Does BPH reduce life expectancy?

In the case of BPH, the prostate can eventually become large enough that it partially or completely blocks the urethra, leading to inability to urinate, urinary tract infections, bladder and kidney damage, and if left completely untreated, ultimately to death.

naaccr.org - Benign prostatic hyperplasia mortality in California - NAACCR

Does pineapple increase testosterone?

Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, triggers testosterone production which can elevate a man's sex drive. High levels of vitamin C and...

Last updated Jan 11, 2020

What are types of primary health care?

Primary healthcare is provided in a community setting, such as a general practice or dental clinic. Primary healthcare providers may work in...

Last updated Oct 21, 2020

Promotion

Francis P. Boscoe, Ph.D, Research Scientist, New York State Cancer Registry (NAACCR at-large Board Member) Why are so many men in California dying of hyperplasia of the prostate? Many people have been asking this question lately in response to an article I wrote identifying the most distinctive causes of death in every state, which has been receiving a lot of media coverage and circulation in the blogosphere. Hyperplasia of the prostate is ICD-10 code N40, and goes by the synonyms of enlarged prostate, nodular prostate, polyp of prostate, benign prostatic hypertrophy, adenofibromatous hypertrophy of prostate, and, most familiarly, BPH. It does not include either benign or malignant prostate neoplasms, which have ICD-10 codes D29.1 and C61, respectively.

There were 937 deaths due to BPH in California in the period 2001-2010, for an age-adjusted rate of 8 per million men, compared with 4 per million nationally. The real question is perhaps not why California is double the national average, but why even the national average is as high as it is. Should anyone at all be dying from a condition that includes the word “benign”?

It turns out that BPH behaves like benign brain tumors that are familiar to many readers of this blog: the condition itself is benign, but can become lethal once the growth reaches a point that it begins to impede the function of nearby tissues or organs. In the case of BPH, the prostate can eventually become large enough that it partially or completely blocks the urethra, leading to inability to urinate, urinary tract infections, bladder and kidney damage, and if left completely untreated, ultimately to death. Given that BPH is a treatable condition, one could reasonably argue that a death rate of 8 per million or even 1 per million is unacceptably high. While it is true that death rates have dropped dramatically since the 1970s – by 95% according to one English study – they have leveled off in recent years (in California, the age-adjusted mortality rate has varied between 6 and 9 per million men each year from 1999 to 2013). Also, given the number of people I’ve spoken with over the past week who thought that the appearance of BPH on the map must represent some kind of error – even some who are medically knowledgeable – I think calling attention to this rare but preventable cause of death has been useful.

The NIH has a helpful fact sheet on BPH here.

Abstract

The most distinctive cause of death (defined as the location quotient) for each state and the District of Columbia, 2001–2010. The map shows the cause of death from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), List of 113 Selected Causes of Death with the highest age-adjusted mortality rate ratio in each state. The causes are listed in the legend in the order of disease classification in ICD-10. This map highlights nonstandard cause-of-death certification practices within and between states that can potentially be addressed through education and training.

Can zinc heal a cold?

Recently an analysis of several studies showed that zinc lozenges or syrup reduced the length of a cold by one day, especially when taken within 24...

Last updated Jul 25, 2022

Should older men take zinc?

Therefore, an adequate dietary intake of zinc is essential for older adults. The consequences of only mild zinc deficiency, such as impaired immune...

Last updated Nov 15, 2021

Promotion

How accurate is prostate blood test?

How accurate is the PSA test? About 3 in 4 men with a raised PSA level will not have cancer and around 1 in 7 men with a normal PSA level will have prostate cancer.

nhs.uk - Should I have a PSA test? – – – Prostate cancer - NHS

The PSA test is a blood test to help detect prostate cancer. But it's not perfect and will not find all prostate cancers. The test, which can be done at a GP surgery, measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein made only by the prostate gland. Some of it leaks into your blood, but how much depends on your age and the health of your prostate. There's currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK because the PSA test is not always accurate. Before deciding to have the PSA test, you may want to talk to a GP and practice nurse, as well as your partner or a friend or family member.

You have a higher risk of prostate cancer if you:

What helps men's urine flow?

Medication. Alpha blockers are pills that relax the muscles of the prostate and bladder, and improve urine flow. These medications include...

Last updated Sep 7, 2019

Can you take viagra with enlarged prostate?

Can you take Viagra with an enlarged prostate? There's no harm in taking Viagra or other erectile dysfunction medications if you have an enlarged...

Last updated Sep 11, 2018

Promotion

Is a tablespoon of olive oil good for you?

The ancient Greeks were on to something when they referred to olive oil as an "elixir of youth and health." Centuries later, research offers...

Last updated Sep 3, 2018

Promotion

Can prostate shrink by itself?

Over several months, the body's immune system reabsorbs the dead prostate tissue and replaces it with scar tissue. The scar tissue slowly...

Last updated Mar 15, 2022