Akash Kapadia, MD Home
When discussing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH with patients concerned about their lower urinary tract symptoms, they often ask us about supplements and, most often, Saw Palmetto. If you have paid attention to media ads over the years, you’ve almost surely seen one or more for this supplement. Indeed, this supplement is touted as a natural and effective option for enlarged prostate.
As a man ages, the risk of developing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) increases dramatically. By our advanced years, most men will experience BPH. For some, this can be a minor nuisance, while for others, BPH may represent an impediment to living a normal lifestyle. Treating BPH at its earlier stages allows for better outcomes and reduces the amount of time a patient lives with potentially severe symptoms.
Unfortunately, many men decide that they would sooner modify their lifestyle to minimize the disruption than visit a qualified urologist. They don’t realize that there are incredible advances in urology and BPH treatments that allow for in-office therapies that require only about 10 to 15 minutes of procedural time and may last for five or more years.
In this article, we look forward to giving our patients the top warning signs to look out for and offering some guidance on when to see their urologist for BPH treatment.
Continue reading “Warning Signs That You May Be Suffering From BPH”
Benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is a prevalent condition that affects about 50% of men over 50 and 80% of men over 80. As we get older, there is a tendency for the prostate to grow. This, in turn, puts pressure on the urethra and can cause Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms or LUTS. Many men spend years living with the consequences of BPH, which can include frequent trips to the bathroom, urgency, and even embarrassing leaks. However, this does not have to be the norm. Today, we have more BPH treatments than ever before, including minimally invasive in-office BPH procedures and effective BPH surgeries.
While we look to treat BPH in a stepwise manner, patients will often have tried several potential therapies before visiting their urologist. One such therapy is supplementation; you may have seen Saw Palmetto, for example, marketed as an effective BPH treatment option.
Continue reading “Do BPH Supplements Work for Treating Enlarged Prostate?”
Minimally invasive benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH therapy has made tremendous leaps in technology and effectiveness over the past several decades. Today, prostatic enlargement can be managed in several ways, none of which is more exciting than in-office therapies, which combine similar effectiveness of more invasive treatments with greater safety and generally fewer side effects.
Dr. Kapadia often uses Rezum BPH therapy, which employs steam to ablate or destroy excess prostatic tissue. However, many men have undergone a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate or TURP and now are experiencing renewed urinary symptoms. These men can take comfort in knowing that minimally invasive in-office Rezum therapy may still be available to them.
Benign Prostatic hyperplasia or BPH is an extremely common concern that most men will experience in the later years of their lives. It is estimated that about 50% of men over the age of 50 and 80% of men over the age of 80 will experience BPH. But with the word “benign” in its name, is there anything to worry about?
