The prostate gland surrounds the urethra in males and produces the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. Prostate enlargement happens to almost all men as they get older. The treatment for prostate enlargement depends on the severity of the symptoms, the extent to which they affect daily life, and the presence of any other medical conditions.
Lifestyle Changes
According to MayoClinic.com, lifestyle changes often help control the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, and the changes can also prevent the condition from worsening. Drinking a lot of liquids, especially along with consuming caffeine and alcohol, can increase urine production, irritate the bladder and worsen enlargement symptoms. Limiting beverages in the evening, especially an hour or two before bedtime, helps to avoid trips to the bathroom at night. Urinating, and then urinating again a few moments later, ensures that the bladder properly empties. Scheduling regular times to urinate, such as every four to six hours during the day, helps to train the bladder and it also relieves severe urinary frequency and urgency. Cold temperatures and inactivity can worsen urinary symptoms by aggravating urinary retention. Keeping warm and exercising regularly encourages urination and prevents urinary urgency because the bladder can empty properly.
Medications
Medications such as alpha 1-blockers, treat an enlarged prostate by relaxing the bladder outlet, reports Medline Plus. The relaxed muscles of the bladder neck and prostate allow for easier urination. Other medications work by lowering the hormone levels produced by the prostate, which reduces the size of the prostate gland.
Avoiding or Adjusting Other Medications
Medications that include decongestants or antihistamines, such as over-the-counter cold and sinus medications, can increase prostate enlargement symptoms, reports MayoClinic.com. Avoid these medications because they tighten the band of muscles around the urethra, which makes it harder to urinate.
Water pills, or diuretics, can increase urine production. Sometimes a doctor will recommend taking them at a different time, taking a lower dosage, or taking a different medication to help to alleviate the urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.
Surgery
The doctor may recommend prostate surgery if the medications and lifestyle changes fail to treat the enlargement. The surgical procedures remove or modify the prostate tissue, so that it no longer blocks the urethra. According to MedlinePlus, most men who have prostate surgery notice improvement in their urine flow rates and symptoms.
