The three main types of prostate disease – prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer – have unclear causes, although bacterial infections can be at the root of the first one. Age and family history do matter as well, and many of the cases show no symptoms, so prevention is necessary and some choose the best prostate support supplement for this.
Many of you might wonder what prostate diseases are, what causes them, and how to prevent such conditions. However, before going into details on this topic, let’s first see what role this gland plays in a man’s body, in order to better understand what might cause any issues related to it.
The prostate gland is usually about the size of a walnut, and it’s part of the male reproductive system. Located near the bladder, it wraps around the tube (the urethra) that carries urine through, playing an important role in producing and releasing semen. This means that its role is crucial when it comes to reproductive aspects.
Some general information
If you think that there is any cause for concern when it comes to the prostate, you should definitely not neglect it and go see a specialist as soon as possible. Studies show that a large part of the male population is dealing with prostate diseases as aging settles in.
Just to get an idea, around 25% of men aged 55 or over face such conditions, and this percentage goes up to 50% when moving toward the 70 years old age category. The good part is that having prostate problems doesn’t necessarily mean having cancer.
On the other hand, given the gland’s sensitive location, such issues can significantly affect one’s quality of life, especially if they are left untreated. One of the first things you should know is that the prostate tends to grow larger as an individual gets older. This can cause significant health issues, especially when it comes to urination, since this can also lead to kidney problems.
If you are over 50 years old, then you should consult with your doctor and see how often you need to check up the prostate to make sure that everything is in order. As it’s the case with pretty much anything else that involves a person’s health, the sooner an issue is detected, the quicker and more effective the treatment is.
Moreover, you should keep in mind that many times prostate problems can show no symptoms and go undetected for longer periods, but this doesn’t mean that the consequences are not there. Many times doctors can find a problem during other routine checkups, but after a certain age, these should be regularly done.
Common prostate diseases
One of the most common conditions that can appear when it comes to the prostate is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Also known and referred to as BPH, it means that the prostate is enlarged but not cancerous. While this might seem like good news, the condition can pose many problems and health risks, so it’s important to keep it under control as much as possible.
Common in older men, an enlarged prostate means that the urination process can be very difficult, and sometimes even painful. If you notice that you need to use the toilet more often than usual, especially at night, then this might indicate that something is not right with your prostate, so a doctor’s advice is definitely needed.
Some of the most common courses of action, in this case, include medication, surgery, and watchful waiting. The latter might sound a bit weird, but if the symptoms are not too bad, the doctor might advise waiting a bit longer before starting any particular treatment.
When it comes to medication, certain substances and drugs can help shrink the prostate or relax muscles near the gland in order to ease any symptoms. In case you have any other health concerns, especially when it comes to using a particular type of medication, you should discuss this with your doctor, to make sure the right approach is being taken.
Since an enlarged prostate affects the urination process, if nothing else works to improve your condition, then surgery can be the right answer. Again, your doctor is the one who can advise on what the right solution is in this case, as there are several types of interventions that can help deal with such issues.
Prostatitis
Another type of prostate disease is known as prostatitis. This condition can have one of two possible causes, namely a bacterial or non-bacterial one. In some cases, acute prostatitis can appear right after a bacterial infection, and the symptoms can include fever, pain, or chills, as well as difficulty urinating.
If the cause is a bacterial one, then prostatitis might take quite a long time to be treated, since an infection can come back after a while. Of course, this depends on multiple factors, but in some cases, you may need to take antibiotics for a long time before you get rid of the problem. Again, your doctor is the one who needs to prescribe the right treatment and approach.
Another type of prostatitis is called Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (or CPPS), and this doesn’t have a bacterial cause. The bad news is that it can be caused by a lot of factors, so it’s hard to determine how to prevent it. However, if left untreated, CPPS can cause pain in the lower back, as well as in the groin area.
The urination process is affected in this case as well, since individuals who are dealing with it may need to frequently urinate, especially during the night. You may also want to keep in mind that symptoms can take a while to appear, so regular checkups are definitely a good idea if you want to make sure that it gets treated right away in case it’s necessary.
Prostate cancer
These two words are enough to scare pretty much anyone, but especially a man over 50 years old. While causes may vary and there is no list of certain ones, it appears that age and the family’s history in terms of prostate diseases play a role in this matter. Besides this, the quality of life is also very important, from a balanced diet to mental health and overall state.
Prostate cancer may not have any symptoms in the initial stages. However, as the condition advances, an individual might start to have trouble urinating. While some need to urinate more often, others experience pain or notice blood in the urine. If you notice any of these symptoms, then you need to check with your doctor right away and probably schedule an exam as well.
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level blood test can also shed some light on the matter, but this all depends on what your doctor advises. Once all the tests are run and a diagnosis is made, you will need to start appropriate treatment. In such cases, we’re talking about a tailored approach, since there are many other factors that need to be taken into consideration.
In general, the treatment for prostate cancer depends on the patient’s age, overall health, as well as on the stage the condition is in. You may also want to ask for a second opinion, just to make sure that you know and cover all the solutions available that could work in your case.
Depending on all these factors, doctors might recommend active surveillance at first, to see how the situation evolves. Surgery can also be a solution, depending on whether the damaged cells have spread in other parts of the body or not. Of course, there are always risks associated with surgery, so you should make sure that you consider all the options and talk to experts.
Other types of treatments can include radiation or hormone therapy. The first alternative uses radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells, while the latter inhibits the body’s ability to produce testosterone.
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