Honoring the Memory of Fallen Veterans and Caring for Veterans Living with BPH

Monday the 25th was Memorial Day in the United States, a day to remember the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country. The solemn day of remembrance was not halted by the global pandemic, and many families and comrades of the fallen were able to pay their respects. Even for the veterans who are still with us to share their experiences, this day to remember their fallen brothers is just as important. To the veterans with us today, we thank you for your service to the land of the free. 

One of the things that came to mind with the veteran community is that many of the veterans are male. A graph in 2018 about the gender demographics of veterans shows there were approximately 1.6 female veterans compared to a whopping 16.3 million male veterans. In terms of age demographics, there are also more large groups of veterans in their 30-40s, 50-60s and 70s and up. With a large population of older male veterans, urologists have offered support to veterans struggling with severe BPH in the form of new procedures. For those who don't know, BPH is benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition that men may experience in older age when the prostate gland grows in size. This may interfere with urinary and sexual function in men. 

Examples of symptoms include frequent urination (especially at night), slow urinary flow, trouble with starting or stopping urinary flow, sensation of remaining urine, straining, dribbling, etc. 

One of the reasons why BPH awareness is important is, we need to make sure we can take care of men in and out of our lives who are likely to face this condition as they get older. This goes for our heroic veterans as well. This last week of May as the month comes to a close, June (Men's Health Month) is just around the corner. We need to increase and continue the support for men's health so that men with BPH can find safer solutions and support from their peers. 

Less Stressful WFH and Less Stressful Nights for Men with Prostate Enlargement (BPH)

Due to the global pandemic, some of the workforce has transitioned to WFH, also known as working from home or teleworking. For a male employee who is 40 or older and has BPH (prostate enlargement), frequent bathroom trips may be a little more comfortable in the home. But at the same time, he realizes how much his urinary urges disrupt his work and wants to alleviate the stress that may accompany BPH.

Stress management is important for many reasons: proper management of stress can reduce negative impact on the immune system, bladder, and overall mental health. The stress of having BPH may include the following thoughts and beliefs:

"I have to get this work done, but my urinary urges interrupt my work flow."

"I'm thinking more about the bathroom than I am about work."

"I still feel like I have to go to the bathroom after having just gone."

"I feel a bit better about not taking frequent bathroom trips in the office, but I'm still making frequent trips at home."

Practicing mindfulness and relaxed breathing exercises is good for work and health related stress, that way you can have a clearer mind when it comes to acknowledging the global pandemic situation, your work deadlines, and your BPH. One technique to work on frequent urination is drinking fluids like water during the day and drink less to no fluids at night. This is because although men may feel inclined to not drink to avoid bathroom trips, not drinking can lead to dehydration as well as thickened urine in the bladder, causing irritation.

Making timed, regular trips now that you're home may also feel a bit more comfortable. Pelvic floor exercises, double voiding techniques, and other suitable exercises may help you feel more in control over your urinary retention and urges. Avoiding or reducing your intake of diuretics (drinks that provoke increased passing of urine) like coffee, tea and alcohol may also support your BPH management. You don't have to cut these drinks out completely, especially since in moderation they may be beneficial, but knowing their potential effects on your body can help you make a more conscious decision as to how much and how often to drink.

For traditional Chinese medicine or herbal therapies of BPH, it is important to decide if this option is right for you based on a number of factors:
- Is your BPH mild?
- Are you currently taking any medications that could conflict with certain herbal remedies?
- Is the herbal remedy you are considering clinically proven to be effective for BPH symptoms?
- Are you allergic to any of the ingredients or aware of side effects with any other of your pre-existing conditions?
- Are you able to try herbal therapy alongside your current treatment (for mild BPH this could be watchful waiting or your doctor may have prescribed some medication).
- Have you carefully considered your options?

The advantage of traditional Chinese medicine is that if taken with the above considered, they could be safer alternatives or complements to your current treatment. Potentially less side effects and natural relief might be compatible for your BPH situation. By having a better control of your BPH, you may reduce your stress, regain your quality of life, and have a less stressful time during your WFH.

At the very least, even if you don't think this path is right for you or you don't even have BPH, awareness of this common condition in older men is important!