Health Tips

Yesterday, we mentioned that benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short, can be a reason for high levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). Now, what is BPH?

RECAP: The prostate is a walnut-sized gland just below the urinary bladder responsible for secreting seminal fluid.

As the name suggests, BPH is a non-cancerous, physiological (i.e. normal) enlargement of the prostate. This is caused by exposure to testosterone over the years. It commonly affects men aged around 60 years and above. Because the prostate growth squeezes on the bladder drainage outlet, people with this condition will experience difficulty urinating. If particularly serious, BPH can cause urinary tract infections or even inability to urinate (due to complete blockage). Should I be worried? The short answer is, no. BPH can be considered a normal aging process. The aims of BPH treatment is to minimise urinary symptoms. This is done through medication in the early stages to shrink the prostate, or surgery to remove excess prostate tissue if severe. Therefore, we encourage those having issues to follow up on your condition regularly with your doctor. This would allow you to avoid complications of BPH and enjoy a healthy life! NB: If you have been following us regularly, you might have noticed that the symptoms of prostate cancer and BPH are very similar. Therefore, we cannot stress enough the importance of consulting a doctor for a professional medical opinion!  

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This post was sponsored by Scott's Shavers.