Vim & Vigor - Fall 2021 - 4

4
Is an
ENLARGED
PROSTATE
PROSTATE
Disrupting
Your Life?
Here's what to do BY KELLY CASEY
T
he prostate gland is essential
for a man's fertility. Its main
function is to make a fl uid
that goes into semen. But as
men age, this gland can become
a nuisance by blocking the
fl ow of urine. Normally the
size of a walnut, the prostate
can grow to as large as
a grapefruit.
An enlarged prostate (also
known as benign prostatic
hyperplasia, or BPH) aff ects
about 50 percent of men ages
51 to 60 and up to 90 percent
of men older than 80, according
to the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Interestingly, just because a man has a
large prostate doesn't mean he'll even
know it.
" Th e prostate gland is unique. Th e
Nishant Patel,
MD, UVA Health
urologist
with a primary care provider who can
prescribe medication and off er lifestyle
changes, including pelvic fl oor muscle
exercises (yes, Kegels are also for men).
" Every man, once he has urinary
symptoms, should talk to his
primary provider, " Dr. Patel says.
" Some symptoms can be managed
with medication for his entire life. "
When medications don't help or
cause unwanted side eff ects, surgery
should be considered. At UVA
Health, men will fi nd urologists who
off er the full array of procedures,
from incisionless laser surgery to
robotic-assisted surgery.
" Open surgery for enlarged prostate
size of the prostate does not always
determine the severity of the blockage
or symptoms, " says Nishant Patel, MD,
a UVA Health urologist. " A 90-year-old
man can have a very large gland and no
symptoms. Another man can have a relatively
small gland and have symptoms
at age 45. "
BPH is not related to prostate cancer,
but it can cause similar symptoms, so
it's important to always rule out cancer.
Th ere's no cure for BPH, but bothersome
symptoms can be treated. It's best to start
FALL 2021 VIM & VIGOR
glands is utilized less oſt en these days, "
Dr. Patel says. He has expertise in the
highly specialized HoLEP procedure
(holmium laser enucleation of the prostate)
that can be eff ective against even
very large prostates. " We pick the
right procedure for the right patient, "
Dr. Patel says.
Although BPH typically isn't
life-threatening, it can lead to serious
complications, such as urinary tract infections,
bladder stones and kidney damage.
Aſt er laser surgery to treat BPH, Dr. Patel
is able to reverse kidney damage and the
need for dialysis. Also, he can use the
same laser to destroy prostate tissue
causing a blockage and break up and
remove bladder stones. *
Know the Signs
of a Problem
Diffi culty starting a urine
stream
Weak urine stream fl ow
Dribbling after urination
Feeling the bladder is not
completely empty
Urge to urinate soon after
fi nishing
Pain during urination
Waking at night to urinate
Frequent urination
Sudden, uncontrollable
urge to urinate
Get Help
When men struggle
to pass urine, the prostate
is likely to blame.
But it's no match for
UVA Health urologists
offering the latest solutions.
Learn more at
uvahealth.com/prostate.
PHOTOS BY UVA HEALTH AND GETTY IMAGES
http://www.uvahealth.com/prostate
Vim & Vigor - Fall 2021

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