If you are one of the 14 million men who suffer from an enlarged prostate due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it is understandable that you would like to find a way to shrink your prostate or at least reduce its symptoms.
.jpg)
You may wonder how to take the prostate back to a younger, more normal size that doesn't keep you running to the bathroom all night long.
When enlarged, the prostate gland (which is located at the base of the bladder) can put pressure on the urethra and cause symptoms such as frequent urination and nighttime urination. The growing prostate can also keep the bladder from completely emptying and can affect the flow of urine, making for a weaker flow, starting and stopping of the flow, and urinary tract infections. More severe cases of BPH can make it difficult to urinate.
Even though BPH is not cancerous, it does affect a man and his family's quality of life. If you are waking up several times a night to urinate, chances are you are waking up your family members at least some of the time. Having to stop activities due to urinary urgency can have an effect and cause stress and annoyance for everyone involved.
Growth of the prostate with age is normal. One-third of men experience symptoms of an enlarged prostate by age 50. By age 70, 70 percent of men are affected, according to Johns Hopkins. So what can you do about it? Actually, there is a lot you can do. Even though the prostate does grow with age, there are things you might be doing that fuel this growth, just as there are lifestyle habits, dietary factors and supplements that can fight and help you manage this growth. Check out these five natural ways to shrink the prostate gland.
Several studies have concluded that moderate or vigorous exercise is very helpful in reducing risks and symptoms of BPH. Not only does exercise reduce the risk of BPH and urinary tract symptoms, but also it provides benefits for your heart health. This can help you prevent other health and sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction.
Obesity is one of the largest contributors to BPH. If you are overweight, one of the best ways to drop your prostate problems is to drop some pounds. Losing weight can help improve your urinary symptoms. A bonus is that weight loss also reduces your risk for prostate cancer.
The Journal of Urology published a study that found that overweight men have an increased risk of BPH. Abdominal fat in particular may play a role. The researchers examined 5,667 men ages 55 and older. They assessed the risk of BPH for each man every year for seven years. All of the men who had a body mass index above 25 had an increased risk for BPH that ranged from 13 percent to 29 percent. They evaluated abdominal obesity by dividing waist measurement by hip measurement. The men who had a ratio of 1.05 or higher had an increased risk of BPH of 45 percent.