We've Reached the Halfway Point of May for Men With BPH

Can you believe that we're already halfway through May? Unfortunately the global pandemic is still at large, so people are trying their best to follow safety protocols set by their local authorities. Among the community, there are those already living with other health conditions. We at SunJour have constantly focused on a specific health condition known as BPH, the medical term for prostate enlargement (it stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia). This condition in older men, which may begin to manifest around the age range of your 40s and becomes increasingly more likely to occur with older age and may be accompanied by symptoms such as frequent urinary urges and trips to the bathroom (especially at night), struggle to start and stop urinating, slow urinary flow, and sexual dysfunction. 

The secondary effects of having such symptoms could mean sleepless nights, dissatisfaction in your sexual life, and frustration and discomfort over being bound to the nearest bathroom. Men may even develop depression if they feel their quality of life has been significantly compromised. As doctor's offices across the country begin to gradually open back up, and as telemedicine takes the forefront to keep patients safe, there are more options available for older men to get the support that they need. For men with mild symptoms, safe, plant based treatments may also be an option. 

May is better sleep month and Asian Pacific Islander heritage month. What does this have to do with BPH? Well, the goal of men with BPH is to be able to get a better night's sleep! And, Asian men have lower incidence rates of BPH and other prostate health issues, possibly due to their healthy diet that is more inclusive of plants such as soy. We can learn more and take cues from the Asian community to live a healthier life and regain a good night's rest in benefit of men with BPH. Remember that traditional Chinese medicine is widely used worldwide, and it is possible that men with mild BPH could see some benefits, too. For the skeptics, it may also be beneficial for more clinical studies to occur.  

Let's continue to support our community to be safe from the pandemic, and also men with BPH so there can be better strides in men's health in the second half of May, too!       

Soy in Asian Diet = Less BPH?

Men may start to experience BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) as early as their 40s, and the older they get, the more likely it is to manifest (about 90% of men in their 80s and 90s). Not only is aging a risk factor to BPH, but also poor nutrition (over-consumption of red meat and foods high in fat), little to no physical activity, family/genetic history, and higher levels of DHT, which may be better known as a risk factor in balding. BPH is the medical term for prostate enlargement, where men may experience frequent urination especially at night, slow urinary flow when relieving oneself, sexual dysfunction, etc. 

However, it is found that Asian men have lower incidence rates of BPH compared to western men. According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, one proposed reason that Asian men have lower incidences of BPH and prostate health issues overall could be due to the consumption of soy and plant based foods in their nutritional diet. Soy contains isoflavones like genistein and daidzein (fun fact, the Japanese word for soy is daizu, which kind of looks like daidzein). These isoflavones could have a positive effect by reducing the processes that accelerate prostate cell proliferation (an increase in prostate cells). This could reduce the risk of cell division errors that lead to other prostate conditions.  

What we all want to know is whether soy could in fact help reduce BPH. Currently in Clinicaltrials.gov, the only study with positive results for the use of soy in helping BPH patients is for UMOOZE. There is also a study on pumpkin seeds, soy germ and cranberry mix for the support of BPH symptoms, but the results were not published. If UMOOZE could help men with BPH, then we should encourage the continued study of soy in men's diets for reducing the incidence rate of BPH. 

Let's continue to spread awareness and encourage more research on BPH! 

You've Got BPH (Prostate Enlargement)- What Happens Next?

May is Better Sleep Month and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is also a month where men get BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), the medical term for prostate enlargement. It's not that men get this problem in May, because they can get BPH at any time of the year, but perhaps now is the time for you to consider addressing your BPH if you haven't already. 

So what does it mean when your urologist tells you that you have BPH? Well, it could mean that you've been dealing with (or you may eventually deal with) frequent urination, especially at night. You may have also noticed when you go to the urinal that it's taking you longer to push out urine or to empty the bladder. You may even find that you don't feel as if you've emptied your bladder completely. These uncomfortable sensations going on with your urinary habits are medically referred to as LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) and they are commonly associated with BPH. However, because these symptoms also occur in other urinary and prostatic conditions, it is important not to self diagnose but rather go to your doctor. The older a man gets, the more likely he will experience BPH to a point that it interferes with urinary health. 

Getting a better night's sleep and looking into the low incidence rate of BPH in Asian men could be the key to helping men around the world with their BPH. What happens next is you get informed about BPH, raise awareness in yourself and other, and consider what lifestyle adjustments may need to occur so you can reduce the interruptions and interference of symptoms in your every day life. Better BPH management could mean no more getting up multiple times in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Finding relief does not have to be a pipe dream if you can work on a healthier nutritious meal plan; more physical activity like walking, jogging and swimming; drinking more water during the day to make urine less thick and less at night for less trips; reducing bladder irritants like spicy foods and diuretics; the safe practice of pelvic floor exercises; plant based therapies, and so on. If you have BPH, the next thing that can happen is a restoration of your quality of life, but that is up to you! 

