The prostate as an independent organ was first described in the anatomical studies of an ancient Greek physician who practiced around 350 BC.However, at that time, doctors did not pay much attention to it and the work of this doctor was practically not preserved, so this gland was later rediscovered by the Venetian doctor Nicola Massa.In 1838, Verdes provided the first accurate morphological description of the pathology of the prostate, which over time was supplemented by brilliant minds of his time.By the way, until the beginning of the 20th century, the existence of chronic prostatitis was not recognized at all by many general practitioners and psychoanalysts, who called it “anorectal psychosis.”Fortunately, modern medicine has learned not only to promptly diagnose, but also to treat this serious disease very successfully.But what exactly is prostatitis?
General characteristics
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, a special male organ located just below the bladder.Its job is to produce prostatic secretions, an important component of sperm.In addition, this gland closes the exit from the urinary tract during erection.
Inflammation, as you might guess, can be caused by many reasons.Because the prostate is directly connected to the urinary tract, the most common cause of prostatitis is infectious agents entering the gland.Everyone knows that the human body contains a large number of symbiotic bacteria that are part of the normal microflora.However, as soon as these bacteria leave their colony and enter other tissues, they switch from being allies to sources of the problem, causing a strong inflammatory response.Enterobacteriaceae (the most famous representative of which is Proteus), Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococci, all of them enter the gland in various ways.The most obvious route is the urethra, but because the prostate is connected to a network of large vessels, both blood and lymph can act as a means of transporting bacteria.
There is another group of pathogens, called “atypical” by the medical community, because these agents are found less frequently.This includes, for example, fungal infections — many people may have heard of Candida, which affects internal tissues and causes “candida.”Most often, fungal spores enter internal organs when the human immune system is severely weakened - this is not uncommon for modern people in harsh climatic conditions and whose bodies are often overworked due to busy work schedules and lack of sleep.Prostatitis can also be viral in nature.Human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus and even influenza virus (!) can cause prostatitis and a series of complications that exhaust an already weakened body.
In addition, prostatitis is also caused by pathogens other than bacteria.First of all, we are talking about the formation of pus in the body: pus particles separate from the total mass and enter the tissues with the blood stream.Sometimes the blood itself, without a foreign agent, can cause an inflammatory response.If a man leads a sedentary lifestyle and neglects exercise, the blood in the gland will stagnate and cause blood vessel blockage.And finally, the last (but not least) reason is long-term abstinence from sex and promiscuity.In the first case, iron is degraded because, when it is not needed, the body supplies it with less and less blood, which is why cells begin to die from starvation.In the second case, all responsibility falls on the partner, who can act as a carrier of some types of urinary tract infections. Symptoms of prostatitis are difficult to confuse with something else.The main symptom is sharp, acute pain, rarely pressing 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, making urination difficult.In case of bacterial infection, green and yellowish discharge from the canal can often be observed, and in some cases, hemorrhage occurs - the appearance of blood in the sperm.
What is the danger of prostatitis?
From all of the above, it is not difficult to conclude that prostatitis leads to a number of problems.The most common results of progressive prostatitis are impotence and infertility, as disruption of the prostate gland is followed by a sharp decrease in the production of hormones responsible for sexual desire.The response to infection is rarely confined to the gland;often the focus of inflammation also includes adjacent tissues.Therefore, after prostatitis will be vesicular inflammation, 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 partner.Sexually transmitted agents can cause infectious diseases of the genitourinary system in women.Additionally, septicemia can simply cause blood poisoning and lead to widespread damage to the body.
You've probably heard the phrase “prostate tumor” in radio and television commercials.An adenoma is a tumor of the gland that, over time, increases in size, not only causes inflammation and can develop into malignancy, but simply compresses the genital tract.Why is this important?It's not just about painful urination, extreme difficulty, and outright erectile dysfunction.The compressed organ receives less and less blood, as a result of which the tissues first shrink and then completely die, leading to the appearance of a widespread necrotic area.This form of prostatitis can no longer be treated.
How to treat prostatitis
First of all, you need to firmly remember a simple truth: only a qualified doctor can help cure prostatitis.Not grandmothers' healing and burdock decoctions, not tantric practices and not willow bark compresses.Such a disease also does not go away on its own: the longer the patient delays treatment, the more problems he will face and the more expensive the treatment will be.Many men do not understand modern pharmacology and are superstitious in fear that the doctor will prescribe them a mountain of drugs that will not only be useless, but will also significantly harm their wallet and health.There is no need to be afraid: instead of a handful of drugs, you will most likely be prescribed a single drug at a very reasonable price.
5 interesting facts about prostatitis
Here are some sad facts about the “main men's 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 the process of inflammation and hypertrophy of the prostate.— Every third man in the world suffers from one form of prostatitis or another.— By the way, prostatitis is not a “disease of the elderly”: some forms of it can develop at a fairly young age (20-25 years).– Prostate massage is indicated in most cases, but massage alone can only cure congestive prostatitis.Sometimes massage is strictly contraindicated.— Prostatitis can be asymptomatic for a long time, but it will certainly manifest itself when immunity is sharply reduced, for example, during illness, during hypothermia, etc.