Does Heavy Drinking Cause Prostate Problems?

The Effects of Alcohol on the Risk of Prostate Cancer

Whether it’s a glass of wine with dinner or a beer at the pub, alcohol is everywhere. As the most popular social drug, it’s often enjoyed without thinking about its side effects. However, heavy or binge drinking can cause severe damage to your body.

For a long time, it was believed that small amounts of alcohol could even be beneficial. But recent studies have revealed that even minute amounts can pose significant health risks.

Excessive drinking is also linked with benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It can worsen symptoms of an enlarged prostate. If you’re a binge drinker, you’re at higher risk of developing prostate problems. Taking this into consideration, you may want to consider professional help to overcome your binge drinking, and also help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. Icarus Recovery Center in New Mexico offers accredited addiction and mental health treatment, from detox to outpatient programs.

Read more to find out the answer to the question: does heavy drinking cause prostate problems, as well as the effects of excessive alcohol intake on the prostate.

What’s an Enlarged Prostate?

Enlarged prostate is also referred to as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). It is a health condition that men commonly experience as they age. Prostate is a small gland that sits between the bladder and the penis. BPH occurs when the prostate gland grows in size and causes various uncomfortable symptoms, including difficulty emptying the bladder, urinary retention, frequent urination, and weak urine flow.

Various factors can lead to BPH, and one of them is excessive alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol can also worsen urinary symptoms in those with an enlarged prostate.

What is the Connection Between Alcohol and BPH?

As discussed earlier, any amount of alcohol consumption may cause some damage to the body. This damage includes an enlarged prostate gland. Let’s learn how alcohol affects your urinary system and prostate gland, so that you can make informed lifestyle and health choices:

1. Diuretic Nature of Alcohol

Alcohol is diuretic, which means it increases the production of urine. Frequent trips to the bathroom after drinking may seem harmless, but it can worsen the symptoms of BPH. It can also result in a reduced or weak urine stream, which can be uncomfortable for men with an enlarged prostate.

2. Bladder Problems

Excessive drinking can weaken the bladder muscles in several ways. For one, it leads to dehydration, which in turn causes difficulty in controlling the bladder muscles. This causes an increase in the urinary frequency and urgency, which eventually leads to urinary leakage.

Those who drink with BPH are at a higher risk of developing an overactive bladder than those who don’t. Alcohol affects nerve signals that cause bladder muscles to become overactive, causing more frequent urination and an increase in urinary urgency. It also irritates the bladder’s lining, leading to symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

3. Prostatitis

Alcohol causes prostate inflammation, also known as prostatitis. This inflammation increases urinary frequency and urgency by causing blockages in urine flow. It can also lead to a split or weak urine stream by affecting urine flow and bladder function in men with an enlarged prostate. According to studies, men who quit drinking experience improvements with their prostatitis symptoms.

4. Alcohol and Prostate Cancer

There’s a strong link between alcohol and prostate cancer. Another study suggests that men aged 15 to 49, who consume alcohol seven times a week, are three times more at risk of developing prostate cancer than those who don’t drink. Research has also revealed that earlier alcohol exposure has a direct impact on high-grade prostate cancer risk.

High-grade prostate cancer indicates that the cancer cells appear more abnormal under a microscope. These cells tend to grow faster and usually require more aggressive treatment.

How to Manage Alcohol Consumption with BPH?

Here’s how to manage alcohol consumption with an enlarged prostate:

Drink Moderately

You can prevent BPH symptom aggravation by abstaining from drinking alcohol or by moderate alcohol consumption. However, this may take some time. Drinking in moderation can significantly improve your prostate health.

Monitor Your Alcohol Intake

Monitor how much alcohol you drink and its effects on your urinary system. If your BPH symptoms worsen, try reducing your intake or stop drinking alcohol altogether. The professionals at Icarus Recovery Center can help you with alcohol withdrawal to improve your overall well-being.

Keep Hydrated

Alcohol dehydrates your body, which aggravates urinary symptoms. Drink plenty of water while trying to manage your alcohol consumption. This will help you prevent severe urinary problems.

Think About Timing

Drink mindfully, especially if you have nocturia. Don’t consume alcohol before bedtime. This will help reduce the frequency of late-night bathroom trips and allow you to sleep peacefully.

Make Informed Choices

Switch alcoholic drinks with lower alcohol beverages to prevent urinary symptoms and prostate cancer risk. If you have enlarged prostate symptoms, you should try consuming alcohol-free spirits, non-alcoholic beers, or mocktails.

Lifestyle Measures for Effective BPH Management

Apart from drinking in moderation, you can make small lifestyle changes to manage BPH symptoms and to avoid prostate surgery. Some of these changes include:

Switch to a Mediterranean Diet

According to research, people who consume plant-based diets are less likely to develop urinary symptoms. Adopting a Mediterranean diet can significantly reduce your risk of developing prostate problems. Limit your intake of red meat, dairy products, and caffeine. These items can aggravate BPH symptoms and urinary problems. Switch them with fruits and vegetables.

Eat Nutrient-Rich Food

Adding specific nutrients, such as quercetin, zinc, beta-sitosterol, and vitamin D3, can enhance your prostate health and overall well-being.

Be More Active

Adding a few hours of physical activity to your weekly routine can help improve your prostate health.

Manage Stress

Effective stress management is important to keep your urinary system healthy. If you drink to cope with stress, replace drinking with a healthier coping mechanism, such as exercising, yoga, or partaking in your favorite hobbies.

Fix Your Sleep Schedule

Quality sleep is essential to prevent BPH symptoms from worsening. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep to improve your overall health.

Quit Smoking

Smoking can also worsen prostate problems. Therefore, if you have BPH, you should avoid smoking.

Get the Most Comprehensive Level of Care for Alcohol-Induced Prostate Problems with Icarus Recovery Center

If you feel your alcohol addiction is complicating your prostate problem, reach out for help. Experts at Icarus Recovery Center understand how hard navigating enlarged prostate symptoms can be. Alcohol addiction only makes it worse. But don’t worry, you don’t have to battle through it alone.

Contact Icarus Recovery Center for all levels of care, from medical detox to a full array of outpatient offerings to treat your alcohol-related prostate problems.