Manage BPH Symptoms with These Six Lifestyle Changes
What is BPH and what are BPH symptoms?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, shortened to BPH, is a condition that typically develops in older men. In fact, it impacts as much as 51% of men ages 51 to 60. BPH occurs when the prostate becomes enlarged. BPH is most prostate enlargement cases and it can cause a lot of symptoms. It can lead to a blockage of urine flow and then cause problems with your urinary tract, bladder, and kidney problems. Other symptoms of enlarged prostate include:
- A weakened urine stream
- Stopping and starting several times during urination
- Leakage
- Not emptying the bladder completely
- Frequent nightly urination
If you think that you are experiencing the symptoms of BPH it would be best to consult with us at Urology Care of Central Florida so that we can give you the best BPH treatment. We can make sure that your symptoms are caused by BPH and not by something more serious, like cancer. Once we make sure that your enlarged prostate is benign, we can work with you to create a treatment plan that will help you to control your symptoms. A treatment plan may include medications, minimally invasive treatments, and surgical treatments. Another important step that will help you manage BPH symptoms is making a few lifestyle changes.
How to take back your life and manage BPH symptoms with lifestyle changes.
Most people want to try home remedies before making the decision to go to the doctor for their BPH treatment. Anyone who is experiencing BPH symptoms should visit their doctor for a BPH test before searching prostate enlargement treatment home remedies because it is important that you make sure your BPH isn’t actually prostate cancer. Once you are sure it is just BPH then you can try out these lifestyle changes to improve your symptoms.
- Relieve tension and stress - The symptoms of BPH, like frequent urination, can be worsened by being tense or nervous. You can help this by regularly relieving stress by making it a habit to exercise, practice yoga, or meditating.
- Choose healthier food options - Healthy food choices are another way to keep your prostate healthy. An enlarged prostate diet should include a lot of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and nuts. Omega-3 fatty acids are also recommended for BPH symptom management. Foods such as salmon, halibut, or tuna contain omega-3’s.
- Use the double voiding method - Although BPH can make men feel like they need to urinate all the time it can still be difficult to urinate. So, to make sure you have emptied your bladder completely you can use double voiding. Double voiding is when you wait a few seconds after you have urinated and then try again to make sure the bladder is empty. This can help reduce your trips to the bathroom. Another strategy to help with frequent urination is to urinate before leaving the house and before going to bed.
- Avoid diuretic beverages - Frequent nighttime urination is one of the more common BPH symptoms. One main cause of this is diuretics. A diuretic is anything that stimulates the kidneys to produce urine. Any beverages containing caffeine or alcohol act as diuretics and should be avoided 3 to 4 hours before bed.
- Avoid certain medications - Prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause BPH symptoms to worsen. Some medications to avoid are high blood pressure medicine that contain diuretics, antidepressants, and decongestants like Benadryl or Pseudoephedrine. If you think your medication is impacting your BPH you should consult with your doctor about changing the medication or dosage.
- Use kegel exercises - Another BPH symptom that may be troubling or even embarrassing is leaking or dribbling. One of the best ways to help manage these symptoms is by doing kegel exercises. Kegels are typically done by contracting and then releasing the muscles around the bladder neck. You can squeeze tightly for ten seconds and then relax. Do this ten times about three to five times a day.
What is the best way to manage BPH symptoms?
If you believe you are experiencing BPH symptoms, you need to schedule an appointment with Urology Care of Central Florida. We always have the most up to date screening methods and BPH treatment guidelines. Waiting too long to visit your doctor may cause a more invasive surgery to be necessary. The quicker you get treatment the easier you will be able to manage your BPH.
