Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in which an inflammatory process develops that covers the tissues of the prostate gland. Prostatitis can occur in men of all ages and is often accompanied by other diseases of the reproductive system. The causes of prostatitis in men can be different and should be considered in more detail to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.
Classification
There are three main forms of prostatitis in terms of the development of the pathological process:
- Sharp.Symptoms appear suddenly and appear as bright as possible. Therefore, most men with acute prostatitis seek medical attention in the first days of the open course of the process. A typical symptom of the disease is severe low back pain, which occurs in the background of a 39 degree rise in body temperature. The most common cause of prostatitis is an infectious focus that can develop in distant organs.
- Chronic.If acute prostatitis is not treated in time, the disease becomes a chronic form. It is characterized by less severe symptoms, the general condition of the patient can be called satisfactory. The temperature drops to normal limits.
- Stagnant.Non-infectious inflammatory process. It is caused by the stagnant processes observed in the pelvic organs. The disease is characterized by progressive development with a gradual increase in pathological symptoms. Today, this form of the disease is extremely rare.
The chronic form of the disease is considered very dangerous as most men ignore mild symptoms, postponing a visit to a specialist. With this approach, it is possible to develop many complications of the disease.
The disease has become "younger" over time, so it can occur at any age.
What causes prostatitis?
This disease affects one-third of men between the ages of 20 and 60. Therefore, unlike many diseases of the urogenital system, this disease cannot be called age-related. There are several causes of prostatitis in men, the main ones of which are discussed below.
Acute and chronic infections
The first cause of prostatitis is infectious lesions. When the infection enters the prostate, an inflammatory process develops. Most often, diseases such as gonorrhea and urethritis become provocateurs of these forms of prostatitis.
Abnormal processes such as tooth decay, tonsillitis, tuberculosis, and so on can trigger the development of infectious prostatitis.
To cure this form of the disease, the infectious agent that became the primary cause of its development must be eliminated. Prostatitis can only be completely cured after neutralization of the main pathogen of the infection.
Congestion
Every man should have enough sex in his life - otherwise he can’t avoid prostate problems.
Lack of regular sex can lead to prostate congestion. At the same time, the blood circulation in the organ is disrupted, resulting in the secret stagnating, which disrupts its function. All this can lead to deformity of the prostate and the development of an inflammatory process.
Regular sexual activity helps to avoid stagnation of prostate secretion. Moreover, experts advise their patients to refrain from promising relationships by finding a lasting sexual partner.
Sitting work
In recent decades, there has been a sharp trend towards a shift from manual to mental work. And it’s a sedentary lifestyle that is one of the main causes of prostatitis in men.
In addition, a sedentary lifestyle leads to a deterioration in the functioning of the nervous system, endocrine and cardiovascular systems. As a result, prostate gland cells receive less oxygen, leading to the creation of optimal conditions for the growth of the pathogenic microflora.
And although sedentary work is not a direct cause of prostatitis, it creates optimal conditions for prostate gland infection. Therefore, the body needs to provide regular physical activity to prevent prostatitis.
With an active lifestyle, a person's blood flow normalizes and the endocrine and nervous systems function better. Therefore, the tissues of the prostate gland are protected from oxygen starvation.
Persistent abstinence
In the absence of regular sexual activity, secretions stagnate in the organ. Due to this, blood circulation in the prostate tissues is made more difficult. The result is the same as when you lead a passive lifestyle.
Oxygen starvation leads to ideal conditions for the growth of pathogenic microflora in prostate tissues. As a result, only a weak infection of the body will be sufficient to ensure the guaranteed development of prostatitis.
Hypothermia
Freezing is a sure way for pathology to appear.
Scientists say hypothermia is a major cause of prostatitis. Prostatitis from hypothermia develops for several reasons:
- Hypothermia causes vasoconstriction, which leads to impaired tissue nutrition and impaired organ function.
- In the case of significant freezing of the body, the human immune system is weakened. This leads to the body becoming susceptible to different types of infectious lesions.
Hypothermia will be especially dangerous for men who have previously developed prostatitis. Even if the disease has been treated, it can recur.
To avoid the development of prostatitis, dress warmly during the cold season and avoid sitting on cold and cold surfaces. It is also forbidden to walk barefoot on floors that are not warm enough.
