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