Did you know that there is a strong relationship between sleep and your prostate health? Oftentimes, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause difficulty sleeping, which can in turn make the symptoms of BPH worse. Obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, can also make BPH symptoms worse at night. In this blog post, we will discuss the relationship between sleep and prostate health, and why it is important to get enough sleep.
How BPH Affects Sleep
There are many types of sleep disorders, but there are two that are seen more often in coordination with BPH: insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. Insomnia is a difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. BPH can cause difficulty sleeping due to the need to urinate frequently at night. This can lead to insomnia.
Obstructive sleep apnea can also make BPH symptoms worse. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the throat muscles relax during sleep, causing the airway to become blocked. This can cause snoring and periods of interrupted breathing. This can make it difficult to get a restful night’s sleep, and nighttime arousals from sleep apnea may turn into trips to the bathroom, regardless of urgency.
How Sleep Affects Prostate Health
In turn, the lack of sleep can make BPH symptoms worse, and may even raise the risk of developing prostate cancer. The relationship between sleep disorders and prostate cancer is not as clear. However, there is some evidence that men with sleep disorders may be at increased risk for prostate cancer.
One study found that men with insomnia were more likely to develop prostate cancer than men who slept well. The study looked at 2,100 men from the ages of 67-96, with 14.4% of these men reporting severe or very severe sleep problems. Although no men had prostate cancer at the start of the study, by the five year follow-up, 6.4% of the men with severe or very severe sleep problems were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The study concluded that men with sleep problems were therefore 1.6-2.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, the study was unable to establish a cause-and-effect link, and they expressed concern that additional research in this area is needed.
Getting enough sleep is important for overall health. Sleep helps the body repair and heal itself. It is also important for prostate health. Treating BPH can improve the quality of sleep. Treatments for BPH such as medications and surgery can help to relieve the symptoms of BPH, such as frequent urination and bladder pain. These treatments can also help to improve sleep quality by reducing the number of trips to the bathroom at night. In addition, getting enough sleep is important for reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
In Conclusion
In this blog post, we have discussed the relationship between sleep and prostate health. We have explained how BPH can cause difficulty sleeping, and how obstructive sleep apnea can make BPH symptoms worse at night. We have also discussed the relationship between sleep problems and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Finally, we have explained how treating BPH can improve the quality of sleep, and why it is important to get enough sleep. If you are having difficulty sleeping, talk to your doctor about treatment options for BPH. Getting enough sleep is important for overall health and prostate health.
