Derek Burnett
Derek Burnett is a Contributing Writer at Bottom Line Personal, where he writes frequently on health and wellness. He is also a contributing editor with Reader’s Digest magazine.
Nearly all men who reach full life expectancy will develop an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. The prostate is an internal male sex gland that contributes one of the components of semen. In young healthy men, the prostate is about the size of a walnut. But sometime around the age of 50, the prostates of most men begin to undergo increased cell growth, with the gland expanding considerably in size. Having a bigger prostate is not in and of itself problematic, since BPH indicates that the increased cell growth is non-cancerous. But expanded BPH tissue can crowd other parts of the anatomy, causing symptoms that significantly decrease quality of life.
The prostate gland is located between the rectum and the bladder. It sits tightly beneath the bladder, and in fact surrounds the urethra, the tube that transports urine from the bladder out through the penis. When the prostate is small and healthy, this close proximity to the bladder and urethra is not a problem. But as the prostate’s volume increases, its oversized tissues begin to encroach upon the urethra, pinching off the tube and making it difficult for a person to empty his bladder.
Most of the symptoms of BPH are related to the lower urinary tract. Doctors usually divide BPH systems into two categories. They are obstructive symptoms and secondary symptoms.
Besides its basic obstructive and secondary symptoms, BPH can also lead to other problems and conditions, especially if left untreated. Many of these complications are related to the fact that the bladder does not fully empty, leaving behind urine that can cause problems. BPH complications can include:
Autopsy studies have found that about half of 50-year-olds have enlarged prostates, as do 60% of 60-year-olds, 70% of 70-year-olds, and 80% of 80-year-olds. That’s the bad news. The good news is that, luckily, not everyone with an enlarged prostate experiences symptoms, and certainly not everybody who has symptoms experiences the severe complications described above. Despite the fact that half of 55-year-old men have BPH, only about a quarter of them experience symptoms. And only about half of 75-year-olds have symptoms. By age 80, only somewhere between 25% and 30% of men have symptoms severe enough to require treatment.
Fortunately, having an enlarged prostate is not generally life-threatening. But that doesn’t mean that its symptoms can’t be life-altering. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, they can disrupt a person’s normal routine, disturb sleep, put a strain on relationships, affect work productivity, and harm the person’s self-confidence, mood, and psychological well-being.
Social strain.Constantly having the urge to urinate, or an inability to control their bladders, can leave some men to conclude that going out in public is just not worth it anymore. “Will I be able to use the bathroom as frequently as I need to without scrutiny or judgment? What if I have an accident?” Because of the stigma around urinary issues, many people who feel they must decline a social invitation give no explanation, straining their interpersonal relationships.
Psychological stress.No one wants to feel old or overly constrained by a medical condition, and certainly no one wants to have an embarrassing accident or to have to explain themselves to others. Men with BPH may struggle with feelings of shame, embarrassment, and frustration.
Logistics.For some men with BPH, it feels like their lives revolve around proximity to a toilet. When contemplating an outing, they must ask themselves, “Will there be a bathroom nearby at all times?” BPH can add hours to a road trip that would once have been much quicker and simpler.
Sleep.Having to get up several times during the night to urinate can leave you feeling exhausted the next day. We all know that sleep deprivation makes us more prone to accidents and that sufficient sleep is crucial for overall health, so men with BPH may become frustrated or worried about their safety and well-being. And lack of sleep can contribute to the negative emotions and psychological stress that often accompany BPH.
Productivity.It’s hard to get your work done if you’re frequently taking bathroom breaks or distracted by a constant urge to urinate. Even if you’re no longer working professionally, BPH can make it difficult to get as much done around the house, yard, or computer.
Rest assured that there are treatments available. Anyone who is suffering from BPH symptoms should call their physician as soon as possible. The sooner you receive treatment, the sooner you can get your life back on track.
