Prostate problems: what you need to know and how to prevent them

The prostate (prostate gland) is called the second heart of the male body.And this humorous definition is not far from the truth.Despite its small size, the prostate performs a very important function - it gives a man the ability to continue his offspring.With problems with the prostate gland, reproduction and simply a normal sex life becomes impossible.Why it is important to know the first symptoms of prostate diseases, which doctor to go to "if suddenly what" and how to prevent the most common diseases - about all this we will tell in our article.

What is the prostate gland used for?

The prostate gland is a walnut-sized nonpareil organ, which is located in the small pelvis in men: one part of it is adjacent to the bladder, and the other - to the rectum. The parenchyma (tissue) of the prostate consists of a large number of mucous glands, the ducts of which open into the urethra, and this organ is covered by a capsule of connective tissue.

Many people think that the prostate gland is involved in sperm production. No, male sex cells can only be formed in the testicles. But the prostate performs an equally important function - it synthesizes a special secretion that liquefies the ejaculate (sperm released during ejaculation ). This is rich in nutrients, vitamins and even minerals (e.g. zinc).

How does this happen? The sperm produced in the testicles travel through the ejaculatory ducts to the seminal vesicles and then, along with their contents, to the prostate, where they mix with the secretions of the organ and are excreted into the urethra.

In addition, the prostate acts as a valve - during an erection, it blocks the bladder outlet and prevents sperm from mixing with urine. If it is removed, retrograde ejaculation occurs - the discharge of seminal fluid backwards (into the bladder).

Why can prostate problems occur?

Urologists distinguish three main problems with the prostate gland:

• inflammation (prostatitis);
• benign enlargement (hyperplasia/adenoma);
• malignant tumor (cancer).

Each of these conditions has its own causes and provoking factors. For example, prostatitis can be infectious and non-infectious. Infectious inflammation of the prostate is more often caused by bacteria (E. coli, enterococcus, staphylococcus), which enter the prostate either ascending (through the urethra) or descending (from the bladder). But other microorganisms - viruses, fungi, protozoa - can also cause the disease.

Infectious prostatitis is both acute and chronic, and certain factors contribute to the "chronicity" of the disease:

• concomitant diseases of the urogenital system (pyelonephritis, cystitis);
• outbreaks of chronic infection, including distant (dental caries, maxillary sinusitis, tonsillitis);
• frequent hypothermia, staying in a humid environment;
• constant physical fatigue and unbalanced diet;
• infrequent urination.

Non-infectious prostatitis occurs due to stagnation of fluid in the prostate gland as a result of disturbed venous circulation in the pelvis. This leads to its edema, incomplete emptying of the secretory fluid and, as a consequence, disorders of the organ.

Stagnation in the prostate is most often associated with:

• sedentary, sedentary life (chronic prostatitis - the "occupational" disease of taxi drivers and truck drivers);
• vibration
• chronic poisoning;
• prolonged interruptions in sexual activity;
• prolonged or interrupted sexual intercourse.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a typical age-related disease of men. It is diagnosed in 30% of patients over 50 years of age and 90% of patients over 85 years of age. To date, no single cause of BPH has been identified, although most doctors agree that the prostate begins to enlarge due to a hormonal imbalance, which inevitably develops as reproductive function declines.

The risk of PJPD increases if a man:

• is overweight;
• eats a lot of red meat and fatty foods (this increases the likelihood of 'getting' prostate adenoma by 38% and 31% respectively);
• drink a lot of coffee or caffeinated drinks;
• have diabetes.

Heredity also matters - if prostatic hyperplasia in first-line relatives, it will most likely be in men. The disease is also more likely to occur if relatives have been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

The main risk factors for prostate cancer are thought to be:

• age (on average, the disease is diagnosed at the age of 70 and only 5% of men were under 60 at the time of diagnosis)
• hereditary predisposition (having a father or brother with prostate cancer increases the likelihood of developing the disease by 2-3 times).

Obesity, excessive preference for fatty foods and smoking also increase the likelihood of developing the disease.

Early signs of prostate problems

A very typical sign that there is something wrong with the prostate is urinary problems in men. If they start urinating frequently, have to get up to pee at night, complain of a weak stream of urine - most likely the prostate gland has enlarged and this is the reason for the difficulty urinating.

Other manifestations of prostatic hyperplasia:

• Urgent urges to urinate and urinary incontinence or, on the contrary, difficulty in starting it - "delayed start";
• the need to strain during urination, intermittent leakage of urine;
• feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• urinary retention.

Symptoms of prostate adenoma are difficult to mistake for anything, and a preliminary diagnosis can usually be established by any healthcare provider.

