Benign prostatic hyperplasia

For a lay person:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, very common in older men. As the prostate grows it can press on the urethra, making urination slower, more frequent and less complete.

For a trained medical person:

Age-related prostatic stromal and epithelial hyperplasia causing lower urinary tract symptoms. Assessment includes symptom scoring, examination, urinalysis and PSA where appropriate. Treatment: lifestyle measures, alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, and surgery for refractory symptoms or complications.

In Chinese medicine:

Flaws and Sionneau's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Q imechanism obstruction and stagnation, phlegm congelation and blood stasis; Liver depression and phlegm nodulation; Damp heat, stasis and stagnation; Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency; Yin deficiency-fire effulgence; Spleen Qi Sinking; Qi and yin deficiency; Lung loss of control and discipline. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Get urgent care if you cannot pass urine. See a doctor for blood in the urine or new urinary symptoms, which need checking for other causes.