The man's "second heart" - the prostate or prostate - is an indicator of his sexuality and fertility. So everyone has to decide for themselves whether it is dangerous for them not to monitor the state of this organ. And with the development of inflammation of the prostate gland, you need to ask yourself an important question - how to live with prostatitis?
Prostatitis- a disease characterized by the presence of inflammation and / or infection localized in the prostate.
May come with a wide variety of clinical symptoms and ailments.
First, consider the function of the prostate:
- Production of a secret that is an integral part of sperm and is involved in the liquefaction of the ejaculate, as well as its saturation with nutrients such as various enzymes and vitamins, citric acid and zinc ions that improve sperm motility and 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 mechanism of urinary retention.
- produces hormones and active substances that regulate the functioning of the genital area.
Prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are the three most important organ diseases.
All three diseases can occur in the same prostate at the same time. That is, the presence of prostatitis does not rule out the presence of prostatic 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, and the third most common in men over 50.
At least 30% of outpatient urological visits are due to prostatitis.
For all men suffering from prostatitis, the number of which has increased in recent years, it is clear that with such a disease there will be no easy and carefree life. Many factors influence the onset of the disease. This is both a deteriorating ecology and a hectic rhythm of life that exposes men to stress and depression - these reasons sometimes cannot 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 television;
- prolonged abstinence from sexual activity;
- irregular diet, which leads to an incorrect metabolism;
- bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol and beer;
- chronic diseases of the genitourinary system;
- frequent changes 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;
- decreased immunity.
Possible causes of prostatitis are also:
- intraprostatic reflux of urine as a result of impaired urination (urine, with certain predisposing factors, can enter the prostate through the prostate ducts and cause an inflammatory process);
- unprotected anal sex;
- Narrowing of the foreskin (phimosis);
- Autoimmune diseases;
- functional and anatomical changes in the pelvic floor muscles;
- Changes in the central nervous system, including functional and anatomical changes in the brain;
- traumatic and unusual sexual activity;
- psychological factors (a number of studies have demonstrated the influence of psychological stress on the appearance of symptoms of chronic prostatitis - some patients have been diagnosed with psychosomatic disorders, the treatment of which was noted as a decrease in prostatitis symptoms and the likelihood of their relapse).
Symptoms:
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating (dysuria);
- Urinary tract disease;
- 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;
- increased body temperature (in acute bacterial prostatitis).
Diagnosis:
According to the generally accepted classification of prostatitis NIH (US National Institutes of Health), there are four disease categories, which are traditionally denoted with Roman numerals:
I - acute bacterial prostatitis;
II - chronic bacterial prostatitis;
III - chronic abacterial prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP / CPPS):
IV - asymptomatic (asymptomatic) chronic prostatitis.
Diagnosing prostatitis involves a digital rectal exam (rectal exam) in which the prostate is felt (palpated) with the index finger through the anus (rectum).
Digital rectal exam (DRE)- an important diagnostic manipulation in case of suspected pathology of the prostate. Therefore, it is advisable for men not to refuse to perform.
Laboratory diagnostics initially include a general urine test, in which an increase in the number of leukocytes is determined. A bacteriological culture of urine, prostatic secretions, and semen, and a urethral swab for STIs are recommended. Based on the results of the analysis, it is possible to determine the presence of bacteria and their sensitivity to antibiotics and thus adapt the prescribed antibiotic therapy. A general blood test is also done to assess the general condition of the body and its response to the inflammatory process.
Also, the determination of the oncomarker (PSA), its fractions, is not recommended - because of the low information content and the bias of the data against the background of inflammation.
Treatment of prostatitis
The most important thing in the treatment of a disease is an integrated approach and strict implementation of all the recommendations of a specialist. The medicine has had good results in eradicating prostatitis. After the patient has found "his" urologist, whom he has trusted unconditionally, it is important not to interrupt the algorithm of therapeutic measures. In no case should treatment be interrupted after the onset of relief, which occurs after taking drugs to combat 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, strengthening 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 living with prostatitis will not be carefree. Unfortunately, some patients who notice improvement in their health condition halfway through treatment with a specialist and boringly go to the clinic for procedures, and then they are busy healing themselves. So 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 according to international clinical guidelines. In doing so, he not only uses his technical knowledge, but also relies on scientifically proven and globally recognized diagnostic and therapy methods.
Our doctors do not prescribe ineffective drugs and "just in case" examinations, do not treat non-existent diseases. When making the diagnosis, the urologist relies on the data from the examination of the patient, the clinical picture, the data from laboratory and instrument studies.
About the dangers of self-medication
Without sufficient knowledge of the medical field, self-medication can only do harm. No folk methods, independently appointed, will be useless. The urologist is said to be the man's most important friend and advisor in the fight against the scourge. Only a professional can tell you what methods to complement drug treatment can be used. Alongside traditional medicine, which significantly helps manage the disease, but only along with traditional treatment, there is also a mass of nutritional supplements that have flooded pharmacy shelves. An ignorant person naively believes that taking nutritional supplements will rid them of prostatitis. Remember that self-medication can lead to chronicity and progression of the disease!