[Kim Jaeho's Life Story]<232> Is It Possible to Avoid Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in which the prostate gland becomes excessively enlarged. Although its symptoms may resemble those of prostate cancer, it is not directly related and is therefore commonly referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia. The walnut-sized prostate is part of the male reproductive system responsible for producing semen. Located below the bladder and surrounding the urethra, an enlarged prostate can narrow the urethra, making it difficult for urine or semen to pass through.

As a result, it may take time to start urinating, or one may need to strain to urinate. The urine stream may become thin and weak, sometimes stopping intermittently. Other symptoms include prolonged urination, frequent urges to urinate, difficulty holding urine, a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying after urination, and the need to get up at night to urinate.

If the bladder does not empty completely over time, bacteria can grow in the residual urine, leading to urinary tract infections, or bladder stones may form due to accumulated urine residue. Blood in the urine may also occur if the blood vessels in the prostate become dilated or torn.

Continuous bladder distension can increase bladder pressure, causing hydronephrosis, which is the swelling of the renal pelvis and ureters, or urine may reflux toward the kidneys, potentially damaging them. In severe cases, an enlarged prostate can completely block urine flow, causing acute urinary retention, an emergency situation requiring catheterization to drain urine.

BPH becomes increasingly common with age, affecting most men over 80 years old. According to a study in the United States, the prevalence of BPH rises from about 8% in men aged 31-40 to 40-50% in men aged 51-60, and over 80% in men over 80 years old.

Treatment for BPH is not necessary if symptoms are mild or the patient is not significantly bothered. Monitoring symptom progression is typical until severe discomfort in daily life or complications such as kidney dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, recurrent urinary tract infections, or urinary retention occur, at which point treatment is considered.

Treatment aims to relieve symptoms or reduce prostate size using alpha-adrenergic blockers or medications that inhibit enzymes producing male hormones. Since these treatments do not address the root cause, symptoms may not improve, and side effects can occur. If symptoms persist, surgery to remove part or all of the prostate may be performed.

Is there a way to prevent or cure BPH? Prevention and cure require identifying and eliminating the causes of BPH, but the exact causes are unknown. Since BPH increases rapidly with age, it is presumed to be related to hormonal changes associated with aging. Family history, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are also known to contribute to BPH.

Although the exact cause of BPH is unknown, considering that the "greatest physician" encoded in the genes of every cell in our body constantly repairs damage to maintain health, it is easy to infer that BPH arises from anti-life harmful lifestyle habits that interfere with this physician's activity.

In youth, genetic damage is relatively mild and easily repaired, but when damage is severe and accumulates over time, recovery becomes difficult, leading to many problems in various organs with age. Conversely, those who maintain an environment conducive to the greatest physician's work tend to remain much healthier as they age, including maintaining a healthy prostate.

For a healthy life, it is essential to remember the greatest physician within our body and create a pro-life environment that allows this physician to work effectively. If the lifestyle one enjoys hinders the greatest physician's work, damaged cells cannot recover normally. Therefore, it is necessary to practice "NEW START" (refer to Life Story Part 6), which fosters an environment favorable to the greatest physician.

Among the eight components of NEW START, the first, Nutrition, emphasizes eating a variety of whole plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, without favoring specific foods. It is also important to reduce intake of sugar?which can cause many problems when consumed excessively?as well as processed or refined bad carbohydrates, saturated and trans fats, salt, and alcohol.

Along with this, one should practice Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust, adding love to each.

Jaeho Kim, Independent Researcher

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.