Do You Dream or Urinate Frequently?

Although it's too early to be dreaming of a white Christmas, you might be dreaming of the times where you weren't getting up many times a night to go to the bathroom because of your BPH. For those who don't know, BPH stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia. It's a common condition in men in their 40s and older where the prostate grows larger in size and may interfere with urinary function (frequent urination especially at night, struggle to start and stop urinating, slow and poor urinary flow, sensation of remaining urine after having just gone, etc.). So, you can imagine that frequent urination can get in the way of men having a good night's rest and a sleep full of hopefully nice dreams. 

Are you getting a good night's rest or is BPH getting in your way? Having a bed pan near your bed so that you can fall asleep faster after getting up could be one short term way to help, but ignoring your BPH or leaving it untreated could lead to worse problems down the line like kidney problems, sexual dysfunction and complete inability to urinate (which would constitute a medical emergency). It's important to see your doctor and consider your options based on the progression of BPH (mild, moderate, or severe). 

If you're in the mild stage of BPH and you're starting to see your nights interrupted, it'll be good to think about making positive lifestyle modifications such as eating healthy, getting some physical activity, reducing excess weight, voiding techniques, pelvic floor exercises, and even natural plant based treatments for low risk and safe support so long as the ingredients are safe for you as determined by specialists based on your allergies and other medications you may be taking. 

By taking a holistic approach to BPH, you can regain your quality of life! Remember to also check in with your mental health by gathering support from BPH communities, loved ones, and professional help. This Better Sleep Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, your BPH might no longer have to get in the way of a dreamy, good night's rest! 

Celebrating The Healthy Prostates of Asian Men in Asian Pacific Islander Month

May is not only Better Sleep Month, it is also Asian Pacific American Heritage Month which celebrates people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. We want to commend the Asian male population for their low BPH incidence rate! BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a common condition in men around the world where the prostate gland grows in size and may interfere with urinary and sexual function (frequent urination, poor urinary flow, difficulty starting and stopping urination, dribble, sensation of remaining urine after voiding, urges, incontinence and sexual dysfunction). Why do Asian men have a lower incidence rate of BPH? It could be due to the higher presence of soy in their diet and overall healthier lifestyle. If we can take cues for the betterment of physical and nutrition health from Asian men, then men all over the world including the U.S., which had about 14 million BPH patients in 2017 according to the National Institute of Health, can see less men struggling with BPH and living a better quality of life. 

The hard work and achievements of Asian researchers, doctors, health advocates, traditional medicine specialists, and other valuable members of the community are appreciated and acknowledged this month. Let's show our support for the Asian community by introducing more diversity in the health space and considering why natural treatment options based on herbs and plants are well received in Asia. Let's encourage more studies and more efforts to provide the best quality ingredients for men's treatments of conditions like BPH. Let's raise the voices of Asians and give them a platform of inclusivity and positivity. Thank you for continuing to rise in your community for a better world! 

How Men with BPH Can Celebrate this Mother's Day

Mother's Day is coming up, and although prostate enlargement (BPH) is a man's health issue, BPH can affect moms, too! Show your mom that you appreciate the life she gave you, that you're gonna be proactive in your health, by caring for your BPH. Commit to healthy life styles that can help reduce BPH symptoms. If your wife is a mother, celebrate her by taking positive strides to better prostate health so that you can enjoy more wondrous years together. BPH is a common prostate condition in older men where the prostate grows in size, and this may sometimes cause issues with frequent urination, poor urinary flow, sexual dysfunction, and more. When it interferes with urinary function, this is a problem that should not be ignored as this can also affect the kidneys and even block the ability to urinate completely. A mother's love might also inspire you to stop ignoring the problem and face it head on. To our mothers who taught us to stay healthy, to our mothers who care for us, and to our mothers who also support and spread BPH awareness, we thank you for your undying love and hard work! We hope your sons and husbands will make you proud and address their BPH! 

May is Better Sleep Month (Including for Men with BPH)!

How has the first week of May been for you? Did you know that May is Better Sleep Month? This means that men who suffer from frequent urination due to prostate enlargement (BPH) are getting up many times a night and not getting a good night's sleep. That's why among the people who are experiencing poor sleep, we want to keep putting the spotlight on men with BPH this Better Sleep Month. We hope that men around the world who have BPH can also re-experience a good night's rest. To men with BPH: are you sleeping well? If not, do you miss sleeping well? A good night's rest could start with being more proactive about caring for your prostate enlargement, fellas! Share our blog for more BPH content!