Social Distancing in Golden Week for Men with Enlarged Prostates (BPH)

Golden Week is an approximately week long holiday in Japan taken by workers and families, one of the longest and highly anticipated vacation times of the year. Normally there is influx of travel in and out of the country as the weather is good for sightseeing. However, this year with the global pandemic, Golden Week may be going virtual as many families are asked to stay at home and travelling is simply not a viable option.

This last week of April, as Golden Week approaches and April showers start to give way to May flowers, how are men, particularly men with BPH (prostate enlargement), doing?

There are many impacts to staying at home and worrying about the pandemic that could potentially increase stress. An increase of stress could lead to a weaker immune system; it could also lead to a worsening of BPH symptoms according to Harvard Health. BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a prostate condition in men around 40 or older where the prostate gland increases in size, possibly interfering with urinary function. Increased urinary frequency, reduced urinary flow, struggle to start and stop urinating, and sexual dysfunction may occur.

The current priority is social distancing for the global pandemic to avoid an increase in cases. This means BPH patients may be staying home during the Golden Week holiday and for a while thereafter. Taking care of the mental health of BPH patients as well as their physical health is important in a holistic approach to managing BPH.

Managing BPH for men worldwide also starts with awareness. Do you know about BPH? Even if you're not a man in his 40's or older, you can be part of BPH patients' support networks to get them back to a better quality of life!