Prostate Enlargement
If you experience fever/chills or nausea/vomiting, or if the prostate enlargement condition worsens and symptoms such as blood in the urine or lower back pain are present, consult a doctor immediately. If you cannot reach your doctor when these symptoms are present, seek evaluation at a hospital's emergency department.
For acute symptoms such as acute urinary retention (you cannot urinate), you should immediately go to the closest emergency medical facility.
Men over 50 years of age should have their prostate checked annually by their physician even if they have no symptoms.
Self-Care at Home
Some precautions can help to avoid worsening of symptoms of prostate enlargement and complications.
Do not delay to urinate once you experience an urge. Urinate as soon as you feel the urge, and empty the bladder completely.
Follow-up
Once your doctor has given you a
medical plan, you should stick to it and follow up as recommended. Sometimes men need follow-up with a urologist.
Prevention
There is no known way to prevent prostate enlargement. It is a common part of aging.
- Avoid drinking liquids after 6 p.m. to reduce the need to urinate frequently during the night.
- Drinking more fluid, up to eight glasses of water per day, may help prevent infection. However, for men already suffering with increased urinary frequency, this may only exacerbate the problem. In most cases, drinking a normal amount of fluid based on thirst is all that is necessary.
- There is evidence that cranberry juice may be helpful in the prevention of urinary tract infections in those who are prone to developing these.
Outlook
Your condition may improve, remain the same, or become worse. Serious urinary problems from prostate enlargement affect one in 10 older men. If the bladder is permanently damaged from prostate enlargement, treatment may not be as effective.
Prostate enlargement is not cancer, nor does it seem to increase your chances of developing prostate cancer . You can, however, have both prostate enlargement and prostate cancer at the same time.