If you are experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms, like getting up to urinate several times each night, having feelings of not fully emptying your bladder, or having urgency or frequency to urinate throughout the day, you likely have a common condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate. Enlarged prostate is common and affects millions of men as they approach middle age, in their 40s and 50s. By the time a man is in his 80s, he has an almost 90% likelihood of having the symptoms of BPH.
The consequences of BPH can be severe in advanced cases, but most often, patients must contend with several lifestyle impediments that may cause anywhere from mild to debilitating life changes. For example, many of our patients no longer perform some of the activities they once loved, including playing sports, going to the movies, or even getting on planes to travel, because they’re worried about the myriad of problems that may occur due to their lower urinary tract symptoms.
Reducing Water Intake
Some patients believe reducing their water intake may be prudent to minimize the effect of lower urinary tract symptoms. After all, consuming less water would reduce the risk of accidents and leaks while out or when asleep. However, this is not advisable for several reasons.
First, by compromising hydration, patients risk having other significant lifestyle concerns. Even a 1-2% hydration deficit can cause considerable psychological and physical impairments. Patients often find themselves lethargic when they don’t drink enough water. They also may discover that they can’t exercise properly because they just don’t have the energy. Of course, this all happens at a time in life when energy is at a premium and exercise is critically important.
Patients may also not realize that limiting their water intake may risk worsening bladder symptoms. Not flushing water through the urinary tract increases the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and longer-term kidney problems. It also increases the risk of bladder irritation, which can cause an overactive bladder, among other concerns. An overactive bladder can increase the risk of the symptoms patients are trying to avoid.
There Are Straightforward BPH Treatment Options Available.
Most patients may not realize how many convenient treatment options are available for BPH at any stage. From quick five-minute procedures like Rezum to minimally invasive options like Aquablation, Urolift, and GreenLight Laser and more extensive hospital-based procedures for larger prostates like TURP, simple prostatectomy, and HoLEP, patients can rest assured that they have an option that suits them. Most importantly, they should speak to a qualified urologist, like those at Georgia Urology, who offer a wide range of BPH treatment options.
The Bottom Line
Most of the procedures we offer are minimally invasive and have relatively short recovery times. The result, however, is dramatic, with most patients experiencing relief within days to weeks and maintaining good urinary health for upwards of 7 to 10 years before requiring a follow-up procedure.
Trying to manage symptoms of BPH by limiting fluid intake is not a good option for patients with an enlarged prostate. Instead, patients should avail themselves of one of the many procedural fixes the men’s health specialists at Georgia Urology offer. The next and best step is to schedule a consultation with one of our urologists.
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