Are you battling benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Do you like coffee? Find out what coffee and benign prostatic hyperplasia have in common.

Here is the latest result of clinical research on the effect of coffee on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), popularly known as an enlarged prostate.

As a man ages, symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) may become more apparent with increased urgency and frequency of urination, especially at night.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia can cause a man to wake up to urinate up to 6 times a night. The urge to urinate is due to the obstruction of the urethra, which is the channel through which urine leaves the bladder. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder and around the urethra. As the prostate enlarges, it squeezes the urethra, which reduces the flow of urine and also creates the feeling that the bladder is full when it may not be. Symptoms and discomfort increase with age as benign prostatic hyperplasia becomes more severe if left untreated.

Available treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia range from medications to relax the prostate, which can relieve symptoms, to surgery. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and other conditions. In the meantime, when you notice that the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia get worse, you can try a prostate nutritional supplement. Most prostate supplements contain Saw Palmetto or Beta-sitosterol to relax the muscles that control the prostate gland, relieving the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

There is no doubt that caffeine increases the urgency and frequency of urination. I can speak of one of our associates; a 55-year-old man struggling with the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Every night he wakes up every hour to urinate. It is not fun. He usually has a cup of coffee at breakfast and another three or four cups of coffee during the day. He also likes soft drinks during lunch and dinner.

Here’s what we know about coffee or drinks that contain caffeine, which is the active ingredient in those drinks: Caffeine is highly diuretic. Caffeine acts on blood cells, which in turn irritate the prostate, increasing the feeling that the bladder is full, when it may not. Caffeine can cause the small muscles that control the prostate to contract, further increasing that bad feeling.

Other foods can also aggravate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Like coffee, tea and chocolate contain high doses of caffeine and substances called theoxanthines, which are known to irritate the prostate. The theoxanthines contained in tea are much less, perhaps around fifty percent of the theoxanthines contained in coffee. What these substances do is stimulate the nervous system, which in turn increases alertness, stimulates muscle response and muscle contraction.

Any food that contains caffeine can aggravate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. If you feel an urge to urinate, the frequency increases or makes your prostate feel very uncomfortable; you should stop or reduce your intake of coffee or any other beverage that contains caffeine.

The best practice is to gradually reduce your caffeine intake; otherwise, it can lead to headaches or nausea. The nervous system takes some time to reestablish its conditioning. After cutting or drastically reducing your caffeine intake, you may notice significant improvements. However, the results may not be immediate. It may take a few days to tell the difference. If you have to resume drinking coffee, try substituting decaf for regular coffee, or perhaps reduce the number and number of cups per day. One thing is for sure; If you are battling benign prostatic hyperplasia, you need to choose and control your habits based on your health and physical comfort.