46 THE QUEENS COURIER • SENIOR LIVING • JULY 12, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Treatment options for men with enlarged prostate
If you’re a male over the age of 45,
chances are you may be suff ering from
a condition more common than prostate
cancer - benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH). More commonly known as
enlarged prostate, BPH can cause bothersome
urinary symptoms that can worsen
with age. In fact, nearly 40 million men in
the United States are aff ected by enlarged
prostate, according to research published
in the “Journal of Urology.”
During Men’s Health Month, consider
these steps from the experts at NeoTract,
Inc., manufacturer of the UroLift System,
for alleviating enlarged prostate symptoms:
Signs You Should
See a Urologist
An enlarged prostate obstructs the
bladder opening and can lead to a myriad
of bothersome urinary symptoms.
Symptoms of BPH include frequent urination,
a weak or slow urine stream,
incomplete bladder emptying, diffi culty
or delay in starting urination and a urine
stream that stops and starts. It’s important
to see a physician if any of these problems
arise or persist.
Enlarged prostate can also cause loss of
productivity and sleep and, in some cases,
can lead to depression. According to a survey
sponsored by NeoTract, one of the
most common symptoms of BPH - interrupted
sleep - is also impacting men’s partners.
Sixty-four percent of women surveyed
who were aff ected by their partners’ BPH
symptoms said it impacts their sleep, too.
Traditional Treatment Options
Medication is oft en the fi rst-line therapy
for enlarged prostate, but relief can be
inadequate and temporary. Some patients
may suff er uncomfortable side eff ects
from the medications, including dizziness,
headaches and sexual dysfunction,
which can prompt them to quit using
the drugs.
“Medical and surgical treatments for
BPH ranging from medications to surgery
have been used for decades with varying
degrees of success and side eff ects,”
said Dr. David O. Sussman, DO, FACOS.
“Medications can be helpful in relieving
symptoms for some men, but patients
must continue taking them long-term to
maintain the eff ects.”
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Th e classic alternative for patients who
opt against medication is surgery that
cuts, heats or removes prostate tissue
to open the blocked urethra. Sussman
said surgical options such as transurethral
resection of the prostate or photovaporization
of the prostate are usually
eff ective. However, these options typically
require general anesthesia, overnight
hospitalization and post-operative
catheterization. Surgery can also increase
the risk of erectile dysfunction or loss of
ejaculation.
An Alternative
Treatment Method
Another option for men looking to
relieve their BPH symptoms without
undergoing major surgery or taking longterm
BPH medications is the UroLift
System treatment, a minimally invasive
procedure that takes less than an hour
and doesn’t require any cutting, heating
or removal of prostate tissue.
A urologist uses the device to lift and
move the enlarged prostate tissue out of
the way so it no longer blocks the urethra
(the passageway that urine fl ows
through). Tiny implants are then used
to hold the tissue in place, leaving an
unobstructed pathway for urine to fl ow
through normally.
Most common side effects are
mild-to-moderate and include pain or
burning with urination, blood in urine,
pelvic pain, urgent need to urinate or the
inability to control the urge. Th e procedure
has a low catheter rate and most
symptoms resolve within 2-4 weeks aft er
the procedure.
To learn more, visit UroLift .com.
Courtesy Family Features