Do you feel like you spend half your life in the bathroom? You’re not alone.
Lots of men suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It’s also called an enlarged prostate. It happens when the prostate gland slowly gets bigger as men get older. This isn’t cancer, but as the prostate grows, it can squeeze the tube that carries urine out of your body. That pressure can make it harder to urinate normally.
If you have benign prostatic hyperplasia, you know how frustrating it is.
You’re up three or four times every night, stumbling to the bathroom. You plan your day around where the nearest restroom is. You stand there waiting for your stream to start, or it trickles out so slowly you wonder if something is seriously wrong. And even after you go, it feels like your bladder is still full. You’re exhausted from the lack of sleep. You’re embarrassed to travel or sit through a meeting. And you just want to feel normal again.
Good news: small changes can help. Lifestyle adjustments won’t shrink your prostate, but they can make
BPH symptoms easier to manage.
Lifestyle Changes That May Help with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Lifestyle changes won’t shrink the prostate. They can, however, make urinary symptoms easier to live with and may even delay the need for medication or procedures. If your BPH is mild to moderate, here are a few adjustments you can make:
1. Cut back on coffee and alcohol, especially at night. Both can irritate your bladder and make you feel like you need to go more often.
2. Watch how much you drink before bed. Drinking plenty of water during the day is good for you. But if you drink less in the few hours before bedtime, you might not wake up as much to use the bathroom.
3. Try going twice in a row. After you pee, wait a few seconds, relax, and try to pee again. This can help you empty your bladder all the way so it doesn’t feel like you still need to go.
4. Be careful with cold and allergy medicines. Some pills you can buy without a prescription can make the muscles around your prostate tighten up. This makes it harder to pee and empty your bladder completely.
5. Stay active. Walking and other exercise can help your bladder work better and may reduce how often you need to go.
6. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight around your belly can push on your bladder and make you feel like you need to go more urgently and more often.
7. Do pelvic floor exercises (Kegels). Making these muscles stronger can help you control your bladder better and stop dribbling or leaking.
8. Pay attention to foods that make BPH symptoms worse. Some men notice their symptoms get worse after eating:
- Spicy foods
- Acidic foods
- Big meals late at night
9. Avoid constipation. When you strain during bowel movements or your stool gets hard, it puts extra pressure on your bladder and prostate. This can make your urinary problems worse.
10. Find ways to relax. Stress and worry can make you feel like you need to pee more urgently. Taking deep breaths and relaxing may help calm those signals.
These changes won’t make your prostate smaller. But they can make your symptoms easier to deal with. For some men, these simple steps are enough to feel better. For others, they help but don’t solve the whole problem. Either way, they’re worth trying. They’re safe, they don’t cost much, and they might help you avoid needing medication or procedures right away.
When to See a Urologist for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
If you’ve tried these changes and you’re still getting up multiple times every night, it’s time to see a urologist. You don’t have to just live with benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms.
Our experienced urologists in Lake Barrington, Elgin, Crystal Lake, and Hoffman Estates are here to help. If urinary symptoms are causing problems in your life, schedule an appointment today and take the next step toward feeling better.