The
prostate is an internal gland found in men. It surrounds the urethra,
the tube that carries urine from the bladder to penis. Because the
prostate surrounds the urethra, when it enlarges, it can block the
flow of urine. Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is a condition,
which describes the enlargement of this gland. It is not cancerous.
What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Problems?
A man's need to urinate in the night is the most important indicator
of prostate problems. If a man can significantly reduce his night-time
urination, there also will be a dramatic improvement in all other
function indicators of healthy prostrate, including harder erections,
stronger orgasms and better overall sexual performance.
What Are The Causes?
There is no special cause for this condition. It just occurs with
old age. Since only men have prostate glands, only men can get this
condition. The single big risk factor is age - the older you are,
the more likely you are to suffer from it. It is unlikely to start
before 45 years of age.
What Are The Treatment Options?
BPH can clear up without treatment in as many as one-third of all
mild cases. However, if the condition begins to pose a danger to the
patient's health or causes a major inconvenience to him, treatment
is usually recommended.
Short Term:
If the symptoms are bad enough you may need medication or an operation.
Very occasionally, the prostate blocks the stream of urine completely,
causing a very painful build-up of urine in the bladder - this is
called acute retention of urine. The short-term treatment for acute
retention of urine is to pass a catheter down the penis into the bladder,
using a local anesthetic jelly, to relieve the blockage.
Long Term:
You may need to have an operation to cut away the extra prostate tissue
and clear the passage from the bladder. Some people who are not fit
for surgery or who do not want an operation are sometimes treated
with tablets, although these may have to be taken for a long time
to yield any benefit. Other treatments are Transurethral Needle Ablation
(TUNA), transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT).
Prostate surgery is still the most commonly performed surgery for
prostate problems and considered the best long-term treatment. But
this surgery does not come without its drawbacks. Journal of the American
Medical Association and Bandolier described the results of a major
U.S. study on prostate surgery, which reported major problems in urinary
and sexual function, even with the most experienced surgeons and the
latest surgical techniques.
But other help might be on its way from the triple biochemical breakthrough!
Clinical research studies recently published in the American Journal
Of Geriatrics and the Journal of the Maine Medical Association has
shown that three natural substances can have a remarkable effect on
common prostrate problems. Researchers refer to them as "the alpha
male amino acids as they represent the new era of treatment for prostate-
related problems. These three amino acids - alanine, glycine and glutamic
acid- are astounding trio that has the entire medical community excited.
It has been seen that treatment with these three amino acids have
led to relief of urinary urgency, nocturia (urinating at night), or
discomfort, at night in men with enlarged prostrates and associated
urinary problems.
These three amino acids have relieved prostate problems in an amazing
95 percent of patients, who were studied- without drugs, without surgery
and with out spoiling their sex life. These three amino acids are
important building blocks for protein, which are normally involved
in everything from generating healthy cells to keeping one's sex life
healthy and active. We need to supplement these three amino acids
since as we age our body's produce less of these proteins and also
our ability to absorb nutrients - including protein- diminish, as
we get older.
A group of other nutrients called phytosterols have also received
a lot of scientific attention lately. Found in certain native plants,
these key nutrients also work directly on the prostate to alleviate
urinary problems, reduce prostate size. So next time when a doctor
is evaluating you for your BPH, ask him for some more alternative
treatments to surgery.
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