The following information is a summary of materials featured in the “Men’s Health” Integrative Health overview. It is meant to be a quick reference for use at the point of care. For more details and list of helpful references, see the overview.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases faced by adult men. The most common presenting symptoms associated with BPH are frequent urination and increasing nocturia. By 80 years old up to 80% of men suffer from BPH. About one in two men will experience prostatitis in their lifetime. Men are more at risk of developing BPH if they are overweight, have a metabolic syndrome-related disorder such as type 2 diabetes, high-fasting triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol, and/or hypertension. The severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) can be assessed using the self-administered International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). It is a well-validated tool for assessing response to treatment as well.

Listed below are some important tips for helping a man maintain or improve his prostate health in BPH. For more on prostatitis and prostate cancer, see the “Men’s Health” overview.

Maintain an Ideal Body Weight

This is probably the most important thing a man can do. As belly fat increases, there is an increase in activity of the enzyme "aromatase" which converts testosterone in adipose tissue into estrogen. Men with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 35 have 3.5 times the risk of developing BPH compared to men with a BMI less than 25.

Avoid Diabetes

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of men having a PSA greater than 1.6 ng/mL, high post-void residual and decreased urinary max flow rate. These are all objective findings that have been linked to the progression of BPH.

Stay Active

Higher levels of physical activity decrease the risk of BPH. It also helps prevent common diseases such as heart disease and cancer.