| The prostate gland is about the size of | | | | immediate medical treatment to avoid |
| a walnut and is found at the base of the | | | | damage to the kidneys, among other |
| bladder. A thin tube that allows the | | | | things. |
| passage of urine out of the penis | | | | Treatment |
| (urethra) runs through the prostate | | | | The surgeon (urologist) must first prove |
| gland. Fluid produced by this gland | | | | that the prostatic enlargement is the |
| helps to nourish and support sperm, | | | | cause of the symptoms. He may find it |
| which come from the seminal vesicles via | | | | helpful to measure the urinary flow |
| the ejaculatory ducts into the urethra. | | | | rate. This is a simple test: you pass |
| Prostate cancer is a disease in which | | | | urine into a large funnel and the time |
| the cells of the prostate become | | | | taken for a particular volume of urine |
| abnormal. They start to grow | | | | to pass is calculated electronically. |
| uncontrollably, forming tumors. A tumor | | | | The urologist will also arrange an x-ray |
| is a mass or lump of tissue made of | | | | or ultrasound scan to make a picture of |
| abnormal cells. Tumors may be malignant | | | | the bladder after an attempt at |
| or benign. A malignant tumor can spread | | | | emptying. This will reveal whether the |
| to other parts of the body. Malignant | | | | prostate is causing obstruction to the |
| tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors | | | | urethra. The ultrasound scan will also |
| cannot spread to other parts of the | | | | check that the kidneys are normal. In |
| body. | | | | some hospitals, the size and the shape |
| Causes | | | | of the prostate can also be measured by |
| Increasing age and the presence of | | | | ultrasound. |
| normal male hormones (testosterone and | | | | Medications |
| dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) are the | | | | Alpha blockers. These drugs were |
| best-known factors that contribute to | | | | originally developed to treat high blood |
| BPH. A hormone known as 5?-reductase | | | | pressure. They relax muscles around your |
| converts testosterone into DHT in the | | | | bladder neck and make it easier to |
| prostate gland, which results in | | | | urinate. Four alpha blockers have been |
| prostate enlargement. DHT concentrations | | | | approved by the Food and Drug |
| in BPH tissue have been shown to be | | | | Administration (FDA) for treatment of |
| increased when compared with normal | | | | BPH: terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin |
| prostate tissue. | | | | (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax) and |
| The actual cause of prostate enlargement | | | | alfuzosin (Uroxatral). |
| is unknown. It is believed that factors | | | | Remedies |
| linked to aging and the testicles | | | | Pumpkin seeds are an effective home |
| themselves may play a role in the growth | | | | remedy for prostate problems and many |
| of the gland. Men who have had their | | | | patients have been helped by their use. |
| testicles removed at a young age (for | | | | These seeds are rich in unsaturated |
| example, as a result of testicular | | | | fatty acids which are essential to the |
| cancer) do not develop BPH. | | | | health of the prostate. Persons beyond |
| For some men, it suddenly becomes | | | | the age of fifty, who have any signs of |
| impossible to urinate (known as acute | | | | prostate trouble; or those who suffer |
| retention). Studies have shown that | | | | from urinary disorders of some kind, |
| acute retention affects between 1 and 2 | | | | namely, burning or difficulty in passing |
| per cent of men with BPH each year. This | | | | urine freely, should take sixty to |
| condition is very painful and demands | | | | ninety grams of pumpkin steeds per day. |