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COPYRIGHT 2003 Jannetti Publications, Inc.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most prevalent conditions found in men, and increases with age. Drug, surgical, and phytotherapy tend to dominate the medical literature when discussing potential treatments for this condition. These treatments have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness for the various degrees of BPH. However, the potential for lifestyle changes to actually prevent this disease or reduce the severity of this condition when used as an adjunct to conventional treatment is not only intriguing but is strongly supported by past limited studies. More research is needed, but the time is ripe to discuss with patients the potential lifestyle changes that could influence risk. Obesity, a lack of physical activity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, a heart unhealthy diet, and other factors may significantly increase the risk of BPH. Patients should be told that factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease seem to be associated with an increased risk of BPH or a greater severity of BPH.
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition of older men. Results from autopsy studies have demonstrated microscopic evidence of BPH in 40% of man aged 50 to 60 and 90% of men aged 80 to 90 (Berry, Coffey, Walsh, & Ewing, 1984). BPH is characterized by a prostatic epithelium and fibromuscular tissue overgrowth predominantly in the transition zone and periurethral area. Clinically, this condition causes obstructive and lower urinary tract symptoms. The gold standard therapy for BPH is a transurethral resection of the prostate, which is performed over 200,000 times yearly in the United States (Graves & Gillum, 1997).
Why BPH occurs is not exactly understood but probably reflects a multifactorial process (Morton, Turkes, Denis, & Griffiths, 1999). Some of the potential etiologies of BPH include androgens being converted to dihydrotestosterone, increased prostatic smooth muscle tone and increased sympathetic adrenergic neuronal effects of the autonomic nervous system, increased amounts of estrogen with aging that promote cell growth, increased oxidative or free radical effects, increased insulin levels, and elevated cholesterol levels. Some of these etiologies are supported by treatments...
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