The prostate as an independent organ was first described in the anatomical studies of an ancient Greek physician who practiced around 350 BC.At that time, however, doctors did not pay much attention to it and the works of this doctor were practically not preserved, so the gland was later rediscovered by the Venetian doctor Nicola Massa.In 1838, Verdes gave the first precise morphological description of prostate pathology, which was gradually supplemented by the brilliant minds of his time.Moreover, until the beginning of the 20th century, the existence of chronic prostatitis was not at all recognized by many general practitioners and psychoanalysts, who called it “anal-rectal psychosis”.Fortunately, modern medicine has learned not only to quickly diagnose, but also to very successfully treat this serious disease.But what exactly is prostatitis?
General characteristics
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, a special male organ located just below the bladder.Its task is to produce prostate secretion, an important component of sperm.Additionally, the gland closes the exit from the urinary canal during erection.
Inflammation, as you might guess, can be caused by a variety of reasons.Since the prostate is directly connected to the urinary canal, the most common cause of the development of prostatitis is the entry of infectious agents into the gland.Everyone knows that the human body contains a large number of symbiont bacteria that are part of its normal microflora.However, as soon as these bacteria leave their colony and enter other tissues, they transform from allies to sources of problems, causing strong inflammatory reactions.Enterobacteriaceae (the most famous representatives of which are Proteus), Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococci, all enter the gland in different ways.The most obvious route is the urethra, but because the prostate is connected to a network of large vessels, blood and lymph can act as a means of transport for the bacteria.
There is another group of pathogens, called "atypical" in the medical community, because these agents are much less common.This includes, for example, fungal infections – many have probably heard of the Candida fungus, which affects internal tissues and causes the disease “candidiasis”.As a rule, fungal spores enter the internal organs when the human immune system is seriously weakened - which, in harsh climates and constant overstrain of the body caused by a busy work schedule and lack of sleep, is not at all rare for modern people.Prostatitis can also be viral in nature.The human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus and even the flu virus (!) can cause inflammation of the prostate and a whole cascade of complications that exhaust an already weakened body.
Additionally, prostatitis is also caused by non-bacterial pathogens.First of all, we are talking about purulent formations in the body: particles of pus stand out from the total mass and enter the tissues with the bloodstream.Sometimes the blood itself, without foreign agents, can cause an inflammatory reaction.If a man leads a mostly sedentary lifestyle and neglects physical exercise, the blood in the gland stagnates and causes blockage of the blood vessels.And finally, the last (but not least) reason is sexual abstinence and long-term sexual promiscuity.In the first case, iron is degraded due to the fact that, in the absence of need, the body supplies it with less and less blood, which is why the cells begin to starve.In the second case, all the fault lies with the partner, who may be a carrier of certain types of urinary tract infections. The symptoms of prostatitis are difficult to confuse with anything else.The main symptom is sharp, sharp, less often pressing pain during urination and ejaculation.This is reinforced by pain in the lower back, perineum, scrotum and lower back.Due to the increased size of the gland, it often blocks the urethra and thus the process of urination becomes difficult.In the case of a bacterial infection, greenish and yellowish discharge from the canal itself can often be observed, and in some cases hemospermia develops - the appearance of blood in the semen.
What are the dangers of prostatitis?
From all of the above, it is not difficult to conclude that inflammation of the prostate leads to a number of problems.The most common outcome of advanced prostatitis is impotence and infertility, because disruption of the prostate leads to a sharp decrease in the production of hormones responsible for sexual desire.The response to infection is rarely localized only to the gland;usually the focus of inflammation also covers neighboring tissues.Therefore, prostatitis is followed by vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis and other lesions of the genitourinary system.If the cause of prostatitis is a fungal, bacterial or viral infection, you can easily infect your sexual partner.Sexually transmitted agents can cause infectious diseases of the genitourinary system in women.In addition, a blood infection can simply cause blood poisoning and lead to widespread damage to the body.
You've probably heard the term "prostate adenoma" in radio and television commercials.An adenoma is a tumor of the gland, which over time grows, not only causes inflammation and can become malignant, but simply compresses the genitourinary tract.Why is this so important?It's not just painful, extremely difficult urination and complete erectile dysfunction.The compressed organ receives less and less blood, which first causes the tissues to shrink and then completely die, which leads to the appearance of an extensive focus of necrosis.This form of prostatitis can no longer be treated.
How to treat prostatitis
First of all, you need to remember a simple truth: only a qualified doctor can help cure prostatitis.No healing grandmother and burdock decoctions, no tantric practices and no willow bark compresses.Such a disease also does not disappear on its own: the longer the patient delays treatment, the more problems he will have to face and the more expensive the treatment will be.Many men do not understand modern pharmacology and are superstitiously afraid that the doctor will prescribe a mountain of drugs that will not only be useless, but will also cause significant harm to their wallet and health.Don't worry: instead of a handful of pills, you will most likely be prescribed a single medication at a very reasonable price.
5 interesting facts about prostatitis
Here are some sad facts about the "main male disease" of our time: - Healthy nutrition is the key to success: with the right diet, you can not only strengthen the immune system, but even slow down inflammatory enlargement of the prostate.— One in three men worldwide suffers from some form of prostatitis.— Moreover, prostatitis is not a “disease of the elderly”: some of its forms can develop at a fairly young age (20-25 years).— Prostate massage is prescribed in most cases, but massage alone can only cure congestive prostatitis.Sometimes massage is strictly contraindicated.— Prostatitis can remain asymptomatic for a long time, but it will certainly manifest itself during a sharp decrease in immunity, for example, in cases of illness, hypothermia, etc.