If you are, it may mean that you just drank too much the night before, or it could be an indication of a significantly larger problem in men. According to your urologist Des Moines, making multiple trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night can be a sign of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate.
An enlarged prostate is not a form of prostate cancer, but it often appears with many of the same symptoms. Like prostate cancer, BPH increases the overall size and number of the cells that compose the prostate. When enlarged, it squeezes the tube that travels through the penis from the bladder, causing an intense urge to urinate.
Symptoms
There are some key symptoms of BPH to watch out for. An enlarged prostate typically prevents men from being able to completely empty their bladder, resulting in more frequent urination accompanied by a heightened level of urgency, especially in the middle of the night. With this semi-blockage, it’s common for a man to feel the need to strain to start and maintain a strong urine stream.
BPH is a growing problem due to aging populations and affects half of all men between the ages of 50 and 60. Some research associates this condition with the same risk factors that cause obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart and vascular disorders. Lifestyle influences such as physical inactivity, tobacco use and poor diet can possibly increase the risk of contracting it and worsen its symptoms.
What about diet?
A healthy diet rich in essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals has been found to be beneficial in preventing and treating BPH. Vitamin C has shown to have the greatest protective effect and can be found in vegetable juices, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, cauliflower and bell peppers. Foods that are high in zinc have also appeared to be beneficial.
A word of advice from your urologist Des Moines: Don’t drink a lot of fluids all at the same time. Too much fluid can go straight to the bladder instead of having a hydrating effect on the body. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, particularly within two hours of bedtime. It’s important that men also reduce stress and improve their circulation by exercising regularly.
Your urologist Des Moines also suggests that patients with this condition not take over-the-counter sinus and cold medications containing decongestants or antihistamines, as they too increase the symptoms of BPH.
Dont take these things lightly
If you feel that you may be suffering from BPH and want to speak with an urologist Des Moines residents trust Dr. Fawad Zafar with their care. Call our office today for your confidential consultation.