Symptoms of Prostate Enlargement Complications
You need to do a prostate screening if you feel the condition of your prostate gland interferes with the normal function of your bladder and prevents the urine from leaving your body as it should. A constantly full bladder can result in infection, kidney damage and keep you awake at night; it may also cause other prostate problems. Besides that, the following symptoms of prostate enlargement complications can be developed:
• Acute urinary retention. This can be described as a sudden inability to urinate accompanied by pain. The only way the patient can empty the bladder is by having a catheter inserted through the urethra all the way into the bladder. Sometimes this complication is treated with a surgery.
• Bladder damage. This complication may develop if you have been ignoring the symptoms, and your bladder hasn’t been emptied completely for a long time. The walls of the bladder get weaker and cannot contract when needed. In some cases a part of the prostate has to be removed to help the patient.
• Bladder stones. Bladder stones (cystic calculus) are mineralized deposits that lead to blood in the urine, urine flow obstruction, infection and bladder irritation.
• Kidney damage. Kidney damage results from acute urinary retention and frequent infections. Hydronephrosis is a dilation of the urine-collecting structures in the kidneys because of the inability of the urine to leave the body.
• Urinary tract infections. In certain cases BPH patients require a surgery to prevent this complication from taking place; the surgery involves the removal of part of the prostate.
The complications mentioned above do not occur in all the patients, but when they do, the consequences for the overall health are detrimental. Treatments for enlarged prostate are not likely to have any effects on the probability of developing prostate cancer. This means that even if you do prostate screening regularly, additional check-ups for cancer are required.
Your prostate health is connected with your overall wellbeing, so it’s important to keep an eye on any signs of prostate problems. You need to contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
• You cannot urinate at all.
• You feel pain when urinating; have body aches, chills and a fever.
• There are traces of pus or blood in the urine or semen.
• You feel pain in the lower back and you know it is not caused by exercising or an injury.
You need to call your doctor if you are suffering from painful urination and notice one or several possible symptoms of a urinary tract infection or prostate infection for a certain period of time (24 hours):
• Painful ejaculation
• Trouble controlling urination, especially during the day
• Burning sensation when urinating
If your urination problems are frequent and have been steadily developing over several weeks or months, call your doctor as soon as possible. In case the symptoms of prostate enlargement are not severe and do not particularly bother you, and you know it’s neither prostate cancer nor prostate infection, try “watchful waiting.” You don’t need to do anything in particular besides keeping an eye on your prostate condition; if you develop more serious symptoms, contact your doctor. Your health care provider may suggest a prostate test aimed at establishing the cause of your symptoms.
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