BPH or Enlarged Prostate — Practical Tips
The impact of
BPH or enlarged prostate on your lifestyle may primarily involve urinary
issues. (You can also read a discussion of
sexual issues.) Here are some simple lifestyle changes that may help control
your symptoms before, during, and after treatment:
- Try to urinate on a schedule, whether or not you feel the need to go. This may help avoid urgency and give you a feeling of being more in control.
- To reduce your need to go to the bathroom at night, stop drinking water and other liquids after 7 p.m.
- Try to empty your bladder completely each time you go to the bathroom.
- Stay active. Inactivity can cause urinary retention. Even a small amount of exercise can reduce urinary problems caused by prostate enlargement.
- Keep warm. Cold weather can cause you to retain urine.
- Limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol increases urine production and may cause congestion in the prostate gland.
- Limit the use of over-the-counter decongestants. They can cause the band of muscle that controls urine flow to tighten, making urination more difficult.