Early signs of acute bacterial prostatitis usually include

• increased frequency of urination
• a difficult and painful discharge of urine;
• a burning sensation in the lower abdomen;
• increased body temperature.

In chronic prostatitis, the pain and other symptoms are less severe, but men may complain of blood in the semen, pain in the scrotum and perineum, the head of the penis and even inside the thighs. They are also often bothered by a feeling of pressure on the perineum or anus, painful ejaculation, impaired potency and decreased libido.

Prostate cancer very often runs rampant without any characteristic manifestations. The disease can exist in the body for many years and not give any indication. Urologists say men are more likely to die with prostate cancer than from it.

The early signs of malignancy are indistinguishable from the manifestations of prostatic hyperplasia. Patients also complain of frequent and "nocturnal" urination, intermittent, weak urine stream. And in the advanced stages of the disease there is already blood in the urine or semen, there is pain in the ribs and spine, caused by metastases of the cancer.

How to spot prostate problems?

Detecting the disease of this organ is not difficult: if any of the above symptoms of prostate problems occur, you should consult a urologist. He will carry out a clinical examination and the necessary examination, which will allow the correct diagnosis to be made.

Diagnosis of prostate disorders includes:

• palpebral rectal examination;
• ultrasound examination of the prostate (as well as of the bladder with determination of residual urine volume, kidneys and other organs, if necessary);
• biochemical analysis of blood with determination of creatinine level
• determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in the blood;
• general urinalysis;
• examination of urethral smear and prostatic secretion;
• urodynamic studies (uroflowmetry);
• prostate biopsy;
• MRI of the prostate and surrounding tissues.

At the onset of "prostate" disorders you should not engage in self-diagnosis and take a lot of different tests. The scope of the necessary examination is determined by a urologist, taking into account the assumed diagnosis. Early diagnosis is very important: the earlier treatment starts, the more favorable the prognosis, and this is true for all prostate diseases.

How are prostatitis and other prostate diseases treated?

For acute bacterial prostatitis, broad-spectrum antibiotics (such as cephalosporins or fluoroquinolones) and anti-inflammatory/analgesics are usually sufficient. Occasionally, a suprapubic cystostomy may be necessary to drain urine.

In chronic prostatitis, doctors recommend avoiding factors that cause an exacerbation of the disease (in particular, hypothermia). In addition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alpha-adrenoblockers (they also reduce blood pressure, so they are ideal for patients with hypertension and "problem" prostate), 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, prostate massage can be used. If indicated, the urologist may prescribe antibacterial drugs.

In benign prostatic hyperplasia, alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, FDE-5 inhibitors (e.g. sildenafil, tadalafil - they not only facilitate urination, but also improve erection) are widely used.

Urologists also use phytotherapy. Traditionally, pumpkin seed oil or dietary supplements based on saw palmetto extract (Serenoa repens) are prescribed as part of a complex therapy for BPH. However, their efficacy remains controversial as it has not been proven in randomized controlled trials.

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Cold pressed pumpkin seed oil, 200 ml, Solaris

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Prostate cancer is a common cancer in men but has the most favorable prognosis. In most cases, men with this tumor die from entirely different causes.

Tactical treatment options for prostate cancer:

• Watchful waiting (usually in patients over age 70 with asymptomatic cancer and low PSA levels);
• active surveillance (PSA check every 3 months, regular biopsy of the organ);
• radical removal of the prostate;
• external or internal radical radiotherapy.

How to prevent prostate problems?

Preventing prostate problems does not require taking drugs or nutritional supplements. It is quite simple to do, pleasant and beneficial for the whole body. To reduce your risk of prostate problems, you should:

• Have sex regularly and remember to use protection when it comes to casual partners;
• be physically active, move around a lot;
• eat right - limit fatty foods and red meat;
• replace coffee or caffeinated drinks with orange or grapefruit juice (preferably freshly squeezed);
• stop smoking. Interesting fact: alcohol in moderate amounts does not affect prostatic hyperplasia, and in excessive amounts - it reduces the risk of developing it due to the decrease in androgen levels in the body. But still, it is not worth using alcohol as a preventive measure;
• avoid hypothermia and occupational hazards (e.g. vibration).

For early detection of prostate cancer, doctors recommend once every 1-2 years to undergo a "male " screening - to determine the PSA level in the blood. In case of a moderate risk of developing a malignant tumor, screening starts at the age of 50, and in case of a high risk - at the age of 40-45.

According to research results, the PSA level can increase 5-10 years before the first clinical symptoms of prostate cancer appear. This screening method is indispensable for men in high-risk groups (e.g. carriers of genetic mutations).

Stay healthy and sexually active for as long as possible!