by Carla K. Johnson
After news broke that King Charles III was admitted to a private hospital for an enlarged prostate, many have become interested in the condition. Enlarged prostates are extremely common among older men.
About half of men in their 50s have enlarged prostates, and this climbs to over 80% of men over 80. The 75-year-old monarch is among these individuals.
Dr. Stephen Nakada, a University of Wisconsin urologist, explains, “It’s like getting gray hair.” An enlarged prostate is a common result of aging, and while it doesn’t always cause symptoms, it can be troublesome for some men.
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate can include frequent urination, nocturia (waking up multiple times in the night to urinate), and difficulty starting or finishing urination. It can also result in the inability to fully empty the bladder.
The prostate, a reproductive system component in men, produces fluid for semen. It’s situated beneath the bladder and wraps around the urethra, which is the tube through which urine and semen are carried out of the penis.
Although it’s not cancer, the cause of an enlarged prostate is not completely clear. It’s possibly triggered by hormonal changes that occur as men age.
To help with symptoms, doctors may suggest reducing fluid intake after dinner and steering clear of alcohol, caffeine, antihistamines, and spicy food that can all irritate the bladder.
Diagnosis involves doctors inquiring about symptoms and medications, and performing a rectal exam to evaluate the size and shape of the prostate.
Available treatments include medications that relax muscles to improve urine flow and other drugs that can inhibit prostate growth. Erectile dysfunction drugs may also aid urine flow.
However, herbal remedies such as saw palmetto do not have strong evidence supporting their effectiveness.