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Prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common diagnosis that affect many men over the age of forty years or older. While it is not a common cause of prostate cancer, it can cause the bladder to shut down if it is not treated, as well as urinary tract infections, and a great deal of discomfort.

Understanding what the prostate is will help you understand your condition as well. The prostate is very small, almost the size of a nickel. It is located near the base of your bladder. It is the gland that produces the white secretion that later makes the semen. The secretions from the prostate help to nourish the sperm when it is ejaculated from your body.

Before seeking the help of a doctor, you need to determine if your symptoms might be the cause of an enlarged prostate. The first sign is urine leakage. This soon turns into frequent urination, and then eventually you will not be able to urinate at all. If you are having any of these ate gland, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a condition that a man faces who is over the age of forty. It is also thought to be the most common diagnosis for men over the age of sixty. While having an enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean that prostate cancer is ahead, it is still a very uncomfortable problem to deal with.

The cause of an enlarged prostate is almost as mysterious as the common cold. A normal prostate gland is smaller than a quarter, but larger than a peanut. As the prostate grows, it begins to squeeze the urethra causing a large amount of pain. After this occurs, the bladder feels the constant urge to push urine down the narrowed urethra in a forceful manner. The bladder will eventually feel the urge to not completely release itself and it is then that the patient starts to have urinary retention.

In order to prevent the worst from happening, it is important that you spot the signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate before the condition becomes worse. The first sign is the leakage of urine. If you let the problem continue, eventually you will not be able to completely empty the bladder. This will cause you to have frequent trips to and from the bathroom, especially in the middle of the night. Of course, the last symptom is the inability to urinate. You should not take any of the symptoms lightly and seek medical attention at the sign of the first symptom.

In the worst circumstances, patients who have let the problem persist without getting help for their symptoms have experienced fever, chills, nausea, extreme lower back pain, and blood in the urine. This could cause the patient to be hospitalized until their condition has been rendered stable. This is also one of the main reasons that men are recommended to visit the doctor each year for a prostate check. If the doctor finds that an enlarged prostate is present, there are two certain medications that can be used: Finasteride and Alpha-blockers.

Alpha-blockers can be used to relieve the symptoms of the enlarged prostate by relaxing the muscles in the gland. Doctors will then follow up with Finasteride in order to start shrinking the prostate gland. Mixed with the Alpha-blockers, the condition can be treated appropriately and you will not be in an extreme amount of pain as you were prior to the diagnosis occurring.

If medicine does not cure the problem, there is a surgical procedure that can be done, known as the transurethral resection of the prostate. The procedure consists of scraping tissue from the core of the prostate with the aid of a telescope. The transurethral incision of the prostate has also been considered as an option as well. Unlike the resection, the incision procedure involves a few cuts in the prostate in order relieve the pressure from the urethra. There is no scraping involved which is why it is preferred over the first procedure. If you sense that you might have an enlarged prostate, do not wait about seeking medical attention. The condition will only worsen if you wait.