In recent years, the condition known as Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE) has become increasingly popular as a treatable problem for men. Benign enlargement of the prostate means that the gland located under the pelvis and surrounding the passageway through which men urinate becomes swollen and causes discomfort. The condition is very different from prostate cancer in that it is not typically life threatening. But BPE can create annoying problems for people. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), BPH affects more than 50 percent of the population. at the age of 60 and as many as 90% of people over the age of 70 (Source: www.urologychannel.com)
The medical community is of course focused on the hormone causes BPE and the resulting cell growth which can make life uncomfortable for humans. It’s not entirely clear, but some prostate growth can be caused by hormonal or other factors. Inflammation of the prostate can be caused by diet, infection, and stimuli. These disturbances are sometimes caused by a tract infection. It may be recalled that an astronaut went down on Apollo 13 with a prostate infection. The condition can lead to severe pain, fever and other symptoms. Treatment usually requires an anti-biotic prescribed by a doctor.
Speaking of doctors, the standard test for prostate enlargement involves a doctor putting a rubber finger on the right finger to feel it. prostate Many men fear this experience as even worse than the old “turn your head and cough” hernia experience, but an experienced doctor can quickly tell you whether your prostate feels “normal” or if it looks swollen and needs treatment.
I had the misfortune to get a prostate infection 15 years ago. In the middle of the night I woke up with a throbbing pain oozing from my lower back groin. I called the doctor’s office and spent the whole night in the pharmacy getting medicine. The infection went away fairly quickly, but after the event prostate enlargement persisted.
That meant a trip to the doctor because I was up until midnight in weak streams of urine that never seemed to empty my bladder.
My doctor checked me with a digital scan and was informed that my prostate was “causing” to be swollen and tender. Then he started asking questions and making suggestions.
“How many times have you set your bed high?” he asked.
“Not often enough,” I joked.
“We’ll have to talk to your wife,” he laughed.
“Do you want to write a prescription?” I prayed
‘Of course,’ he told me. “Make sure he throws up frequently. That’s what you need to worry about.”
I understand, I nodded.
“Most people look at life as a good excuse,” he panned. “Now you have.”
“Anything else?” I asked.
“Yes, another thing,” he told me. “You can cut out the caffeine. Do you drink coffee or soda?”
“Just a Coke day,” I told him.
And he warned, “Let’s cut out all the caffeine.” “And stay away from cold medicines with anti-histamines. Both can enlarge your prostate. Both caffeine and antihistamines affect the soft tissue of your body, like your prostate gland.”
The effects of quitting caffeine were immediate. I stopped caffeinated drinks of all kinds. He never drank coffee, it wasn’t a problem. But my Coke during the day habit was hard to break. I had a headache for two full weeks. Then like magic, the recession stopped, and the craving for soda did.
The first couple of times I came down with a cold, it was hard to avoid the cold medicine. But I realized that my cold lasted the same time as hers, when I took the cold medicine. So I don’t miss everyone much. Surprisingly enough, my colds were milder after a year or so. Now I barely get colds, I rely on zinc and vitamin C when the symptoms arrive. It was almost as if my colds were worse when I took the medicine.
For many people with an inflamed prostate, the first point of treatment involves cutting off caffeine and antihistamines. The same is the case in women suffering from yeast-majae and other inflammations of soft tissues in the body. We take these stimulants in our diet and cold medicines, but they are far from benign. Especially when it comes down to it.
Sources:
ren.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostateenlargement/
www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-gland-enlargement/DS00027
www.urologychannel.com/prostate/bph/index.shtml