Other reasons
Inflammation of the prostate can be caused not only by the above reasons, but also by the following factors:
- obesity;
- poor working conditions in which the perineal area is subjected to heavy stress or significant vibration;
- hormonal disorders;
- ARVI got on his feet;
- Chronic constipation.
The best prevention of the disease is to avoid the above factors. Men who have previously had prostatitis are particularly susceptible to developing this disease.
Who is in danger
Anyone who has had problems with their prostate before can face the disease again.
After examining what causes prostatitis, a group of people prone to appear should be identified. The following men are prone to prostatitis:
- leading a sedentary lifestyle;
- suffers from frequent constipation;
- obese;
- does sedentary work;
- exposed to severe stress and hard physical work;
- irregular sex or frequently changing sexual partner;
- had a history of prostatitis;
- suffers from immune disorders;
- Alcohol and cigarette consumers.
Developmental characteristics at young and older
Prostatitis can develop in young people due to a number of factors. The most important are: sedentary work, lack of a full-fledged intimate life, sedentary lifestyle. To minimize the development of the disease, you need to exclude these factors from your life.
In the elderly, the disease is most often caused by the extinction of sexual function. As the body ages, the reproductive system undergoes changes that sooner or later cease to function. A noticeable decrease in fertility is observed in men aged 45-50 years.
In addition, this can be caused by hormonal changes in the body that reduce the volume of testosterone production. And these changes are one of the main causes of prostatitis.
Causes of the transition from acute to chronic disease
While acute prostatitis is characterized by vivid symptoms that force the patient to consult a specialist, the chronic form usually has no characteristic symptoms. In most cases, men are in no hurry to see a doctor, noticing a slight discomfort. As a result, the disease develops into more severe forms.
But how does the disease become chronic? The most common cause of a chronic process is an improperly treated acute form of the disease. In this case, the transition from one form to another is due to the following factors:
- Treatment was started late.
- Ineffective therapy or poor technique has been chosen.
- The patient's immune response is significantly reduced.
- Acute prostatitis has not been treated.
It should be understood that the asymptomatic chronic course of the inflammatory process eventually ends in exacerbation. The patient then develops all signs of the disease, including severe pain in the perineum and lower back, difficulty urinating, and inhibition of sexual function.
Chronic prostatitis has one important feature: when primary inflammation of the prostate occurs, the nerves in the organ worsen. This, in turn, has an extremely negative effect on your work, often causing autoimmune processes. In this case, the immune system begins to produce antibodies against the tissues of the prostate. Therefore, even with the elimination of the primary infection, the progression of such prostatitis cannot be avoided.
Symptoms
The main symptom of prostatitis is pain. Indicates that an inflammatory process is developing in the prostate. In this case, the unpleasant feelings may be of a different nature and intensity. Urination causes severe pain.
This disease is particularly unpleasant because it is in its acute stage of development. Against the background of severe pain, the patient has sleep disturbances, his performance is significantly reduced, as is the overall quality of life.
Prostatitis pain carries the following character:
- is localized in the perineum, lower abdomen, lower back;
- radiates to the genital area;
- discomfort is exacerbated when going to the toilet, during arousal and ejaculation;
- is associated with sexual dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction is a characteristic symptom of a chronic form of the disease. Due to the fact that such dysfunctions may be associated with varying degrees of manifestations, their therapy shows some differences.
It is not uncommon for men to have slow erections with prostatitis. Most patients do not stop having sex at all or ejaculate early. Such disorders negatively affect sperm composition.
Treatment Methods
The specific type of therapy is determined by a specialist based on the characteristics of the course of the disease. In this case, the causes of the disease must be taken into account. So the main way to treat the acute form of the disease is antibiotic therapy. These medications are taken even if the disease is not bacterial in nature.
Chronic prostatitis provides a complex treatment. It includes the following procedures:
- drug therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- taking immunomodulators;
- prostate massage.
If chronic prostatitis is non-bacterial, it is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Sedatives are used as an adjunct treatment.
Prevention of prostatitis is limited to an active lifestyle, regular sexual intercourse with a regular partner, and timely treatment of infectious diseases.