Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) also known as prostatic hyperplasia or prostatic hypertrophy is a disease of old age. Very rarely occurs in people of age below 50 yrs. Normally prostate gland weighs 7 grams to 18 grams. The prostate gland secretes a prostatic fluid which helps to increase the volume of semen. The prostate gland also helps to ejaculate semen during ejaculation.
Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH):
Primary symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, are due to obstruction of the urethra, due to enlarged prostate.
In this the Increased frequency of micturition mainly at night and it is the earliest symptom.
The patient of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) or prostatic hyperplasia or prostatic hypertrophy gets up in the middle of the night two or three times to pass urine, due to inadequate emptying of the bladder.
Frequency gradually progresses and then presents both in day and night.
The urgency to pass urine is another symptom of benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Difficulty to pass urine is common in the patients of an enlarged prostate gland or in prostatic hypertrophy or prostatic hyperplasia the patient of enlarged prostate must wait before the stream of the urine starts, the stream of urine is weak and dribbles down instead of being projectile.
Some patients of the Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or enlarged prostate gland, present with retention of urine, others may present with overflow incontinence. It may cause symptoms of uremia such as headache, drowsiness, vomiting, and even haematemesis, which means vomiting of blood.
Causes of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH):
Serum testosterone levels slowly decrease. with advancing age, however, levels of oestrogenic steroids are not decreased equally, according to this the prostate enlarges because of increased estrogenic effects.
One probable reason of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy is that the secretion of intermediate peptide growth factors plays a part in the development of BPH or prostatic hyperplasia.
Investigations of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy:
1) Ultrasonography.
2) Prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
Prostate-Specific Antigen is prostate-specific, not prostate cancer-specific. It is increased in prostatitis, BPH, prostate cancer and prostate biopsies.
Homeopathy and its role: Homeopathy medicines or taking homeopathy treatment under the guidance of qualified homeopathic doctor many of time helps to get rid of surgical procedures, there are many homeopathic medicines which help to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy or prostatic hyperplasia or prostatic hypertrophy according to symptoms of the individual patient, as homeopathy medicines are safe and highly diluted medicines which give potential effects when chosen according to symptoms, they are even safe with other allopathy medicines and can be taken safely with them, without any noxious effect. Homeopathy treatment many times helps the patient to avoid surgery, which is troublesome for many, whereas homeopathic treatment for enlarged prostate is very cost-effective.
Food to eat for prostate health:
- Omega 3 fatty acids which are commonly found in salmon fish and sardines.
- Sesame seed as it contains zinc
- Garlic and onion.
- Saw palmetto.
- Citrus fruits as they have plenty of vitamin c, bell pepper, berries,
- Tomatoes, watermelon, apricot, papaya, etc as it contains lycopene antioxidants.
- Pygeum.
- Nuts
- Brocolli, cauliflower, kale.
- Pumpkin seeds
- Green tea.
- Cernilton.
- Avocados, wheat germ, soybeans as they are rich in beta-sitosterol.
- Green leafy and cruciferous vegetables.
- Tofu, roasted soybean, soy yogurt.
- Low-fat dairy products.
- Rice milk, almond milk, soymilk, coconut milk, etc.
Food to avoid for prostate health:
- Avoid high-fat dairy products.
- Alcohol.
- Saturated fats like processed foods, meat, coconut oil, palm oil, etc.
- Fried foods.
- Processed and red meat, like beef, pork, sausage.