If the prostate is enlarged

In recent decades, the number of men suffering from abnormalities in the work of the prostate has increased significantly, which is associated with an increase in its size. The age of the sick has become much younger. If in the middle of the 20th century, prostate inflammation affected the stronger sex in old age, then today very young men are often at risk or become patients of a urologist.

Anatomy

The prostate, shaped like a nut, is located between the bladder and the urethra, and "hugs" it from all sides so that urine passes through the gland through the canal. Naturally, with such an arrangement, the size of the gland is of great importance, since an enlarged prostate can compress the canal, thereby preventing the free separation of urine.

In a healthy sexually mature man, the gland has the following dimensions: from 16 to 23 mm (anteroposterior); from 27 to 43 mm (transverse); from 24 to 41 mm (top-bottom). The prostate gland is enlarged if its volume exceeds 26 cubic centimeters. With age, the size of the prostate changes. So, at birth in boys, it has a very small size, but over time, starting to produce the male hormone testosterone, it increases in size. It reaches its normal size by the age of seventeen.

The gland consists of two types of tissue - glandular and muscle. The glandular tissue is responsible for the production of the sex hormone and secretions, and the muscle tissue is responsible for maintaining the gap between the gland itself and the urethra. This is a very important point, since with a violation of the lumen, dangerous symptoms appear, indicating the development of an inflammatory process leading to prostatitis and BPH in benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate adenoma.

Gland functions

Why does prostate enlargement occur

There are quite a few reasons for this, but the first place is occupied by the penetration of infections into the body. There are many of them, and the ways of their penetration are different. A man can become infected from an infected partner during intimacy, and prostate infection also occurs as a result of his own infection when he is sick with tuberculosis or, for example, urethritis, sore throat or flu.

• The size of the prostate is affected by impaired blood circulation in the pelvic area. This is facilitated by an inactive lifestyle, excess weight, sedentary work.
• Injury can lead to serious damage, which also affects circulation.
• Any inflammation in the body can affect the condition of the gland.
• Decreased immunity also causes malfunction, which affects the enlargement of the prostate gland. Immunity decreases with nervous overload, leading to depression, with chronic overwork.
• Change in hormonal levels.
• Irregular sex life.
• Frequent constipation leading to inflammation of the rectum.
• Age-related changes. Over the years, testosterone production in men decreases, but the amount of estrogen increases. This is another reason for the growth of the gland. Sometimes it doubles.
• An increase in DHT also leads to a change in the size of the prostate. It is produced even when testosterone production decreases over the years.

Enlarged prostate symptoms

Since the enlarged prostate gland deforms the urethra, discomfort occurs during urine excretion. This is the main reason for seeking help from a specialist. However, the prostate can grow in the other direction and press on the bladder. In this case, after the end of urination, urine does not cease to be secreted, but this happens already in the form of drops. The body can react with an increase in body temperature, and pain in the perineum, and impaired potency, and increased urge, especially at night.

Incomplete emptying of the bladder leads to the following complications: the remaining urine stagnates, the infection multiplies in it; the walls of the bladder are stretched, small vessels (capillaries) are damaged, which leads to the appearance of drops of blood in the urine. Due to stagnant urine, calculi may form. Treatment should be started as early as possible, without causing urine to flow from the bladder back to the kidneys. This very serious ailment gradually leads to kidney failure.

Diagnostics and treatment

After the urologist listens to all the patient's complaints, he will prescribe the necessary laboratory tests - blood tests (general and PSA - prostate specific antigen), urine, a smear from the urethra, which will clarify the picture of the microflora, ultrasound of the prostate. At the second stage, a biopsy can be prescribed - only this proven method will answer the question of the degeneration of benign hyperplasia into a malignant one.

PSA analysis may give inaccurate information, since an increased value (more than 4 ng / ml) does not yet indicate the presence of cancer.In addition, sometimes one time is not enough, and after some time they are asked to re-take the test for PSA. Only after receiving all the necessary data, the doctor decides what to do and how to treat the disease.

Adenoma is treated with both medication and surgery, and at the initial stage - even with the help of folk remedies.

Of course, if the tests showed that the prostate was enlarged by 2 times, there is no other way of treatment except surgery. This enlargement of the gland is usually caused by infection, urinary congestion, and stone formation.

Prostate surgery

The operation is also indicated in cases where drug therapy did not bring relief, but, on the contrary, eventually led to acute urinary retention. An indication for surgery is incomplete emptying of the bladder, when 50 to 100 ml of urine remains in it, or dangerous disorders in the functioning of the kidneys, the operation will also be offered in the case of a large amount of excess weight.

Currently, prostatectomy is the most common method of performing surgery, when the prostate is removed through an incision in the abdominal wall. Another method of removal is transurethral resection, when the gland is removed through the urethra. The third method, laser enucleation, is the most advanced. Which of the ways to use is decided by the urologist, depending on the size of the adenoma, the presence of stones and other indicators.

There are a number of restrictions for the operation - these are serious mental disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus and severe heart and kidney diseases, that is, those conditions in which the body cannot withstand the surgery.

Medication

Conservative and the longest, it is prescribed if cancer is not detected and the size of the gland is less than doubled, as well as when the complications are not life-threatening for the patient. Usually it is prescribed for symptoms such as: frequent urination, burning and cramps, impaired potency. Most often this is due to the identification of an infection that has struck the prostate. Taking antibiotics is essential. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed that effectively fight against harmful microorganisms.

In parallel, the doctor prescribes alpha blockers that can restore impaired blood circulation and anticancer drugs. Along with chemical drugs, plant-based drugs (phytopreparations) are actively used. They also help to achieve results in relieving pain and inflammation. To prevent the prostate from enlarging, it is necessary to accurately follow all the instructions of the urologist.

Another specific treatment is monitoring changes in the work of the prostate. This method can be used if the symptoms are minor and do not significantly affect the quality of life, and there is an improvement in the condition after making changes in lifestyle and nutrition. Sometimes it is enough to reduce the amount of fluid consumed before bedtime - this will make it possible not to wake up at night due to the urge to urinate and eliminate the use of alcoholic beverages.

However, we must remember that the prostate gland cannot be enlarged without a reason. After some time, when the man realized that the adjustments made to his life did not bring the desired results, he should contact a specialist and receive qualified help.