It’s one of the 3 Prostrate dysfunctions men suffer . BPH is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. In the layman’s terms it simply means the enlargement of the prostrate . It’s quite common in men as they grow older and rare in younger men .

Benign means that it’s not malignant ( it’s not cancerous ) . It’s self-limiting and isn’t considered a precursor for cancer , thankfully .

The major or root cause is hormonal :

• Decreasing testosterone levels while estrogen increase . Estrogen then stimulates the growth of the prostate .
• Secondly an accumulation of the hormone called DHT ( Dihydrotestosterone) which also stimulates growth)

Symptoms include :

• Frequent urination especially at night
• Weak stream
• Urgency and leaking or dribbling
• Incomplete bladder emptying

Treatment includes :

• Reducing the amount of testosterone that’s being converted to DHT
• Relaxing the muscles around the prostate and bladder neck . This helps relieve urinary obstruction

There are drugs for this . However there are natural remedies and dietary changes that can help deal with this:

• Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol
• Avoid harmful fats like trans fats
• Exercise
• Healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids
• Lycopene rich foods like tomatoes
• Supplements like zinc . Pumpkins are rich in zinc