Benign prostatic hyperplasia: tips on how to keep your prostate healthy

As they get older, 90% of men eventually develop symptoms related to abnormal prostate enlargement, which impedes and obstructs the outflow of urine and has a negative impact on their health and quality of life.

The prostate is a gland that lies between the urinary bladder and the pelvic floor and surrounds the beginning of the urethra. Its main function is the production and ejaculation of seminal fluid.

It enlarges with age, but when it grows too much, it can squeeze the urethra and cause problems with passing urine, leading to what are called “prostate problems“, the most common of which are: inflammation (prostatitis), an enlarged prostate (BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia) and the appearance of tumours (prostate cancer).

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Today we are going to focus on this prostate problem, also known as enlarged prostate gland, as it is a common condition in men as they get older.

The symptoms may vary, depending on its severity, but the most common are:

• Frequent urge to urinate.
• Increased frequency of urination at night.
• Difficulty starting to urinate.
• Weak or slow urine stream.
• Dribbling after urinating.
• Inability to fully empty the bladder.

The severity of the symptoms does not directly relate to the size of the prostate, as some men with mild prostate enlargement may have severe symptoms, while other men with greater enlargement may have only mild symptoms, and sometimes symptoms may even settle down over time and improve.

Risk factors

The risk factors for prostate gland enlargement are as follows:

• Ageing. This problem is most commonly found in men between the ages of 60 and 80.

• Family history.

•  Diabetes and heart disease. Studies show that these conditions, coupled with the use of beta-blockers, may increase the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Lifestyle. Obesity increases the risk of developing this problem, which can be reduced with physical exercise.

How to look after prostate health

To preventbenign prostatic hyperplasia and stay in good health, it is best to adopt the following habits:

• Stay at a healthy weight.

• Eat anti-inflammatory foods that are rich in antioxidants like pomegranates and omega-3 fatty acids like oily fish and nuts, and eat a varied and balanced diet.

• Exercise regularly.

• Avoid taking too many traditional medicines as they can be harmful to the prostate.

• Have an active sex life.

• Get your prostate checked regularly (every one or two years). If you have a family history, urinary symptoms or are over 50 years old.