The "second heart of men" - the prostate or prostate gland - is an indicator of his sexuality and fertility. So each person has to decide for himself whether it is dangerous for him not to monitor the condition of this organ. And with the development of inflammation of the prostate gland, you will have to ask yourself an important question - how to live with the prostate?
Prostatitis- a disease characterized by the presence of inflammation and / or infection localized in the prostate gland.
It can appear with a wide range of signs and clinical complaints.
Consider, to begin with, the function of the prostate gland:
- production of a secretion, which is an integral part of sperm and is involved in the liquefaction of ejaculate, as well as its saturation with nutrients such as enzymes and various vitamins, citric acid, zinc ions, which help improve motilityand sperm activity;
- The prostate contains smooth muscle fibers that help release sperm from the urethra during ejaculation, prevent sperm from entering the bladder, and are involved in the urinary retention mechanism.
- produces hormones and active substances that regulate the functioning of the genital area.
Prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are the three main diseases of the organs.
All three diseases can coexist in the same prostate at the same time. Thus, the presence of prostatitis does not exclude the presence of prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer in the patient and vice versa.
Causes of prostatitis and risk factors
According to statistics, prostatitis is the most common urological disease after hyperplasia (enlargement) and prostate cancer in men under 50 years and the third most common in men over 50 years.
At least 30% of outpatient urological visits are due to prostatitis.
For all men who have experienced prostate, and their number has increased in recent years, it is clear that there will be no simple and carefree life with such a disease. Many factors affect the onset of the disease. This is both a deteriorating ecology and a frantic pace of life, as a result of which men are exposed to stress and depression - these reasons can sometimes not be changed, but there are factors that depend entirely on the men themselves.
The most common causes of the disease:
- sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, rest in front of the TV;
- prolonged abstinence from sexual activity;
- irregular diet leading to improper metabolism;
- bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol and beer;
- chronic diseases of the genitourinary system;
- frequent change of sexual partners increases the risk of prostatitis;
- sexually transmitted diseases and genitourinary infections;
- delayed ejaculation and ejaculation during sexual intercourse;
- excessive consumption of spicy, fatty, salty, spicy foods;
- frequent constipation, hemorrhoids;
- reduced immunity.
Possible causes of prostatitis also include:
- intraprostatic reflux of urine as a result of dysfunctional urination (urine, with some predisposing factors, can enter the prostate gland through the prostate ducts, causing an inflammatory process);
- unprotected anal sex;
- foreskin narrowing (phimosis);
- autoimmune diseases;
- functional and anatomical changes in the pelvic muscles;
- changes in the central nervous system, including functional and anatomical changes in the brain;
- traumatic and unusual sexual activity;
- Psychological factors (in a number of studies, the impact of psychological stress on the onset of chronic prostatitis symptoms has been established - in some patients psychosomatic disorders have been diagnosed, in the treatment of which a reduction in prostatitis symptoms and the likelihood of recurrence have been observed).
Symptoms:
- pain or burning when urinating (dysuria);
- urinary disorders;
- discoloration of urine and / or semen;
- the appearance of blood in the urine and / or semen;
- pain and / or discomfort in the abdomen, groin or lower back;
- pain and / or discomfort in the perineum;
- pain and / or discomfort in the penis and testicles;
- pain and / or discomfort during ejaculation;
- increase in body temperature (with acute bacterial prostate).
Diagnosis:
According to the generally known classification of prostatitis NIH (US National Institutes of Health), there are four categories of diseases, which are traditionally marked with Roman numerals:
I - acute bacterial prostatitis;
II - chronic bacterial prostatitis;
III - chronic abacterial prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP / CPPS):
IV - chronic asymptomatic (asymptomatic) prostatitis.
Diagnosis of prostatitis involves a digital rectal examination (rectal examination), which involves the sensation (palpation) of the prostate gland with the index finger through the anus (rectum).
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)- an important diagnostic manipulation with the suspicion of any pathology by the prostate gland. Therefore, it is advisable that men do not refuse to do it.
Laboratory diagnosis, first of all, includes a general urine test, in which an increase in the number of leukocytes is observed. Bacteriological culture of urine, prostate and sperm secretions, as well as a urethral test for STIs are recommended. Based on the results of the analysis, it is possible to determine the presence of bacteria and their susceptibility to antibiotics and, thus, to adjust the prescribed antibiotic therapy. A general blood test is also performed to assess the general condition of the body and its response to the inflammatory process.
Determination of oncommarker (PSA), its fractions is also not recommended - due to the low information content and data distortion in the background of inflammation.
Treatment of prostatitis
The main thing in the treatment of a disease is an integrated approach and strict implementation of all the recommendations of a specialist. Medicine has achieved good results in eradicating prostatitis. Once the patient has found "his" urologist, whom he has trusted unconditionally, it is important not to interrupt the algorithm of therapeutic actions. In no case should treatment be discontinued after the onset of relief that occurs after taking medications that fight the infection that has entered the body.
This first success must be consolidated and continued. Treatment involves not only destroying harmful bacteria, but also restoring damaged prostate tissue, boosting immunity, and correcting other changes that have occurred in the body as a result of inflammation. At the beginning of the article it was said that life with prostate will not be careless. Unfortunately, some patients, noticing an improvement in their health, halve treatment with a specialist and boring trips to the clinic for procedures, and then they themselves are engaged in recovery. So doing this is not only impossible, but also dangerous.
How is prostatitis treated in the clinic?
The urologist treats prostatitis and other diseases of the genitourinary system, based on international clinical guidelines. This means that he uses not only his professional knowledge, but also focuses on scientifically proven and universally accepted methods of diagnosis and therapy.
Our doctors do not prescribe ineffective drugs and examinations "just in case", do not treat diseases that do not exist. When making a diagnosis, the urologist relies on data obtained from the patient examination, clinical staff, data of laboratory and instrumental studies.
On the risks of self-medication
Without sufficient knowledge in the field of medicine, self-medication can only do harm. No popular method, set independently, will be useful. The urologist should become the friend and the main counselor of the man in the fight against the plague. Only a professional can tell you which methods can be used to supplement the medication treatment. In addition to traditional medicine, which helps significantly in coping with the disease, but only along with traditional treatment, there is also a mass of dietary supplements that have flooded the shelves of pharmacies. An ignorant person naively believes that the use of dietary supplements will rid him of prostatitis. Remember that self-medication can lead to chronic and disease progression!