Increased prostate can be, in most cases, a benign hyperplasia of prostate gland, which is a benign growth of this gland, observed in virtually all men over 40 years of age. Enlarged prostate (benign hyperplasia) is not cancer and does not increase the risks of prostate cancer.
At age 50, about half of men already have enlarged prostate, an index that reaches 90% in individuals in their 80s. Most of these men live with it without major problems.
However, in some, this gradual process of enlargement of the prostate can cause urinary flow obstruction, which can lead to bladder failure and urine retention, which increases the risk of infections.
The symptoms most common increased prostate are:
- Weaker urine stream;
- Willing to urinate several times at shorter intervals, with smaller volumes of urine;
- Wake up at night to urinate several times.
As this process goes on gradually over the years, the individual feels it is normal and delays identifying the symptoms.
As the obstruction increases, the patient may begin to present urinary urgency (involuntary loss of urine if you do not urinate quickly) or urinary incontinence.
The enlarged prostate requires treatment only when the patient has difficulty urinating. There are medications that can decrease the size of the gland, but are not able to guarantee the absence of future complications. THE surgery is needed in about 20% of cases.
The diagnosis and treatment of the enlarged prostate can be done with the urologist, general practitioner or family doctor.
