'BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) affects 50% of men aged between 40 and 50 and if it remains untreated, can cause complications including acute urinary retention (AUR) and surgery,' said health experts on Thursday. Speaking to media persons at Karachi Press Club, Chief Urologist Kidney Centre Karachi Dr Salman El Khalid said benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called BPH, is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged.
"As the prostate enlarges, the gland compresses the lower urinary system leading to bothersome urinary symptoms, he said adding that acute urinary retention (AUR) was defined as a sudden inability to pass urine and this condition means a medical emergency. He cited studies that showed that the frequency starts to increase in men in their 40s, reaching 40% to 50% for men in their 50s, greater than 70% for men in their 60s, and 80% to 90% for men in their 80s and older.
Responding to a question why there is a delay in seeking medical care he said that men with urinary symptoms are hesitant to discuss these symptoms with their physician, perhaps because of embarrassment, a belief that such symptoms are a normal part of aging, or even a fear of the possible treatments such as surgery.
Dr Aziz Abdullah, HOD Urology Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College said that the exact cause of BPH was not well understood. However age and hormonal factors contribute to the development of BPH. This is a normal part of the aging process and men who are older than 50 have a higher chance of developing BPH. Talking about the symptoms of BPH, he said that bothersome urinary symptoms include: increased frequency (passing urine less than every 2 hours); intermittency (stopping and starting again several times during urination); urgency (finding it difficult to postpone urine); incomplete emptying (Having the sensation of not emptying the bladder completely); having a weak urinary stream; having to strain during micturition; and Nocturia (Number of times one has to get up to pass urine at night).
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