Q:My husband wakes me up three times a night when he goes to the bathroom. His physician says his PSA is normal. Isn't there something that can help?
A: Many men focus on prostate cancer and forget that an enlarging prostate can cause problems for all men, but specifically men over age 45. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as enlarged prostate, is one of the most common health problems in older men. Symptoms include frequency of urination, urgency to urinate, hesitation to void and a slowing of the urinary stream. A recent survey of men aged 50+ revealed nearly 70 percent of men would change their daily routines to compensate for the need to urinate frequently rather than seek medical attention. If left untreated, men could be at risk for sexual dysfunction, acute urinary retention, bladder infections, bladder stones and kidney damage.

Prostate enlargement symptoms are manageable. Many effective medicines are available and in-office techniques, such as heat therapy, can help to shrink the prostate and relieve symptoms.

Share your concern and this column with your husband. Men often need reinforcement to visit the physician. It may lead to better sleep for you and your husband.

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