The "second heart of men" - the prostate or prostate gland - is an indicator of his sexuality and fertility. So each man must decide for himself whether it is dangerous for him not to monitor the state 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 prostatitis?
Prostatitis- a disease characterized by the presence of inflammation and / or infection localized in the prostate gland.
May present with a wide range of clinical signs and complaints.
Consider, to begin with, the function of the prostate gland:
- production of a secret, which is an integral part of sperm and is involved in liquefying the ejaculate, as well as saturating it with nutrients, such as various enzymes and vitamins, citric acid, zinc ions, which help to improve sperm motility and activity;
- The prostate contains smooth muscle fibers that help the release of 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 major organ diseases.
All three diseases can coexist in the same prostate at the same time. That is, 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 and the third most common in men over 50.
At least 30% of outpatient urological visits are due to prostatitis.
To all men who have experienced prostatitis, 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 influence the onset of the disease. This is both a deteriorating ecology and a frantic rhythm 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 completely depend 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;
- erratic 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 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 certain predisposing factors, can enter the prostate gland through the prostate ducts, causing 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 (in a number of studies, the influence of psychological stress on the occurrence of symptoms of chronic prostatitis has been proven - in some patients psychosomatic disorders were diagnosed, in the treatment of which a decrease in prostatitis symptoms and the likelihood of its relapse were noted).
Symptoms:
- pain or burning when urinating (dysuria);
- urination 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;
- increased body temperature (with acute bacterial prostatitis).
Diagnostics:
According to the generally recognized classification of prostatitis NIH (US National Institutes of Health), there are four categories of disease, traditionally denoted by 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.
Diagnosis of prostatitis involves a digital rectal examination (rectal examination), which involves feeling (palpating) the prostate gland with the index finger through the anus (rectum).
Digital rectal examination (DRE)- an important diagnostic manipulation with suspicion of any pathology on the part of the prostate gland. Therefore, it is advisable for men not to refuse to conduct it.
Laboratory diagnostics, first of all, includes a general urine test, in which an increase in the number of leukocytes is noted. Bacteriological culture of urine, prostate secretions and semen, as well as a urethral smear 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, 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 the oncomarker (PSA), its fractions is also not recommended - due to the low information content and data distortion against the background of inflammation.
Treatment of prostatitis
The main thing in the treatment of an ailment is an integrated approach and the strict implementation of all the recommendations of a specialist. Medicine has achieved good results in eradicating prostatitis. After the patient has found "his" urologist, whom he unconditionally trusted, it is important not to interrupt the algorithm of therapeutic actions. In no case should the treatment be interrupted 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 tissues, increasing 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 prostatitis will not be carefree. Unfortunately, some patients, noting an improvement in their health, halfway stop treatment with a specialist and boring trips to the clinic for procedures, and then they themselves are engaged in healing. 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 accepted worldwide methods of diagnosis and therapy.
Our doctors do not prescribe ineffective drugs and examinations "just in case", do not treat non-existent diseases. When making a diagnosis, the urologist relies on the data obtained as a result of the examination of the patient, the clinical picture, the data of laboratory and instrumental studies.
About the dangers of self-medication
Without sufficient knowledge in the field of medicine, self-medication can only do harm. No folk methods, independently appointed, will be of no use. The urologist should become the man's main friend and advisor in the fight against the scourge. Only a professional can tell you what methods can be used to supplement drug treatment. In addition to traditional medicine, which significantly helps to cope with the disease, but only together with traditional treatment, there is also a mass of dietary supplements that have flooded the pharmacy shelves. An ignorant person naively believes that the use of dietary supplements will relieve him of prostatitis. Remember that self-medication can lead to chronicity and progression of the disease!