Prostate Cancer Treatment Home > what causes an enlarged prostate

What Causes an Enlarged Prostate?

Prostate Facts You Should Know

My grandfather was fit as a fiddle until he hit his 71st birthday. Then out of the blue his beauty sleep started to be interrupted by frequent trips to the bathroom each night.

He chalked it up to old age and just endured the sleepless nights. While we endured his crankiness during the day.

This went on for several months until my dad came to find out about it (from my grandmother). He then dragged him to the doctor for a checkup.

There the old man was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate - which is medically known as "benign prostatic hyperplasia" (BPH). At last. After that diagnosis he got the necessary treatment, which help shrink things just a bit, and now he sleeps fine. In fact he's back to giving others sleepless nights with his constant snoring.

But know what? Until that day he hadn't given his prostate a second thought. I mean who does? Much less who cares what causes an enlarged prostate if yours if fine? Right?

Plus many can’t name even one enlarged prostate symptom. Sheesh. Let's see if we can't change that.

So what exactly is the prostate?

The prostate gland is located just below bladder. It's job is to quietly secret a milky fluid that nourishes the sperm.

So what's up with BPH anyway?

Well, the prostate gland surrounds the urethra which is the route urine takes out from your bladder.

When the prostate increases in size it presses on the urethra causing urination issues. This in turn causes the bladder's muscles to become more sensitive resulting in more or less constant strong urge to relieve yourself often.

Worst case the bladder is unable to completely empty itself. This can lead to things no one wants to deal with like urinary tract infection, kidney problems and damage to the bladder itself.

What causes this condition?

Though the facts are by and large unknown as to why BPH affects men above 40 years some feel there is a strong link between the hormone testosterone and BPH. Guys who have undergone surgery and have no testicles do not develop BPH. All in all it affects 1.4 million American men out of which 50% of them are above 60 years.

Some possible causes are

• The male hormone testosterone is produced throughout a man's lifetime. The prostate gland is responsible for converting testosterone in to DHT or dihydrotestosterone. The DHT stimulates cell growth in the tissues of the prostate gland which leads to enlargement.

• With age the amount of estrogen, a female hormone, in the body increases when compared to the male hormone testosterone. This increase is also believed to promote the growth of prostate cells.

• In some cases certain parts of cells in the gland are programmed to become active later in life. So with age they may start multiplying and also causing the surrounding cells to replicate causing increase in the size of prostate.

• Sometimes blood vessel injuries in the gland cause obstruction in the blood flow and oxygen supply. This too stimulates cell growth.

• Certain over the counter drugs and medications too can bring about this condition.

Yikes! Aren't you glad you asked?

But we're not done yet. What you eat can affect things too.

For some eating spicy foods or drinking carbonated beverages can cause a flare up. If that's you might be smart to avoid that.

Red meat is also said to not to help this condition. So if you are over 40 and male you would be well advised to limit putting red meat on your plate to less than twice a week. Not necessarily bad for your heart either.

While limiting those things you also want to take vitamin E supplements. Add to this selenium as this mineral is thought to reduce the risk of BPH naturally too.

Perhaps more than you ever wanted to know about what causes an enlarged prostate. But that's the story none the less.

What Causes an Enlarged Prostate?

Prostate Facts You Should Know

Related Enlarged Prostate Articles

News

Newest Additions