10 VITALITY Fall 2026 If you’re an older man and urinary problems are making life uncomfortable, an enlarged prostate may be the culprit. This condition is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). What is the prostate? This male reproductive gland makes fluid that is part of semen. It lies in front of the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. BPH can cause urinary symptoms because: ● The prostate presses against the bladder and pinches the urethra. ● Your bladder muscle gets weaker because it has to work harder to pass urine. BPH symptoms include: ● Frequent urination, day and night. ● Urgent need to urinate. ● Difficulty starting a urine stream. ● A weak or interrupted stream. ● Accidental leakage (urinary incontinence). ● Pain while urinating or ejaculating. ● Dribbling at the end of urination. NOTE: Get medical help right away if you can’t urinate, have a fever or chills, have pain in your belly or urinary tract, or have visible blood in your urine. Know the facts about an enlarged prostate Treatment options For mild cases of BPH, lifestyle changes can help. You can: ● Drink less before bedtime or travel. ● Cut back on caffeinated beverages and alcohol. ● Do training and exercises to control your urine flow. ● Prevent or treat constipation. Medications can treat mild to moderate symptoms of BPH by stopping prostate growth, shrinking it or relaxing muscles to improve urine flow. In severe cases, medical procedures or surgery can provide relief. Aquablation is a minimally invasive procedure performed by Mark Walterskirchen, M.D., urologist at the CMH Urology Surgical Clinic. CMH is the only facility between northwest Arkansas and Kansas City offering aquablation therapy. “What I like about Aquablation is that it uses realtime imaging and a water jet, so we can treat the problem area very precisely,” says Dr. Walterskirchen. “That often means great results with fewer side effects for patients.” If BPH is bothering you, ask your primary care provider for a referral to the CMH Urology Surgical Clinic. For more information about Aquablation or other urological treatments, call the clinic at 417-326-2550 or visit citizensmemorial.com.
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