Complications of prostate gland enlargement

Prostate gland enlargement becomes a serious health threat only if it interferes with your ability to empty your bladder. A bladder that’s continuously full can interfere with your sleep, cause recurrent bladder infection, or result in kidney damage. Men who have an enlarged prostate are at increased risk of:

Acute urinary retention (AUR). AUR is a sudden painful inability to urinate. To empty the bladder, a catheter must be inserted into the bladder through the penis. Some men with BPH require surgery to treat AUR.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs). Some men with BPH end up having surgery to remove part of the prostate to prevent frequent UTIs.

Bladder stones. These are mineral deposits that can cause infection, bladder irritation, blood in the urine and obstruction of urine flow.

Bladder damage. This occurs when, over a long period of time, the bladder hasn’t emptied completely.

The muscular wall of the bladder stretches, weakens, and no longer contracts properly. Often, men with BPH-caused bladder damage improve after surgery to remove part of the prostate.

Kidney damage. This is caused by frequent infections and acute urinary retention. BPH can also cause a condition called hydronephrosis, a swelling (dilation) of the urine-collecting structures in one or both kidneys due to pooled urine that can’t drain out of the kidney.

Most men with BPH don’t develop these complications. However, acute urinary retention and kidney damage in particular can be serious health threats when they do occur.

Treatments for prostate gland enlargement don’t reduce or increase the risk of prostate cancer. Even if you’re being treated for an enlarged prostate gland, you still need to continue regular prostate exams to screen for cancer. Surgical treatment for prostate gland enlargement can identify cancer in its early stages.

Making some lifestyle changes can often help control the symptoms of an enlarged prostate and prevent your condition from worsening. Consider these measures:

Limit beverages in the evening. Don’t drink anything for an hour or two before bedtime to help you avoid wake-up trips to the bathroom at night.

Limit caffeine or alcohol. These can increase urine production, irritate your bladder, and worsen your symptoms.

Limit diuretics. If you take water pills (diuretics), talk to your doctor. Maybe a lower dose, a milder diuretic, or a change in the time you take your medication will help. Don’t stop taking diuretics without first talking to your doctor.

Limit decongestants or antihistamines. These drugs tighten the band of muscles around your urethra that control urine flow, which makes it harder to urinate.

Go when you feel the urge. Try to urinate when you first feel the urge. Waiting too long to urinate may overstretch the bladder muscle and cause damage.

Schedule bathroom visits. Try to urinate at regular times to “retrain” the bladder. This can be done every four to six hours during the day and can be especially useful if you have severe frequency and urgency.

Stay active. Inactivity causes you to retain urine. Even a small amount of exercise can help reduce urinary problems caused by BPH.

Keep warm. Colder temperatures can cause urine retention and increase your urgency to urinate.