Getting Up at Night for the Bathroom? Might Have BPH. Maybe Something Else?
Getting up every night to go to the bathroom? Many men over age 40 will have BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia. BPH is not prostate cancer, but symptoms can be similar. Too many ignore the symptoms.
If you are a middle-aged male or know one, you know that it gets harder to urinate as you get older. You may get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. This condition is usually caused by an enlarged prostate, officially known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. By age 60, half of all men will have an enlarged prostate.
BPH is so common that experts say that all men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough. As a man's prostate enlarges, the gland presses on and pinches the urethra. This enlargement makes the bladder become thicker. Ultimately, the bladder starts to weaken and loses the ability to empty, leaving some urine in the bladder.
Risk Factors for BPH
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says several factors may make it more likely for a man to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These factors include:
- Being aged 40 or older
- Having a family history of BPH
- Obesity, heart and circulatory disease, and type 2 diabetes
- lack of physical exercise
- erectile dysfunction
BPH Symptoms
Several symptoms are indicative of BPH. They include:
- Weak or an interrupted urine stream
- Dribbling following urination
- Frequent need to urinate at night when you’re asleep
- Frequent need to urinate throughout the day
- Pain when urinating
- Trouble starting a urine stream
- Urinary urgency—the inability to delay urination
PSA Testing
Men who have prostate cancer may have a higher amount of PSA ( a prostate protein) in their blood. Yet, a high PSA level does not necessarily indicate a person has prostate cancer.
High PSA levels can be caused by many problems, including BPH, aging, infections, and inflammation. However, while BPH does not increase a person's risk of cancer, the symptoms are often similar to prostate cancer. For this reason, ignoring BPH is not recommended.
BPH Treatment
There are several available treatments for BPH, but the most common and usually effective are lifestyle changes and medications. On occasion, surgery is recommended.
TURP
A transurethral resection of the prostate is called a TURP, sometimes jokingly referred to as a roto-rooter! The surgery removes parts of the prostate gland through the penis. However, no incisions are needed. John Hopkin's University Medicine says a surgeon reaches the prostate by inserting an instrument into the end of the penis and through the urethra. This instrument, called a resectoscope, is about 12 inches long and.5 inches in diameter.
There are several other procedures and surgeries that are available to alleviate BPH symptoms.
BPH and Prostate Cancer
There is no link to cancer and BPH outside of similar symptoms that many men often ignore. However, prostate cancer is common. According to the National Cancer Institute, by age 50, very few men have symptoms of prostate cancer, yet they may have precancerous or cancer cells already present. By the time a man reaches age 80, half of all American men have some cancer in their prostate glands.
The standard test for prostate cancer is something most men dread, the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). A doctor will feel the prostate from the rectum. Patients are not usually comfortable, and doctors probably don't enjoy it either. However, the test lasts only about 10-15 seconds. It can save your life.
PSA testing is also used as high PSAs can be indicative of prostate cancer.
If your symptoms and testing results suggest prostate cancer, your doctor will recommend a prostate biopsy. For a biopsy, a urologist will take small tissue samples taken directly from the prostate.
Prostate Cancer Treatment
If it is prostate cancer, an individual usually has three primary treatment options. These options are:
- Active surveillance
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
According to the American Cancer Society, about 191,930 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Since prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men ignoring prostate health is not a good idea.
Are You Prepared for the Changes in Your Health?
We all experience changes in our health, bodies, and even our memories as we get older. Men tend not to be as proactive with their health as they should. By the time they know they have a problem, it is often too late.
Many men read articles about the consequences of aging, changing health, and long-term care. Some have the attitude that their wives will take care of them. The problem is spouses are not the best caregivers, nor are adult children, especially when you are older.
Many of these age and health changes increase the risk of long-term health care. The cost of extended care is expensive and gets more costly every year. There are many articles about long-term health care since it affects so many families. Most families are not prepared. When a loved one needs care, it is already a crisis, and the options are limited, at best.
Start Being Proactive Now
Preparing your family and finances for future long-term care starts with two things - being proactive with your health and well-being and planning for the costs and burdens of aging with affordable Long-Term Care Insurance.
LTC Insurance will give you access to your choice of quality care - including in-home care. A spouse or family member will not be pushed into the role of being a caregiver, which is physically and emotionally demanding.
