Posted by Dr. Bob Crisafi on Sun, Feb 28, 2010 @ 08:52 AM
Most of my blogs have been dealing with BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia. A serious complication to BPH is urinary retention, which is the inability to urinate. This complication requires immediate medical treatment.
The onset of urinary retention is characterized by a poor urinary stream with intermittent flow, straining, incomplete voiding and hesitancy (a delay between trying to urinate and the actual flow starting). The aforementioned symptoms could worsen to a point where the condition is considered a medical emergency. This worsening condition is known as acute urinary retention whereby one cannot urinate at all.
As the bladder remains full, it may distend or stretch to an abnormally large size associated with pain and the possibility of it tearing. When the bladder distends enough, one will begin to experience pain due to the excessive pressure exerted on the bladder wall. The increased pressure in the bladder can also prevent urine from entering the bladder from the ureters. In the worst of cases, the back pressure exerted could even cause urine to pass back up the ureters and into the kidneys, causing hydronephrosis (dilation or stretching of the kidney with urine).
Men should see their doctor immediately if they are unable to urinate when having a painfully full bladder. In summary, men suffering from BPH should be knowledgeable about serious medical conditions that can arise as complications of BPH (see my blog; "How the Bladder Works").
Posted by Dr. Bob Crisafi on Mon, Dec 28, 2009 @ 05:58 PM
BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is the medical term ascribed to an "enlarged prostate". To understand what BPH is, you must first have a fundamental knowledge of the anatomy of the male urinary tract. As you can see from the illustration, the urethra, which is attached to the bladder, passes through the prostate gland (shown in red) and exits through the penis. When it's time to empty the bladder, smooth muscles in the bladder relax allowing the urine to flow out of the bladder and through the urethra, which results in urination.
BPH occurs when the prostate gland grows or enlarges, as it does during most of a man's adult life. When the glandular tissue surrounding the exterior of the prostate gland becomes resistant to outward expansion, the continued growth of the prostate tissue grows inward closing in on that part of the urethra that passes through the prostate. This results in the gradual squeezing of the urethra within the prostate causing restriction of the flow of urine from the bladder. Thinking of this in another way, visualize holding a flexible hose, with water running through it, between your thumb and index finger. If you squeezed the hose closed with your fingers, the flow of liquid would slow down or even stop depending on the pressure you exert with your fingers. That's what happens in BPH. The more inward tissue growth in the prostate gland, the more pressure exerted on the urethra and the more restriction of the flow of urine being released from the bladder. The degree of prostate enlargement can vary greatly among individuals, and this is the reason why some men suffer from more symptoms than others.
There are over 100 prostate products, both prescription and non-prescription on the market. Among the non-prescription, nutritional products used to promote the healthy function of the prostate and relieve the urinary symptoms of BPH is Prostex, a time tested product (sold for more than fifty years) and used by tens of thousands of men. Prostex is a proprietary blend of amino acids (Glycine, Alanine, and Glutamic Acid). In the 1950's a group of American doctors accidentally found that patients being treated for allergies, with the amino acid formula, were experiencing relief from BPH symptoms. It's called serendipity. Other controlled scientific studies followed, which showed that this therapy was indeed effective in relieving the common urinary symptoms of BPH, such as urgency, discomfort, night frequency, and delayed urine flow. I welcome your views on this article.
Dr. Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob Crisafi on Tue, Dec 22, 2009 @ 06:05 PM
For those men who have reached the age of mid-forties or older and have been told by their doctor, during a routine physical examination, that they have BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia), it is important for them to know that they do not have prostate cancer. BPH is an extremely common condition in men. It is characterized by bothersome urinary symptoms that include, a weak urine stream; frequent urination; urinary urgency; leaking or dribbling as well as other urinary problems. The good news is that there are both prescription drugs and non-prescription nutritional products available that can result in symptom improvement. Prostex is a time tested non-prescription nutritional product that has been on the market for over fifty years and has helped tens of thousands of men with BPH. Being a proprietary blend of amino acids (Glutamic Acid, Alanine, and Glycine), it is safe to take and does not have the disadvantages of multiple potential side effects as do the highly advertised prescription drugs. I would like to hear from those men who have BPH symptoms and what type of treatment they are undergoing.
Dr. Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob Crisafi on Fri, Nov 13, 2009 @ 02:04 PM
Frequently we hear from men in their forties who think they are too young to have prostate problems. They admit to having urinary symptoms such as having to urinate more frequently during the day and also having to get up at night to urinate. They usually mention that they have urgency at times. The facts are, these men have the beginning symtoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and they will find that the symptoms will gradually become more pronounced within the next couple of years. More than 50% of men in their sixties and as many as 90% in their seventies and eighties are diagnosed with BPH. Although the phrase "benign prostatic hyperplasia" sounds like something serious, the good news is that the word "benign" means non-cancer. Therefore,if your a man in your forties with BPH symptoms, understand that it's a condition that will worsen; however, can be controlled with amino acid supplementation or other non-prescription products.
Dr. Bob