The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system and can enlarge with age, pressing uncomfortably on the urethra. This can result in difficulty urinating, urinary tract infections, and even bladder stones. By changing their lifestyle and following drug therapy, almost all men can reduce their urination problems. However, for some the best solution may be non-invasive surgery or a traditional one.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making Changes to Your Lifestyle
Step 1. Get less caffeine, soda and alcohol
Reduce the number of coffee, tea, soda and alcoholic drinks you consume each week. Carbon dioxide and caffeine can irritate the bladder, making urinary tract symptoms worse.
- Try not to drink more than 200 mg of caffeine per day, which is about two cups. This is about half the maximum dose for a healthy adult.
- Do not drink more than four alcoholic drinks per day or more than 14 per week. Better to reduce your alcohol consumption as much as possible.
Step 2. Reduce the amount of fluids you drink in the two hours before bedtime
Avoid drinking too much in the evening, before going to sleep. Going to bed with an empty bladder can help you avoid discomfort and the need to get up during the night.
- Increase your fluid intake in the afternoon to get enough water.
- Men should try to drink 3.7 liters of fluid per day.
- If you exercise vigorously or if the weather is very hot, increase your fluid intake accordingly.
Step 3. Eat a high-fiber diet to encourage bowel regularity
Eat more fiber-rich foods, such as unpeeled fruits, vegetables, lentils, nuts, and beans, to avoid constipation. Being constipated can worsen the symptoms of a hypertrophic prostate by increasing pressure on the bladder.
- High-fiber fruits and vegetables include broccoli, apples, pears, carrots, beets, raspberries, and strawberries.
- Men should get 30 to 40 grams of fiber per day based on age. Supplements are not dangerous, but they can cause constipation. Try to get your fiber from your diet rather than from supplements if you have the option.
Step 4. Try the double evacuation technique to completely empty your bladder
Wait thirty seconds after you finish urinating before trying to do it again. Don't strain and don't push. This can help you empty your bladder completely and reduce the frequency of urinary tract infections.
Step 5. Consult your doctor about the side effects of any medications you are taking
Talk to him if you notice any urinary tract problems after starting drug therapy for an unrelated disorder. Some decongestants and antidepressants can aggravate urinary tract symptoms or cause prostate hypertrophy.
- Your doctor can recommend a different drug to try that can manage your condition without causing prostate problems.
- Do not stop following your doctor's prescription without first checking with him.
Part 2 of 3: Using Medication to Reduce Symptoms
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy
Notice if your urine flow is weak, if you notice dripping when you finish urinating, or if you need to go to the bathroom more often at night. You may also have trouble starting to urinate or have to force yourself to empty your bladder. If you notice these symptoms, schedule a visit to the doctor for an official diagnosis.
Step 2. Try alpha blockers if you have trouble urinating
Ask your doctor about these medications, which are able to relax the muscles in the bladder and prostate area. These medicines help increase the flow of urine when you go to the bathroom, so you will need to urinate less frequently.
- Although side effects are rare, alpha blockers can cause dizziness. The good news is that they usually work within a few weeks.
- Take alpha blockers, such as tamsulosin, as directed by your doctor.
- Almost all alpha blockers have no dangerous interactions with other drugs. Ask your pharmacist if you are taking any risks considering your current drug therapy.
Step 3. Try enzyme inhibitors if you have a very large prostate
Ask your doctor if these medicines, such as finasteride and dutasteride, are suitable for your symptoms. These drugs reduce the size of the prostate tissues to relieve urination problems and are often the most effective solutions for very severe hypertrophy.
- Enzyme inhibitors can take months to improve symptoms as prostate tissues gradually shrink over time.
- Like alpha blockers, these drugs also commonly cause dizziness.
- Talk to your pharmacist to make sure that enzyme inhibitors are not interacting negatively with your current drug therapy.
Step 4. Try tadalafil if you have erectile dysfunction
Ask your doctor about this drug, which has been shown to be effective in relieving urinary symptoms due to prostatic hypertrophy. It is not necessary to suffer from erectile dysfunction to try tadalafil, but it is a common condition in older men, often accompanying prostatic hypertrophy. If you have both problems, this drug may be the best treatment for a number of symptoms.
- It's not entirely clear how tadalafil works to relieve urinary tract symptoms, but side effects are rare. The most common are back pain and headache.
- The time it takes for tadalafil to work varies from person to person. Talk to your doctor to find out what to expect from therapy.
- Tadalafil is not recommended in combination with other medications, including nitroglycerin. Ask your pharmacist if there are any dangerous interactions with the medicines you take.
Part 3 of 3: Consider Surgery
Step 1. Consider transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) if you have trouble with the frequency and urgency of urination
Ask your doctor about this treatment if you have to strain to urinate, can't hold back, or if your urine flow is intermittent. This outpatient procedure uses microwaves to destroy specific sections of the prostate tissue that cause urine flow obstructions.
- TUMT cannot correct bladder emptying problems and is best suited for minor to moderate obstructions due to the prostate.
- The discomfort caused by the therapy can be managed with topical anesthetics and oral pain relievers prescribed by the doctor.
Step 2. Ask about Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA)
Talk to your doctor about this therapy: it destroys problematic tissues with high frequency radio waves, so as to ensure better urine flow. To do it, you need to insert needles directly into the prostate in order to target the tissues that compress the urethra.
- This procedure is often done in the hospital, but does not require hospitalization. Local anesthesia is given to manage pain.
- You may experience some side effects after the procedure, including pain when urinating for a few weeks.
Step 3. Ask for a prostate stent if surgery and medications aren't right for you
Talk to your doctor about this procedure, which involves inserting a small coil inside the urethra to keep it open. Most specialists are not in favor of stents, but if your hypertrophy is severe and you don't want to manage symptoms with drugs or other interventions, this is a possible treatment.
Stents can move over time, causing discomfort or urinary tract infections. They are also difficult to remove in case of problems
Step 4. Talk to your doctor about more invasive surgeries if needed
Ask about possible surgical solutions if your symptoms do not respond well to drug therapies or non-invasive procedures. This option may scare you, but it often offers total symptom relief.
- Your doctor can recommend the best surgical solution for you, given your urinary tract symptoms and medical history. Depending on your age and the fertility you want to have after surgery, the specialist can present you with various options for treating a hypertrophic prostate.
- The most common surgeries include prostatectomy, laser surgery, and transurethral incision or prostate resection.
