Expert tip: Early prevention and treatment of prostate hyperplasia! Prostate hyperplasia is a common disease, mostly occurring in men over 50 years old. Its incidence increases gradually with age; the incidence rate is 60% for those over 60, 70% for those over 70, 80% for those over 80, and almost 100% for those at 90 if a pathological examination of the prostate is conducted.
The occurrence and development of prostate hyperplasia are often slow and gradual without notice. The elderly often say: "Getting up two or three times at night to urinate is because of aging." In fact, the main reason is that the prostate quietly enlarges and causes frequent urination. So what causes prostate hyperplasia? Most scholars at home and abroad currently believe that prostate hyperplasia is mainly related to an imbalance of male hormones within the body. The growth of the prostate is closely related to the testicles. With the continuous improvement of medical research levels, many other factors related to prostate hyperplasia have been discovered, such as dihydrotestosterone and α-adrenergic receptors.
Patients with prostate hyperplasia may experience the following symptoms: First, urinary tract obstruction symptoms, such as difficulty urinating, which can initially be characterized by slow urination, extended time, effort required, short range, and thin urine stream, gradually leading to dripping after urination, or even acute urinary retention. Second, urinary tract irritation symptoms, such as frequent urination and urgency, with the most prominent symptom being an increased number of nighttime urinations.
How to differentiate between prostatitis and prostate hyperplasia? There is both a connection and a distinction between prostatitis and prostate hyperplasia. Below are the differences between the two:
Prostatitis is an inflammatory condition where the volume of the prostate may be slightly larger due to swelling and congestion during inflammation. Examination of prostatic fluid will show white blood cells and bacterial growth, indicating inflammation.
It should be said that the prostate is a very special organ in the human body. We all know that every organ goes through stages from birth, growth, maturity, and eventual atrophy. A young person who was 1.76 meters tall might now measure 1.75 meters. Why? Because human organs shrink after reaching a certain level of development. In old age, these organs stop growing and may even atrophy.
The prostate is a very unique organ, as it continues to grow throughout life. It starts small and grows larger as one ages, continuing to grow into the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Externally, we can see its size increasing with age, and the incidence rate also rises accordingly. From a histological perspective, when examining under a microscope, we call this growth prostate hyperplasia, making it easy for everyone to understand. At 50 years old, 50% of people show histological signs of hyperplasia; at 60, 60%; at 70, 70%; and at 80, 80%.
Why do prostatitis and prostate hyperplasia coexist? What is the relationship between prostatitis and prostate hyperplasia?
The New York-based *Journal of Urology* reports that prostatitis is quite common among healthy American males, and many of these men also have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Researchers are still unclear whether there is a real link between the two conditions or if there is confusion regarding their symptoms.
Researchers found that 16% of men reported a history of prostatitis. Among men reporting a history of BPH, the likelihood of also having a history of prostatitis increased 7.7 times. They noted that this result was very significant because more than 50% of prostatitis patients report having BPH, and more than one-third of BPH patients report having prostatitis. Dr. Collins and his team identified several factors associated with prostatitis, which they believe will help with identification.
This research group pointed out that male patients reporting moderate lower urinary tract symptoms were 1.8 times more likely to have prostatitis, while those with severe lower urinary tract symptoms were 2.8 times more likely to have prostatitis. Prostatitis was also associated with a history of sexually transmitted diseases (increased likelihood of 1.8 times), stress at home (increased likelihood of 1.5 times), and stress at work (increased likelihood of 1.2 times).
How should prostate hyperplasia be treated? Prostate hyperplasia is common in middle-aged and elderly people over 50. With the acceleration of social aging, the number of sufferers is increasing. Normally, the prostate is shaped like a chestnut, located below the bladder neck, surrounding the posterior urethra, and is the necessary path for urine to exit the urethra. Once prostate tissue undergoes excessive hyperplasia (in fact, normal males after the age of 30 will experience varying degrees of hyperplasia), it will block the urethra, causing urine to remain in the bladder, affecting the bladder's urination function, resulting in frequent urination, urgency, nocturia, and difficulty urinating. Severe cases can even affect kidney function.
Generally speaking, for patients with mild symptoms, no effect on kidney function, and little change in condition over a long period or even showing improvement, temporary observation without treatment can be considered. However, regular follow-ups and close monitoring are essential. Mild cases can also be improved with medication but must be taken according to the course. If difficulty in urination gradually worsens, or if urine is completely unable to be expelled, surgery is required to remove the obstructing prostate tissue and restore the patency of the urethra.
Currently, surgical treatments for prostate hyperplasia are divided into two types: one is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This surgery does not require incisions, only inserting a sheath into the urethra and installing an electro-resection device, which effectively removes the hyperplastic prostate tissue. The surgery has minimal trauma, quick recovery, and significantly reduces hospitalization time. The other type is traditional open prostatectomy, which surgically removes the hyperplastic prostate and is suitable for severe cases of prostate hyperplasia.
Prevention of prostate hyperplasia: Although the symptoms of prostate hyperplasia develop unnoticed, they severely threaten the health of the elderly. As the prostate gradually enlarges year by year, the pressure in the bladder increases, which can cause bilateral renal hydronephrosis. Over time, this can easily lead to chronic renal failure and uremia. Therefore, measures need to be taken to reduce the risk of prostate hyperplasia, with the key being early detection and control of prostate hyperplasia.
For the elderly, attention should be paid to avoiding holding urine, drinking less alcohol, coffee, and strong tea, eating fewer stimulating foods, riding bicycles less, avoiding prolonged sitting, and engaging in appropriate physical exercise. If an increase in nighttime urination, frequent urination, and difficulty urinating are noticed, one should seek medical advice from a urologist early on, allowing the doctor to choose the most suitable treatment plan based on the condition.