Experts suggest obtaining coverage in your 40s or 50s when you still enjoy good health and premiums are lower. Find a qualified and experienced Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you navigate the many options and find the best coverage at the lowest cost. Don't depend on a financial advisor or general insurance agent that may push you into an expensive plan you don't need - or worse, tell you to forget about it.
Be proactive with your health, your family, your assets, and plan on a long successful future retirement.
About the Author
Linda is a freelance writer interested in retirement planning, health and aging.
Linda Kople
Contributor since October 31st, 2017
Editor's Note
Being prepared for future declining health and aging has never been more critical than right now. Long-term health care costs are skyrocketing due to increasing demand, labor shortages, and high labor costs.
If you want to ensure you obtain quality care in the setting you desire, including in-home care, then getting affordable Long-Term Care Insurance is a vital part of your retirement planning.
Long-term care is a cash flow issue, but it is also a family issue, and the consequences on loved ones can be dramatic. Family caregivers find it hard to juggle their careers and family responsibilities with that of a caregiver for an older parent. The burden is something most people have said in surveys that they don't want to place on their family.
LTC Insurance provides guaranteed tax-free benefits to access your choice of quality care options, including care at home. You will protect your income and assets and reduce the stress and anxiety otherwise placed on loved ones.
Planning Tools and Resources on LTC NEWS
You can find many tools and resources on LTC NEWS to assist you in your research for a planning solution or help your family find the appropriate care for a loved one at the time of crisis.
To help you plan the costs and burdens of changing health and aging, LTC NEWS has put in place several resources, including:
- The LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator will show you the current and future cost of long-term health care services where you live. Plus, each state has vital state-specific information you should know - Cost of Care Calculator - Choose Your State | LTC News
- The Ultimate Long-Term Care Guide is an outstanding read to help you get a good overview of the topic area.
- Compare the major insurance companies that offer Long-Term Care Insurance products here - Top Insurers for Long-Term Care Insurance | LTC News.
- A detailed tax guide that includes available tax incentives can be found by reviewing the Long-Term Care Tax Benefits Guide.
Find all the resources on LTC NEWS - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News.
Seek Professional Guidance
Insurance rates are regulated, so no insurance agent, agency, or financial advisor can give you special deals. However, insurance companies' premiums vary over 100% for the same coverage.
Experts suggest using a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you navigate the many options available to you and your family.
A specialist who works with the top companies can match your age, health, family history, and other factors and find you the best coverage at the best value. A specialist will save you money, and you will have peace of mind knowing they are making the appropriate recommendations - Work With a Specialist | LTC News.
Finding Quality Care for Mom or Dad
Start by reading our guides -
- Finding Quality In-Home Care | LTC News
- Adult Day Care Centers (ADCCs) | LTC News
- Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities | LTC News
- Finding a Quality Nursing Home | LTC News
If they are lucky enough to own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, be sure they use it. Sometimes families wait, thinking they can save the benefits for a rainy day. Waiting on using available Long-Term Care Insurance benefits is not a wise idea.
Get Help in Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim
Quality care obtained early will help provide a better quality of life and reduce the risk of a deep decline and facility care. If you need help in starting the process of a Long-Term Care Insurance claim, LTC NEWS can help.
LTC NEWS provides free assistance with no obligation to help you or a loved one complete the claims process with a Long-Term Care Insurance policy. We have teamed up with Amada Senior Care, who will do all the work, free with no obligation.
You can also get support in finding quality caregivers and get recommendations for a proper care plan, whether a person has a policy or not. - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.
Benefits of Reverse Mortgages
Today's reverse mortgages for those aged 62 and older could be an ideal resource to fund a Long-Term Care Insurance policy OR even provide money to pay for care if you, or a loved one, already needs help and assistance.
Some people have much of their savings invested in their homes. With today's reverse mortgages, you can find ways to fund care solutions, care itself, even help with cash flow during your retirement.
Learn more by asking questions to an expert. LTC NEWS columnist and host of the TV Show "62 Who Knew" will answer your questions regarding caregiving, aging, health, retirement planning, long-term care, and reverse mortgages.
- Just "Ask Mike." - Reverse Mortgages | LTC News.
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