If your enlarged prostate symptoms are mild and not bothersome, there's likely no need for treatment. One-third of men with mild BPH find that their symptoms clear up without treatment. They may just watch and wait.
An enlarged prostate does not lead to prostate cancer or testicular cancer. However, BPH won't go away on its own, and it can have a major effect on your quality of life and health if left untreated. This condition can interrupt your sleep and disrupt your work and social life.
For those with minor symptoms, medication or diet changes can help, but as symptoms increase, surgery is often the next step. But for men who are not candidates for surgery, or have a strong desire to avoid surgery, prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a new treatment option.
The enlargement of the prostate can't be cured naturally, but there are changes in lifestyle and diet that can be made in order to prevent this painful condition.
Garlic also reduced the expression of androgen receptors (testosterone) and reduced the levels of circulating testosterone. This ultimately worked to reduce changes associated with BPH in the prostate tissue.
Can an Enlarged Prostate Be Cured? For most patients, BPH (enlarged prostate) is curable. Some people see a significant reduction in symptoms with medication alone. If medicine does not work, or your prostate is too large, surgery will often remove enough of the prostate to provide you with relief.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors are used to treat larger prostate glands. They shrink the prostate gland if it's enlarged. Finasteride and dutasteride are the two 5-alpha reductase inhibitors available.
BPH might be life-disrupting, but with the right care and the correct approach to fluids, it's possible for most men to minimize their symptoms and live comfortably with an enlarged prostate.
A health care provider or urologist may prescribe medications that stop the growth of or shrink the prostate or reduce symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: alpha blockers. phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
Symptoms, as well as objective measurements of urethral obstruction, can remain stable for many years and may even improve over time for as many as one-third of men, according to some studies. In a study from the Mayo Clinic, urinary symptoms did not worsen over a 3.5-year period in 73% of men with mild BPH.
The actual cause of prostate enlargement is unknown. Factors linked to aging and changes in the cells of the testicles may have a role in the growth of the gland, as well as testosterone levels. Men who have had their testicles removed at a young age (for example, as a result of testicular cancer) do not develop BPH.
Does an enlarged prostate improve without treatment? Early on, enlarged prostate symptoms may come and go, so taking a “wait and see” approach to mild symptoms is reasonable. Over the long-term, however, symptoms tend to get gradually worse.
Drink tea. Both green tea and hibiscus tea are among the top drinks for prostate health. Both types of tea contain potent antioxidants. Studies show that green tea can help prevent prostate cancer from forming and may also slow the growth of aggressive prostate cancer.
Exercise and BPH
Improving your fitness through activities such as walking and swimming may help reduce your risk of developing BPH, but may also help to manage symptoms and reduce their severity.
Exercise that is good for your heart is also good for prostate and sexual health. Do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, like swimming, biking, speed walking, or hiking on most days of the week. You can also add in strength training exercises like working with free weights or weight machines on alternating days.
Eggs. Egg yolks are rich in arachidonic acid, a substance that increases inflammation which can affect the prostate gland. Nonetheless, the entire content of an egg has been shown that aggravates BPH symptoms. On the whole, eggs are part of the worst foods for prostate health.
Over several months, the body's immune system reabsorbs the dead prostate tissue and replaces it with scar tissue. The scar tissue slowly contracts, resulting in shrinkage of the prostate. Over six months, the prostate will shrink by 20 to 40 percent, resulting in improved and less frequent urination.
But because enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a common condition that affects men as they age, it's important to know the facts. About 50% of men between the ages of 51 and 60 have BPH, and that number jumps to 70% among men aged 60 to 69 and around 80% of men over 70 years of age.