The "second heart of man" - the prostate or prostate gland - is an indicator of his sexuality and fertility. Thus, each man must 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, 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 located in the prostate.
May present with a wide range of clinical signs and complaints.
Consider, to begin with, the function of the prostate:
- production of a secret, which is an integral part of the semen and takes part in the liquefaction of the ejaculate, as well as its saturation with nutrients, such as various enzymes and 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 participate 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. That is, the presence of prostatitis does not exclude 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 (hypertrophy) and prostate cancer in men under 50 and the third most common in men over 50.
At least 30% of outpatient urological consultations are due to prostatitis.
For all the men who have suffered from 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 hectic pace of life, as a result of which men are exposed to stress and depression - sometimes these reasons cannot be changed, but there arefactors which 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;
- erratic diet leading to incorrect 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, 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 the muscles of the pelvic floor;
- 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 appearance of symptoms of chronic prostatitis has been proven - in some patients psychosomatic disorders were diagnosed, in the treatment of which a decrease in symptomsof prostatitis and the likelihood of its relapse were noted).
Symptoms:
- pain or burning sensation when passing urine (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;
- increased body temperature (with acute bacterial prostatitis).
Diagnostic:
According to the generally accepted classification of prostatitis NIH (US National Institutes of Health), there are four categories of diseases, traditionally designated by Roman numerals:
I - acute bacterial prostatitis;
II - chronic bacterial prostatitis;
III - chronic abacterial prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP / CPPS):
IV - chronic asymptomatic prostatitis (asymptomatic).
The diagnosis of prostatitis involves a digital rectal examination (rectal exam), which involves feeling (palpating) the prostate with the index finger through the anus (rectum).
Digital rectal examination (DRE)- significant diagnostic manipulation with suspicion of any pathology of the prostate. Therefore, men are advised not to refuse to drive it.
Laboratory diagnosis first of all includes a general urine test, in which an increase in the number of leukocytes is noted. Bacteriological culture of urine, prostatic 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 done to assess the general condition of the body and its response to the inflammatory process.
The determination of the oncomarker (PSA) and its fractions is also not recommended - due to the low information content and data distortion in the context of inflammation.
Treatment of prostatitis
The main thing in the treatment of a disease is an integrated approach and the strict application of all the recommendations of a specialist. Medicine has achieved good results in eradicating prostatitis. Once the patient has found "his" urologist, in whom he has absolute confidence, it is important not to interrupt the algorithm of therapeutic actions. Under no circumstances should the treatment be interrupted after the onset of relief which occurs after taking drugs that fight the infection that has entered the body.
This first success must be consolidated and continued. Treatment is not only to destroy harmful bacteria, but also to restore damaged prostate tissue, increase immunity, and correct 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 would not be carefree. Unfortunately, some patients, noting an improvement in their health, halfway stop treatment with a specialist and boring to the clinic for procedures, and then they themselves engage in healing. So to do 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 not only uses his professional knowledge, but also focuses on scientifically proven and accepted worldwide diagnostic and therapy methods.
Our doctors do not prescribe ineffective drugs and "just in case" tests, do not cure diseases that do not exist. When making a diagnosis, the urologist relies on the data obtained during the examination of the patient, the clinical picture, data from laboratory and instrumental studies.
About the dangers of self-medication
Without sufficient knowledge in the field of medicine, self-medication can only harm. No independently named folk method will be of any use. The urologist must become the main friend and adviser of man in the fight against the plague. Only a professional can tell you which methods can be used to supplement drug therapy. In addition to traditional medicine, which significantly helps to cope with the disease, but only 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 give him relief from prostatitis. Remember that self-medication can lead to chronicity and progression of the disease!