Basic Tips for BPH Patients During the Pandemic

Older men who are managing their prostate enlargement (BPH) while staying at home to support flattening the curve of the global pandemic could use these tips to help them continue to manage their BPH while also practicing good hygiene. Even if they are staying at home, there may be occasions where people are going in and out of the house to get essentials, not to mention that keeping general good hygiene indoors will help keep BPH patients and their cohabitants safer and healthier.

For those who don't know, BPH stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia and it's a condition common in older men where the prostate has become large enough to interfere with urinary health. Symptoms include frequent urination, urinary urges, struggle to push out urine, stopping and stopping of urinary flow, slow urinary flow, sensation of residual urine in the bladder, urge after finishing urination, dribbling, and nocturia (frequent urination at night).

If you are exercising indoors, especially sharing exercise equipment, wiping down machines and accessories is a generally good practice. Men with mild BPH who are practicing watchful waiting at the advice of their doctors are encouraged to increase physical activity such as walking, jogging, and swimming. Indoor equipment that is conducive to these activities may include treadmills, indoor pools, elliptical machines, step climbers, etc. If you have an indoor pool, ensure that the water is being cleaned and chlorine levels are regularly managed. 

If you are deciding what to include in your diet, hopefully you have worked with a nutritionist and your doctor to find the right diet for you. Avoid foods you are allergic, intolerant or sensitive to. Try to increase water intake during the day and less at night to reduce the thickness of urine and reduce the probability of getting up at night to go to the bathroom. Reduce the intake of soda, sugary drinks, and diuretics like tea and caffeine. Eat a balance of proteins, fruits, vegetables and grains whenever possible and reduce spicy foods to avoid aggravating the bladder. When you go out to buy groceries, be sure to clean surfaces and wash your produce for proper hygiene practices. Produce containing lycopene may be beneficial for prostate health. The reason for low incidence rate of BPH in Asian men may be connected to soy in their diet as well. 

Take warm baths to increase blood circulation to your prostate. Practice mindfulness to maintain your mental health. Relaxation and stress reduction may be beneficial to BPH patients as well. Practice double voiding techniques and pelvic floor exercises to support your urinary health while managing BPH.

With community support and online resources we can continue to support men with BPH even during the global pandemic!