All about the causes, symptoms, stages and treatment of prostate hyperplasia

Unfortunately, with age, problems with the prostate gland occur in many men: 51-60 years 67% symptoms of such illness as prostate hyperplasia (adenoma). What is this disease and how dangerous is it? Let's try to understand together.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (nodular hyperplasia) is a benign tumor in the form of a nodule, developing from cells of the glandular epithelium of the organ, which subsequently grow and causes compression of the urethra. The cause of the disease is not established, but often this is due to hormonal changes in the male body. Metastases hyperplasia does not, so it's not as dangerous as cancer, but to leave it unattended in any case impossible.

For understanding how dangerous the disease of the prostate, let's get acquainted with the prostate closer.

The prostate and its function

Prostate (prostate gland) – an organ located in the pelvis below the bladder, the prostate wraps around the urethra at its base. The size of the body with large nut and weighs in an adult male 21-27 g. Very often the prostate called the "second man's heart" that is understandable, one only has to say about the functions of such a body:

1. The development and release of the liquid portion of semen. Like the heart, the prostate serves as a pump, is reduced and pushes out the contents at the time of ejaculation.
2. Preventing the leakage of semen in urine and Vice versa. And that is the heart that directs the blood flows in the right direction, the prostate is capable of performing similar functions.

Thus, in diseases of the prostate suffers reproductive function, and because of the fact that the organ is located near the bladder and urethra, its increase negatively affects urination.

Signs of adenoma

To talk about the disease when you have symptoms of hyperplasia and voiding. Increasing in size, the prostate compresses the urethra, reducing its lumen, in addition, weakened muscles of the bladder, is constantly forced to deal with the growing resistance to current urine. Because the main symptoms is:

1. Difficulty, shortness of urination.
2. Weak, sluggish stream of urine.
3. The feeling of not fully emptying your bladder.
4. The pain when urinating.
5. Frequent false urge to urinate.
6. The voltage at the beginning of urination (difficulty starting to urinate).

However, all these symptoms cannot be considered typical for hyperplasia. The same symptoms can disturb a patient with prostate cancer, prostatitis. In any case, if a man is faced with these problems, he must immediately go to the urologist. The final diagnosis set by the doctor based on the laboratoryresearch.

Laboratory studies in the diagnosis of the disease

According to the recommendations of the world health organization required the list of studies includes:

• Determination of the level of PSA (prostate specific antigen) in blood and rectal examination of the prostate. These two manipulations are necessary in order to rule out cancer. If the results raise suspicion, prescribe a biopsy of the prostate.
• General analysis of urine, blood.
• Ultrasound examination of the prostate (allows to estimate the size of the adenoma, the presence of calcifications, how grow nodes).
• Ultrasound examination of the kidneys (gives you the opportunity to see the changes, pathology).
• A kidney x-ray (if necessary).
• Measurement of the flow rate of urine (uroflowmetry).
• Measurement of the pressure inside the bladder (cystomanometry).
• The completion of a special questionnaire IPSS, quality of life assessment of QoL.

Based on these data, we can determine the degree of hyperplasia, develop a treatment strategy.

Stage of development of the disease

There are three degrees of BPH:

1. Grade I (compensation). To this extent, characterized by frequent night urination in the toilet, a weak urine stream. The process of urination is difficult and requires effort. Residual urine is not.
2. II degree (subcompensated). The symptoms are more pronounced. Weak stream of urine, intermittent urination requires more effort. People is constantly compelled to push that can lead to hernia. The bladder is stretched, the formation of diverticula. To this extent, characterized by the appearance of residual urine in the bladder. At any time may occur acute urinary retention that requires catheterization in the hospital.
3. Grade III (decompensation). The bladder is distended to the limit, a violation of the contractile function – causes involuntary urination. The residual urine volume reaches 1.5 litres. For a third degree characteristic of renal failure, a common serious condition, the symptoms of intoxication. Need immediate hospitalization or death is inevitable.

Thus, late diagnosis and treatment of BPH can lead to acute or serious pathology of the kidneys, which threatens human life.

Treatment of the disease

Depending on the degree of neglect of hyperplasia of the prostate, how the symptoms are expressed, and taking into account the patient's condition is assigned a different treatment.

Dynamic monitoring

Used when the symptoms are mild and do not interfere with life. Monitoring involves regular clinical laboratory tests and doctor visits every six months.

The patient is given General recommendations: diet, moderatephysical activity, regular visits to the urologist to make adjustments to treatment if necessary.

Drug therapy

Approximately 60-70% of men with a diagnosis of "nodular hyperplasia" is assigned medication. This is the case when the symptoms bother you, but medication helps to cope with them. The upper urinary tract is not involved, there is no reason for the operation.

For the treatment of the following groups of drugs:

• Alpha-blockers (terazosin, doxazosin, etc.)

These drugs have relaxing effect on smooth muscles of the prostate and bladder neck, eliminates the causes of disorders of urine outflow. Another positive effect as a treatment to improve the blood supply of the bladder wall, which have a great impact on contractility. In the end, leave worries associated with urination disorder. Medications from this group perfectly relieve symptoms, but do not affect the dimensions of hyperplasia. Treatment lasting more than 6 months. The effect is approximately a month.

• Inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase (finasteride, dutasteride).

By blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone slows down the growth of adenomas, over time it is possible to achieve reduction of its size by 20-30 %. Therapy with such drugs is also a long process, first positive effects are seen after 6-12 months of regular intake.

Most often, medical treatment involves a combination of inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and alpha-blockers. The effectiveness of the combination study confirms the MTOPS (Medical Treatment Of Prostate Symptoms), which showed that the risk of progression of the adenoma in this case is reduced by 67%.

• Herbal preparations (extracts from fruits of Sabal palms, the bark of the African plum). They can be used as auxiliary means, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-edema effect. Treatment medicines of "nature kits" long, but an important advantage is fewer side effects.

Surgery

Surgery (total or partial removal of the prostate). This radical measure is applied when the symptoms are much treatment with medicines fails or there are reasons why it is contraindicated, there is a risk of development of kidney disease.

As a treatment apply: open prostatectomy, transurethral resection of the prostate, cryosurgery, laser surgery etc. most of the modern gentle methods – a good way to quickly and effectively eliminate benign prostate hyperplasia.

Undoubtedly, the treatment is good but prevention is even better! Whatwell a man can do to protect themselves from the disease and its consequences?

How to protect yourself from illness?

Here are some simple rules that reduce the risk of disease:

• physical activity: walking outdoors, sport;
• proper nutrition: from the diet possibly excludes fried, fatty, spicy. Eat more vegetables and herbs (especially celery and parsley);
• quitting Smoking and alcohol.

Of course, by far the most effective methods of preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia yet, as there is no established cause of the disease, but regular visits to the urologist is a great way to detect and stop the disease at an early stage. Remember: your health is in your hands. I hope this article was useful for you. All the best and stay healthy!