- Main remedies used
- How to do natural treatment
- 1. Saw Palmetto
- 2. Pygeum africanum
- Can enlarged prostate become cancer?
- When surgery is necessary
- How to relieve the discomfort of an enlarged prostate
To treat an enlarged prostate, which is usually caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, the urologist usually recommends using medications to relax the prostate muscles and relieve symptoms, such as difficulty urinating or a sudden urge to urinate, for example.
Check for any signs that may indicate enlarged prostate.
However, in more severe cases, where it is not possible to control the problem with medication or there is a risk that the enlarged prostate is being caused by cancer, it may be necessary to have surgery to remove the prostate and cure the problem.
Main remedies used
Treatment for an enlarged prostate usually begins with the use of medications that help relieve symptoms and prevent complications such as urinary retention or kidney stones, for example.
Some of the remedies most prescribed by the urologist include:
- Remedies to relax the prostate muscles, such as alpha-blockers including tamsulosin, alfuzosin, doxazosin and silodosin; Remedies to reduce male hormones and decrease the size of the prostate, such as finasteride and dutasteride; Antibiotics to decrease inflammation of the prostate, if any, such as ciprofloxacin.
These drugs can be used separately or in combination, depending on the symptoms presented and the size of the prostate.
However, when the prostate is enlarged due to the development of cancer, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be necessary to eliminate the tumor's malignant cells. Here's how to treat prostate cancer.
How to do natural treatment
In addition to drug treatment, it is possible to use natural extracts to help relieve symptoms more quickly. However, this type of treatment should not replace the treatment indicated by the doctor, and should only be completed.
Some of the medicinal plants used in the natural treatment of this problem include:
1. Saw Palmetto
This plant, scientific name Serenoa repens, has excellent anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties that help to deflate the prostate and facilitate the passage of urine.
To get the full effect it is recommended to take 1 capsule of Saw Palmetto for breakfast and dinner. Another option is to take 1 teaspoon of Saw Palmetto powder mixed in a glass of water, twice a day.
Learn more about this medicinal plant.
2. Pygeum africanum
This substance is removed from the inside of the bark of the African plum tree and is often used to treat urinary and prostate problems, reducing the urge to urinate.
Pygeum africanum can be purchased in the form of capsules at health food stores and should be taken in doses between 25 and 200 mg per day.
Can enlarged prostate become cancer?
No, benign prostatic hyperplasia is a disease other than prostate adenocarcinoma, and the man who has only an enlarged prostate can have prostate cancer like any other man, and one disease does not lead to the development of the other.
When surgery is necessary
Surgery to treat an enlarged prostate is indicated in the most severe cases, especially when using a bladder catheter to urinate, large amounts of blood in the urine, bladder stones or kidney failure, for example.
Thus, a prostatectomy can be performed , which is the removal of the inner part of the prostate through normal abdominal surgery or a transurethral resection of the prostate, also known as classic prostate endoscopy, where the prostate is removed using a device that is introduced through the urethra. See how this surgery is done.
In addition to these surgeries, in some cases, only a small cut in the prostate can be made to facilitate the passage of the urethra, without having to remove the prostate.
Watch the following video and understand why, in some cases, surgery should be done as soon as possible:
How to relieve the discomfort of an enlarged prostate
To improve the discomfort caused by the enlarged prostate, some tips are:
- Urinating whenever you feel like it, avoiding holding your urine; Avoid drinking too many fluids at once, in the evening, before going to sleep or in places where there is no bathroom; Exercise and physiotherapy to strengthen the pelvic muscles. See how to do this type of exercise; Urinate every 2 hours, even if you don't feel like it; Avoid spicy foods and diuretic drinks, such as coffee and alcoholic beverages, orange, lemon, lime, pineapple, olives, chocolate or nuts; Do not leave urine dripping at the end of urination, squeezing the urethra, to avoid infections; Avoid medications that cause urine retention, such as nasal decongestant;
In addition, men who are easily constipated should increase their intake of water and laxative foods to stimulate bowel function, since constipation can worsen the discomfort of the enlarged prostate.
