Is dad suffering from BPH?

Good health is one of the most precious gifts one can have in life - but it’s a gift that becomes increasingly easy to lose as one grows older. You may see it reflected in your dad, who may find it hard to admit to the aches and pains that come with age.

So this Father’s Day, it’s your turn to take care of dad as he took care of you - make a resolution to know more about dad’s possible health issues and take time out to help him through them.

One of the most common but little known conditions that older men suffer from is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate BPH is a condition where the prostate gland (a male accessory reproductive organ about the size of a chestnut), located near the bladder, becomes large enough to squeeze the urethra (a pathway used to void urine and semen) and cause difficulties urinating. It is surprisingly widespread – nearly 1 out of 2 men over the age of 50 have lower urinary tract symptoms indicative of BPH.

What are the symptoms of BPH? The most common involve urinary problems, such as having a hesitant or interrupted weak flow of urine, leaking or dribbling, and more frequent urination, especially at night. It can lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder, which can result in an increased risk of urinary tract infections and even bladder stones.

While BPH may not be life threatening, it often causes a lot of discomfort for the person suffering from it. He may shy away from driving for long periods of time. He can become more conscious about going out to places or doing activities where there may be no bathroom like outdoor sports or camping. Symptoms also lead to sleep disruption, leaving him tired the next day. Moreover, if not properly managed, BPH progression may lead to surgery.

So what kind of treatment options does someone with BPH have? There are actually two kinds of medicines that can be used to treat BPH. The first focuses on relieving the symptoms of BPH and are called alpha-blockers. These work by relaxing the muscle in the prostate and bladder neck, improving urine flow.

The second focuses on treating the root cause of BPH by reducing the conversion of the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is what causes the prostate to enlarge. This can be done by inhibiting type 1 and type 2 5-alpha reductase (5AR) enzymes. These are called drug 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs).

The first kind of 5-ARI (finasteride) inhibits only the type 2 5AR enzyme. But due to recent medical advancements, the second kind of 5-ARI (dutasteride) inhibits both type 1 and type 2 5-AR enzymes, resulting in even greater and more consistent DHT suppression.

This new generation dutasteride can begin shrinking the prostate in as early as one month. It has been shown to improve symptoms in as early as 1 month, with continued and sustained improvement up to 2 years . By reducing the size of the prostate, dutasteride reduces the risks of acute urinary retention (the sudden inability to urinate) and the risk of needing prostate-related surgery by as much as 48% in 2 years . Patients are advised to consult their doctors to find out more about BPH treatments.

As we celebrate Fathers Day this June, give your dad the gift of increased comfort and better health. Make time to accompany him to the doctor to learn more about BPH and help get him the treatment he needs.

This health information is brought to you by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). As one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, GSK is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

Checklist of BPH Symptoms: