Waking up at night to urinate (nocturia) can be extremely inconvenient and disruptive for BPH patients

Nocturia, the frequent need to get up to urinate during the night, can have a significant negative impact on the quality of life for individuals with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). This condition occurs when the prostate gland enlarges and compresses the urethra as men get older. This leads to various urinary symptoms, including frequent urination, urgency, and difficulty starting or maintaining a urine stream.

Here are some of the ways nocturia can affect BPH patients:

Physical Effects:

• Sleep Disturbance: Frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom can disrupt sleep cycles, leading to fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating.
• Increased Fall Risk: Getting up frequently in the dark can increase the risk of falls, especially for older individuals.
• Reduced energy: Lack of restful sleep can affect overall energy levels and daily activities.

Emotional and Psychological Effects:

• Impaired quality of life: The constant need to get up and use the bathroom can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, making it difficult to relax, socialize, or enjoy hobbies.
• Anxiety and Stress: The constant worry about needing to urinate can lead to anxiety and stress.
• Depression: The impact on sleep and overall well-being can contribute to feelings of depression.

If you’re experiencing frequent nighttime urination due to BPH, it’s important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. This can be treated with medications in the early stages. If the symptoms persist, they can be easily treated by a minimally invasive procedure called prostate artery embolization (PAE) without the need for a major open surgery or anaesthesia.

PAE Is a pinhole procedure performed by interventional radiologist. In this procedure through a tiny pinhole access in the top of your thigh, the interventional radiologist introduces a fine tube (catheter) into the blood vessels of your prostate gland using Xray guidance and injects tiny particles to block the blood flow to the prostate and shrink the gland. This relieves the pressure on the urethra and patient’s urinary problems are resolved.