A man's "second heart" - the prostate or prostate gland - is an indicator of his sexuality and fertility. Therefore, each man must decide for himself whether it is dangerous for him not to monitor the state of this organ. And as prostate inflammation develops, you'll have to ask yourself an important question - how do you live with prostatitis?
prostatitis- a disease characterized by the presence of inflammation and/or infection located in the prostate.
It can present with a wide variety of clinical signs and complaints.
Consider prostate function to begin with:
- production of a secret, which is an integral part of the sperm and is involved in the liquefaction of the ejaculate, in addition to saturating it with nutrients such as various enzymes and vitamins, citric acid, zinc ions, which help to improve the mobility and activity of the sperm. spermatozoa;
- 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 organ diseases.
All three diseases can coexist in the same prostate at the same time. In other words, the presence of prostatitis does not exclude the presence of hyperplasia and prostate cancer in the patient and vice versa.
Causes of Prostatitis and Risk Factors
According to statistics, prostatitis is the most common urologic disease after hyperplasia (enlargement) and prostate cancer in men under 50 and the third most common in men over 50.
At least 30% of urological outpatient visits are caused by prostatitis.
For all men who have suffered from prostatitis, and their numbers have increased in recent years, it is clear that there will not be a simple, carefree life with this disease. Many factors influence the onset of the disease. This is both a deteriorating ecology and a hectic pace of life as a result of which men are exposed to stress and depression - these reasons sometimes cannot be changed, but there are factors that are completely dependent on men themselves.
The most common causes of the disease:
- sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, resting 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 changing 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 and 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 through the prostatic ducts, causing an inflammatory process);
- unprotected anal sex;
- narrowing of the foreskin (phimosis);
- autoimmune diseases;
- functional and anatomical changes in 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 several studies, the influence of psychological stress on the occurrence of symptoms of chronic prostatitis was proven - in some patients psychosomatic disorders were diagnosed, in whose treatment a decrease in prostatitis symptoms was observed and the probability of its relapse was noted) .
Symptoms:
- pain or burning when urinating (dysuria);
- urinary disorders;
- discoloration of urine and/or semen;
- the appearance of blood in 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).
Diagnosis:
According to the generally recognized NIH (US National Institutes of Health) classification of prostatitis, there are four categories of diseases, traditionally denoted by Roman numerals:
I - acute bacterial prostatitis;
II - chronic bacterial prostatitis;
III - chronic bacterial prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP / CPPS):
IV - asymptomatic (asymptomatic) chronic prostatitis.
The diagnosis of prostatitis involves a digital rectal exam (rectal exam), which involves feeling (palpating) the prostate with your index finger through the anus (rectum).
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)- important diagnostic manipulation with suspicion of any prostate pathology. Therefore, it is advisable that men do not refuse to lead it.
Laboratory diagnosis first includes a general urine test, in which an increase in the number of white blood cells is observed. Bacteriological culture of urine, prostate and semen secretions, as well as a urethral smear for STDs is 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.
The determination of the oncomarker (PSA), its fractions is also not recommended - due to the low information content and data distortion in the context of inflammation.
Prostatitis treatment
The key to treating a disease is an integrated approach and strict application of all expert advice. Medicine has had good results in eradicating prostatitis. Once the patient has found "his" urologist, whom he trusted unconditionally, it is important not to interrupt the algorithm of therapeutic actions. In no case should treatment be stopped 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 prostatitis will not be peaceful. Unfortunately, some patients, noticing an improvement in their health, stop treatment with a specialist midway through and stoop to the clinic for procedures, and then become involved in the cure themselves. Therefore, doing this is not only impossible, it is 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 diagnostic and therapy methods accepted around the world.
Our doctors do not prescribe ineffective medications and tests "just in case", they do not treat non-existent diseases. When making a diagnosis, the urologist trusts the data obtained from the patient's examination, the clinical picture, data from laboratory and instrumental tests.
About the dangers of self-medication
Without sufficient knowledge in the field of medicine, self-medication can only do harm. No popular method, chosen independently, will be useless. The urologist must become man's main friend and adviser in the fight against the scourge. Only a professional can tell you which methods can be used to complement drug treatment. In addition to traditional medicine, which significantly helps in coping with the disease, but only in conjunction with traditional treatment, there is also a mass of dietary supplements that have flooded drugstore shelves. An ignorant person naively believes that using dietary supplements will get rid of prostatitis. Remember that self-medication can lead to chronicity and disease progression!