Prostate Enlargement ! A Major Health Problem in North America occurring in men 40 and over. At age 50 and above, more than half of ALL men have enlarged prostates (BPH). Prostate Problems are almost at Epidemic Proportions. BPH itself is a benign condition; however, men with BPH exhibit increased blood levels of PSA which is a marker indicative of a possible progression to prostate cancer.
Upon Autopsy, 30% of all men at age 50 have been found to already have malignant cells in the prostate.
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1. Over the past month or so, how often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating ?
2. Over the past month or so, how often have you had to urinate again less than two hours after you finished urinating ?
3. Over the past month or so, how often have you found you stopped and started again several times when you urinated ?
4. Over the past month or so, how often have you found it difficult to postpone urination ?
5. Over the past month or so, how often have you had a weak urinary stream ?
6. Over the past month or so, how often have you had to push or strain to begin urination ?
7. Over the past month, how many times did you most typically get up to urinate - from the time you went to bed at night - until the time you got up in the morning ? ( 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 )
Scoring :
The sum of the answer scores gives us the Severity of the BPH ( Prostate Enlargement ) as follows:
Digital Rectal Examination ( DRE )
The digital rectal examination is less reliable than the symptom survey with regard to diagnosing BPH. Since the part of the prostate that impinges upon the urethra and causes BPH symptoms is the transitional zone surrounding the prostatic urethra deep within the prostate, it cannot be felt on DRE. Although not particularly useful in diagnosing BPH, the DRE is more useful in picking up prostate cancer and in diagnosing prostatitis.