder. You may not be able to empty your bladder, which can lead to??Urinary Tract Infections(UTI) and stone issues.
6. Urinary tract infection. A UTI is caused by the urine that sits in your bladder which you can???t fully empty, creating an environment for bacteria to thrive.
7. Bladder stones. The leftover urine in your bladder can also crystallize to create bladder stones.

BPH can cause these symptoms, but having these symptoms doesn???t necessarily mean you have BPH. There are many reasons why you may have urinary issues. If you are at all concerned that you may have an enlarged prostate, you should??consult a urologist.

For More Information

You can learn more about urology services at Uro Clinic Care by visiting our website. If you would like to find a urologist near you or schedule an appointment, you can use the contact form on our??contact us page??or??view our location.