Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that develops in the prostate. Theoretically, every person is at risk of developing it, regardless of age.
But men are more susceptible to diseases, which are affected by the following factors:
- Sedentary life?
- Prolonged sexual abstinence or, conversely, an overly active sex life.
- Frequent constipation. Keep in mind that only regular stool disorders can cause prostatitis and not episodic constipation.
- Hypothermia. To get sick with prostatitis, it is not necessary to swim in ice water for hours, as long as you just sit on a cold stone or be in the cold for a long time with inappropriate clothes.
- Chronic inflammatory diseases (for example, chronic bronchitis) or untreated source of infection in the body (caries, tonsillitis).
- Chronic and acute urological or previous aphrodisiac diseases (urethritis, gonorrhea).
- Sedentary work. First of all, they are the ones who are forced to sit constantly at work, without the opportunity to get up and warm up (drivers, computer operators).
- Any condition that can suppress the body's immune system. These include inadequate or inadequate nutrition, physical and emotional overload, persistent lack of sleep, chronic stress).
All of the above factors become especially dangerous if a man is over 50 years old. Indeed, at this age, the hormonal background changes significantly, immunity decreases, various diseases appear and, besides, few men at this age have an active lifestyle. For these reasons, all men over the age of 50 should see a urologist every six months.
How does the disease start?
As a rule, the first sign of the development of prostatitis is unpleasant or even painful sensations when urinating. Sometimes you have to get up several times at night to go to the toilet. Few went to the doctor at this stage of the disease, although at this stage the treatment will be short-lived and effective.
After a while, severe cutting, pulling or shooting pains appear in the pubic or perineum, sometimes the pain is transmitted to the penis or anus. Urination becomes frequent and painful and the urine becomes much more cloudy. Pain may occur during bowel movements.
In addition, body temperature may rise, sometimes men notice the release of droplets of translucent white fluid from the urethra. As a rule, most men go to the doctor during this period of illness.
What happens if prostatitis is not treated?
If, after the above symptoms, you do not consult a doctor and start treatment, the disease will progress further. The temperature can rise to 40 degrees, the pain becomes very severe, urination becomes very painful, the outflow of urine is disturbed (it flows out of the urethra in a thin stream or drop by drop). The greater the untreated prostatitis, the greater the chance of acute urinary retention and the development of acute renal failure. Early examination is also required, as prostatitis-like symptoms are also present in cystitis and prostate cancer.
Diagnostics
After contacting a urologist, a prostate examination is performed through the rectum, as well as an analysis of prostate secretion. This process is not very pleasant and sometimes painful, especially in the later stages of the disease. Sometimes because of this men do not want to go to the doctor.
But in reality, the earlier you do an exam, the less painful it is. In addition, palpation of the prostate itself is already a cure, as it helps eliminate congestion.
In the laboratory, the secretion of the gland is inoculated with nutrients, the sensitivity of the microflora to antibiotics is determined and urine analysis is performed. Ultrasound is also performed to confirm the diagnosis. Most of the time, treating prostatitis is not difficult for a urologist, with timely treatment.
The first stages of prostatitis are treated at home. The patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs, baths, compresses and other thermal procedures on the perineum, as well as pain relievers and prostate massage. The treatment lasts for about 10 days. You should also not eat spicy foods or alcohol during treatment.
Signs and treatment of chronic prostatitis
In chronic prostatitis, aching pains appear in the perineum, which subsides after walking or light exercise, there is a burning sensation when urinating. A man often does not sleep well and becomes irritable.
If left untreated, chronic prostatitis can cause pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility. Reflexology and prostate massage are also added to the above treatment. The patient is advised to follow a more active lifestyle, to exclude spicy food and alcohol from the diet.
Trust the doctors
You should not try to diagnose yourself without seeing a doctor. After all, only a urologist will be able to choose the optimal treatment regimen for you, based on the test results.
When you self-medicate, you take antibiotics "blindly". This can lead to the transition of the disease to a chronic form. If the disease continues to progress, you may need to be hospitalized. In a hospital, the course of treatment will take 1-2 weeks and maybe even longer.
To avoid complications, be sure to see a urologist every six months.
Prophylaxis
The prevention of prostatitis refers to the following recommendations:
- If you are going to be out in the cold for a long time, choose the right clothes.
- Eat regularly and completely.
- Live an active lifestyle, go for sports.
- Use laxatives for constipation.
- Have a normal sex life, preferably with a normal partner.
A very large number of men suffer from prostatitis. This article provides basic information about the disease and explains why it is important to see a urologist regularly.