According to statistics, more than 75% of men over 40-45 years old suffer from prostate diseases. Strong circulation of lymph and blood in small pelvic vessels often causes swelling and congestion of the organ. In addition, the prostate is well innervated, so the symptoms of the disease in men include severe pain.
What is the prostate gland?
The prostate or prostate gland is a male reproductive organ that is part of the reproductive system. Located in the small pelvis, below the bladder, it partially covers the urethra and voiding ducts. The prostate consists of two lobes and an isthmus connecting them. In addition, the upper, main, front and back parts of the body are distinguished. The shape of the prostate resembles a chestnut, it is elastic, it consists of gland and muscle cells. The prostate performs three main functions:
- Motor. The muscle cells of the prostate form a sphincter that holds urine in the urethra.
- Secretary. The gland produces a special secret that liquefies the sperm, which ensures sperm motility.
- obstacle. Prevents the spread of infection from the urethra.
Prostate disease in men
Pathologies, as a rule, are associated with organ damage by pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms, obstruction or neoplasms (both malignant and benign). >Diseases of the prostate gland include:
- inflammation (prostatitis);
- benign hyperplasia of the gland (adenoma);
- malignant neoplasm (cancer);
- cystic neoplasms;
- prostate abscess.
Many factors that create a favorable environment and conditions for the penetration and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms (fungi, viruses, bacteria) can lead to the beginning of the development of the symptoms of pathology and inflammation of the prostate gland in men. In addition, they can cause the development of benign or malignant tumors. Negative factors include:
- nutrition;
- hypovitaminosis;
- venereal diseases;
- hypothermia of the body;
- hypodynamia;
- long-term antibiotic treatment;
- blood stagnation in the pelvis;
- bad habits;
- endocrine pathologies;
- pathology of the reproductive system;
- oncological diseases in history;
- prolonged fatigue.
Symptoms of prostate disease in men
Symptoms of prostate gland disorders depend on the cause of the disease, its localization and the nature of pathological processes. As a rule, the patient complains of weakness, decreased performance, general fatigue and irritability. In addition, the symptoms of prostatitis and prostate adenoma, stone or abscess in men can be manifested as follows:
- urinary disorders;
- erectile dysfunction;
- infinity;
- pain, burning in the urethra;
- increase in temperature;
- trembling;
- painful contact;
- lack of discharge;
- pain in the perineum with sudden movements;
- offensive discharge from urethra.
Prostatitis
Inflammatory damage to the prostate gland, prostatitis, is one of the most common diseases of the male genital organs. The main cause of the pathology is considered to be a violation of blood circulation in the pelvis, which causes a strong increase in the proportions of the organ and its edema. Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland depend on the type of disease. There are several types of pathology:
- Acute inflammation. Caused by pathogenic microbes (such as E. coli or enterobacteria). Acute prostatitis manifests itself with severe pain and pain in the urethra, urinary incontinence: urine is excreted with difficulty, sometimes drop by drop. Some patients report a fever.
- Chronic bacterial inflammation. As a rule, sexual infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, etc. ) symptoms of chronic inflammation of the prostate can be mild or absent. Characteristic symptoms include sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation), painful urination (mainly at night) and mucous discharge from the urethra.
- Chronic non-bacterial inflammation. The disease develops as a result of inflammatory processes in other organs (pyelonephritis, cystitis), blood stagnation, heart failure, and hypothermia. Such prostatitis often has one symptom - difficulty urinating. Often the result of the pathology is a disorder of the kidneys, discomfort in the lower back.
BPH
A disease characterized by the growth of benign tissue of the prostate and the formation of nodules that gradually compress the urethra and seminal ducts, the bladder. Hyperplasia can cause a violation of the concentration of hormones in the blood. Symptoms of prostate adenoma in men vary depending on the stage of the disease:
- Compensated. As a rule, men do not feel special symptoms at this stage. Sometimes the urge to urinate increases at night.
- Subcompensated. The main symptoms are a feeling of heaviness in the bladder, its incomplete emptying. During urination, it is difficult for liquid to pass, patients complain of difficulty in emptying.
- Decompensated. It is characterized by a significant decrease in the volume of the bladder muscles and their tone. In addition, the adenoma develops chronic fatigue, pain and cramps when trying to urinate. In the absence of treatment, tumor growth, pain intensity increases significantly, defecation may be uncomfortable due to rectal compression.
Adenoma of the prostate gland is considered a precancerous disease, therefore, when this tissue growth is detected, a biopsy is needed to detect atypical cells and an ultrasound (ultrasound) to study the structure of the organ in detail. Hyperplasia of the gland, as a rule, progresses slowly, which allows timely diagnosis and treatment.
Cyst
A pathological cavity with fluid or a prostate cyst develops under the influence of inflammatory processes of the gland in which the body's excretory channels are compressed and the secretion flow is disturbed. It can be provoked by pathological constant stress, nervous tension, chronic diseases and tumors of adjacent organs, sclerosis of prostate tissues. Signs of cystic formation:
- burning in the urethra;
- increase in the size of the gland;
- decreased libido;
- increase in body temperature;
- a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- reproductive dysfunction.
stones
The formation of stones in the prostate gland occurs as a result of a sedentary lifestyle, injuries in the groin area, and inflammatory diseases of the body. Gradually, the size increases, the stone violates the integrity of the ducts of the gland, urine begins to enter the prostate tissue. Stones, as a rule, consist of phosphates, salts of uric and oxalic acid, protein and the epithelium of the channels. The main symptoms of pathology include:
- weak erection;
- pain when urinating;
- frequent exacerbation of inflammation;
- pain during ejaculation;
- seals in the gland and pain on probing.
Cancer
A malignant neoplasm that develops from the secretory epithelium of the prostate is called cancer or carcinoma. Long-term inflammatory processes precede tumor development. The risk group includes men over 40 who abuse alcohol and cigarettes. Symptoms of oncological damage to the prostate are non-specific and are manifested by organ dysfunction. In the early stages, the disease usually does not show itself. With the development of the tumor, the following symptoms develop:
- hematuria;
- painful urination;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- swelling of the legs;
- violation of the chair;
- impotence.
Abscess
An infectious-inflammatory pathology accompanied by a purulent union of tissues is called an abscess. Such a process develops due to the transfer of pathogenic bacteria from the main focus of infection to the prostate gland through the bloodstream. An abscess can be asymptomatic for a long time. The main signs of the presence of a purulent focus in the tissues of the prostate gland are: >
- fever and chills;
- pain during intercourse, urination;
- discharge of fetal pus with urine (when the abscess ruptures).
Purulent formation in the prostate is diagnosed with the help of instrumental and laboratory studies. An increase in the number of leukocytes, an increase in the value of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is noted in blood tests. In the study of urine, leukocyturia and detection of pathogenic microflora are observed. Palpation examination through the rectum shows the presence of a round formation.
The main methods of treatment of the prostate gland
Methods of treatment of pathology depend on the severity of the disease, the stage and severity of the course. Therapy for prostate gland diseases is selected individually depending on the age of the patient, the results of laboratory tests, instrumental studies, and the presence of accompanying pathologies. Get to know the main principles of treatment of prostate gland diseases:
Illness |
Treatment methods |
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Prostatitis |
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Adenoma |
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Cyst |
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stones |
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Cancer |
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Abscess |
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Prevention
To prevent the development of prostate diseases, you should follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle. By following the recommendations, the risk of prostate pathology is reduced:
- Follow a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Take multivitamin complexes, immunomodulatory drugs.
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs.
- Avoid hypothermia.
- See a doctor as soon as symptoms appear.