When a man turns 25, his prostate will begin to grow. This is a natural growth, and it’s called benign prostatic hyperplasia. It’s also the most common cause of prostate enlargement, and there’s nothing to worry about most of the time.
It’s also relieving to know that BPH is not a condition that can lead to cancer, although both conditions can coexist. 50% to 60% of men with BPH don’t develop any symptoms. However, for those men who develop symptoms, it can be annoying. Symptoms of BPH include:
- Urgency, dribbling, or leaking
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- A sense of incomplete emptying
- Hesitant, interrupted, weak urine stream
With these symptoms, you might want to go to your doctor to learn how to cope with these symptoms and have a clear understanding of the condition. Fortunately, there are also some ways to cope on your own. That said, here are some ways to cope with an enlarged prostate.
Drink Lots of Water
You might think that it’s counterintuitive for you to drink a lot of water with an enlarged prostate. However, drinking lots of water is very beneficial for you. Concentrated urine irritates the lining of your bladder, so if you don’t drink enough water, it will feel like you need to go to the toilet more often.
However, with water, you can dilute your urine enough so it doesn’t irritate your bladder. Because of this, it will be more comfortable for your bladder to hold your urine. Also, drinking 1.5 liters of water every day is recommended, but make sure that you don’t just gulp it down at once. Instead, drink small amounts at regular intervals daily to make your prostate more comfortable.
Avoid Stress
For men with BPH, it can be a vicious cycle caused by stress. Because they have BPH, they will constantly stress about their symptoms, but little did they know that stress can worsen matters. Feeling tense and stressed can make you go to the toilet more. That said, when coping with BPH, you must also cope with your stress.
You can do many breathing exercises to calm yourself, especially during the night, when your anxiety often rises. Or you could ask your doctor about some medication if you’re also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, especially hypochondria.
Drink Less Alcohol During the Evening
Although quitting alcohol might be the best move, if you can’t help it, at least drink less during the evenings; drinking lots of alcohol during the evening will just cause you to go to the toilet very often.
You should also apply this to caffeine as both alcohol and caffeine are both stimulants and diuretics, which means these drinks will cause you to go to the toilet now and then. Not only that, but they will also give you more powerful urges to go to the toilet. If you feel like drinking during the night, stick to a glass of water instead.
Keep Yourself Warm
Cold temperatures make you feel like you need to go to the toilet, so during the cold months, especially in the winter, make sure that you keep yourself warm. You can wear multiple thick clothes to warm yourself up, or, if you can afford it, turn up your heater. Also, if you’re outside, avoid sitting on cold benches or seats as it worsens your condition. Ensure also to wear hats, scarves, and gloves to protect yourself from the cold.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you’re overweight or underweight, taking the necessary steps to maintain a healthy weight is always a good decision. You can do this with moderate exercise and a healthy diet. Of course, this is easier said than done, but if you want a more comfortable life with BPH, you might want to start looking at your weight.
And as usual, you can also start taking steps for a healthier lifestyle, like avoiding smoking, excessive drinking, and always ensuring you’re getting a healthy amount of quality sleep. Also, you should always stay on top of your prescription. If you’re struggling with your medicine, you can look for BuzzRx Deals on Flomax or your other medicines to ensure you’re taking them constantly.
Don’t Sit for Too Long
If you work in a desk job requiring you to sit for long hours, then you might consider some steps to change that. Sitting puts pressure on your prostate, which is bad, of course. What you can do, however, is to change your current seat to an adjustable one that allows you to instead lean on while standing instead of sitting fully. If that’s not possible, take breaks when you can walk around your office.
Final Words
BPH is not bad for some since the more fortunate ones don’t experience symptoms. However, for those that have symptoms, life can be a little bit more difficult. That said, if you’re one of the latter, you might want to follow the steps above to ensure that even if you have BPH, you can still live your life to the fullest.
