Urologist Sheldon Freedman, MD, prepares the GreenLight laser for an upcoming procedure.

If you urinate more frequently than you did in the past or you have difficulty emptying your bladder, you're not alone. As men age, urinary symptoms become nearly as universal as gray hair and wrinkles.

"Men's prostates grow as they age," says Sheldon Freedman, MD, a urologist at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center. "Most men eventually develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that occurs when the prostate grows so large that it presses against and narrows the urethra, affects bladder function and causes inconvenient urinary symptoms."

Fortunately, urologists at Desert Springs Hospital now perform a minimally invasive laser procedure that offers many advantages over traditional treatments for BPH.

A new era in prostate treatment
In the past, medications and surgery to remove enlarged prostate tissue were the most common treatments for BPH. However, these treatments often weren't recommended for men who were in poor health, and some men were reluctant to take long-term medications or undergo major surgery.

Now, many men are benefiting from a new treatment option called GreenLight Photo-Selective Vaporization (PSV). During this procedure, urologists insert a cystoscope into the penis and use imaging technology to guide the scope to the prostate. Then they use the GreenLight laser to heat and vaporize the enlarged prostate tissue.

"Other minimally invasive techniques cause the prostate tissue to shrink over time," Dr. Freedman says. "But the GreenLight laser vaporizes tissues instantly so we can be more precise and can produce more reliable outcomes, and patients often see more immediate results. GreenLight PSV is an exciting option for men who have failed other treatments or who don't want to take medications or undergo surgery to relieve their symptoms."

To make an appointment with Dr. Freedman, call Direct Doctors^SM Plus at 388-4888.

Look for These Symptoms of Prostate Disease
About one in two men in their 60s and as many as 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate. BPH can affect the bladder's ability to empty and can cause a variety of urinary symptoms. Here are some common BPH symptoms:

• More frequent urination, especially at night
• An increased urge to urinate (even when the bladder contains only a small amount of urine)
• Weak urine flow
• Difficulty urinating
• Leaking or dribbling urine

If you have some of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. He or she may refer you to a specialist who can evaluate your condition, rule out other causes of your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment.

The Valley Health System c/o Valley Hospital Medical Center 620 Shadow Lane Las Vegas, NV 89106