If you are a man who is over the age of forty and suddenly realizing that his urge to urinate is occurring very suddenly and without warning, you may be suffering from an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate, which can also be referred to as benign prostate hyperplasia or BHP, is an extremely common condition for men who are getting older; as many as 90% of men over the age of 80 might have this condition, leading many medical professionals to state that this is a condition that men are bound to get if they live long enough.
While there is no solid research on what might be the cause of the enlarged prostate, there is some relation to the presence of hormones. For instance, men who have had their testicles removed due injury or trauma do not have this problem. If you think that the an enlarged prostate might be part of the problem that you are experiencing, you'll find that along with a sudden urge to urinate, there are several other symptoms that you might be experiencing.
An enlarged prostate can cause undue pressure on the bladder muscle, causing the urethra to be pinched in a strange fashion, one that can definitely affect a man's ability to urinate normally. You may find that you are experiencing a sudden urge to urinate that occurs seeming at random; you may even experience a few problems with incontinence. Some men will notice that even if they wish to urinate, they might hat their ability to start the urine stream is delayed. After urinating, you might notice an incomplete feeling or notice dribbling.
Some symptoms, including pain, fever, or bloody urine indicate that there might be an infection, and if so, you should seek medical help as soon as possible, as this is something that can most effectively be fought off with medication in the form of antibiotics. Otherwise, if the symptoms are only annoying instead of life endangering, you'll find that there are a number of self-care options that you can take a look at. Many men find that reducing the amount of water that they drink two hours before bed can have an effect on this condition, as can refraining from alcohol consumption in the evening. A glass or two of cranberry juice can help stave off infection, as well as act as a natural diuretic, allowing for more ease when it comes to urination.
If you need to resume urination or you find that you are unable to produce a urine stream when desired, some men will find that firm but gentle massage over the lower abdominal area, a few inches below the navel, can help. You may also find that the use of a heating pad on that same area on a regular basis can be quite soothing and make the bladder muscle relax and become a little less sensitive.
As there are many different solutions for an enlarged prostate, remember that you just have to find one that works for you. Take some time to think about your condition and your lifestyle, and figure out what solution will be the most effective for you.