What to do if the prostate gland is enlarged

Enlarged prostate: causes and treatment

An enlarged prostate is often detected when examined by a doctor during a medical examination. A change in size most often occurs as a result of an inflammatory process. As a result of this phenomenon, the patient may develop prostatitis. It is impossible to establish the cause of the increase in tissue size on its own. Therefore, you should immediately consult a doctor if symptoms of the disease are detected.

What is the prostate

The prostate is a small gland. It is shaped like a chestnut. The gland is located under the bladder and in front of the rectum: on top of the urethra. The prostate is one of the main components of the male reproductive system. The gland performs many functions, one of which is the creation of sperm.

In some diseases, the prostate can change its size. If you experience such a symptom, you should definitely visit a doctor. An enlarged prostate needs immediate treatment.

For starters, it is recommended to undergo a thorough examination and establish the cause of the development of the disease. Only a qualified specialist is able to correctly diagnose and prescribe adequate therapy.

What you need to know about an enlarged prostate

An enlarged prostate indicates the presence of certain pathologies in the body. When a boy is just born, his prostate gland is tiny. During puberty, testosterone production increases in young people. As a result, the prostate enlarges. Fully iron begins to function at the age of 17.

In the subsequent period of 20 years, the growth of the prostate slows down significantly. Iron does not cause problems. It is worth noting that an enlarged prostate occurs only in 10% of men who are 30 years old.

The growth of the prostate gland does not stop there. The second surge occurs at age 40. More than 50% of men suffer from an enlarged prostate by the age of 60, and 90% by the age of 80.

Code needs treatment

During puberty, the growth of the gland is considered normal and this process proceeds evenly and without symptoms. However, the prostate, enlarged after 40 years, needs therapy. When such a phenomenon occurs, the urethra is the first to suffer. It is strongly compressed, which leads to some difficulty in emptying the bladder. Doctors ascribed the name "benign hyperplasia" to this condition. The second name of such a pathology is Prostate adenoma.

In most cases, hyperplasia begins to progress. As a result of this, the man ceases to completely empty his bladder, as the urethra is compressed more strongly. The problems don't end there. It should be noted that the development of this pathology often leads to thickening of the walls of the bladder itself. Timely diagnosis and therapy can get rid of hyperplasia in the early stages.

Symptoms of pathology

The enlarged prostate can be very disturbing for a man. The main symptom of pathology is difficulty in the process of urination. This symptom of disorders occurs in almost all patients who have encountered such a problem.

Symptoms of the disease can be mild. After all, the pressure of the enlarged prostate gland can be compensated to some extent by the muscles of the bladder itself. An enlarged prostate usually presses on the urethra. This may be indicated by an interrupted or compressed urine stream. In addition to these symptoms, the patient may experience:

• discomfort arising from incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• urine in some cases continues to drip even after urination;
• Difficulty urinating.

The severity of these symptoms depends on whether the enlarged prostate bothers you. Treatment also depends on these indicators.

Other features

If the prostate is enlarged by 2 times, then the fluid collected in the bladder can cause irritation. Symptoms of the disease in this case will be different:

• pain during urination;
• incontinence - loss of control over the process of urination;
• frequent urge to urinate, especially at night;
• A sense of urgency that goes along with the urge to urinate.

Enlarged prostate: causes

Treatment of a disease begins with determining the cause of its development. Therefore, it is worth going through a thorough examination. Among the main reasons for the development of pathology are:

• Prostate growth stimulates an increase in estrogen production and a decrease in testosterone production.
• The prostate produces a substance - dihydrotestosterone, which neutralizes testosterone.With age, the synthesis of DHT in the body does not decrease. But the production of testosterone is reduced. As a result, the prostate cells are stimulated.
• Genetic predisposition. The growth of prostate cells can be programmed in adulthood.
• Prostate cancer.
• A variety of infectious diseases accompanied by an inflammatory process.

Basic therapies

What to do if the prostate is enlarged? How to treat such a pathology? And these questions can only be answered by a specialist in a narrow profile. At the moment, there are several main areas: surgical, medical treatment and observational. The choice of the method of therapy depends on which factor influenced the stimulation of the growth of gland cells, as well as on how much the tissues increased in size.

It is simply impossible to choose the right method on your own. Only a doctor can do this. Do not try to independently identify the cause of the development of pathology. Self-medication in this case can cause the development of serious complications.

Observer Method

This type of treatment for an enlarged prostate is chosen if:

• The patient has mild signs of pathology that do not cause severe discomfort.
• If the patient does not want to identify the cause of the disease for a long time and take medications and experience their side effects.
• If the number of symptoms is significantly reduced after lifestyle changes.

What to do while waiting

If the observation method is chosen, then the patient should reduce the amount of fluid consumed during the day. For two hours before going to bed, you can not drink anything.

It is necessary to completely exclude the use of alcoholic beverages. When visiting the toilet, you must completely empty your bladder. Before taking any diuretic drug, you should carefully study its side effects. Do not take medicines without consulting a specialist. Uncontrolled treatment of the symptoms of the disease can aggravate the situation.

Drug treatment

If a man's prostate is enlarged and the method of observation has not brought proper results, then drug therapy is prescribed. This method is justified if:

• observing the patient did not help;
• there is a risk of developing serious complications;
• No changes have occurred since the lifestyle change.

Features of drug therapy

If the method of observation is not suitable and the patient does not improve, then the doctor may prescribe medication. They should only be taken as directed. Do not exceed the dosage allowed by the doctor. The required amount of drugs is determined after establishing the cause of prostate enlargement and examination. When prescribing, the specialist also takes into account the symptoms described by the patient. For therapy can be prescribed:

Hormones; alpha blockers; phytopreparations; antimicrobial agents; homeopathic preparations; polyene antibiotics; anticancer and antiparkinsonian drugs. Treatment with herbal remedies Even in ancient times, various herbs tried to overcome prostate enlargement. At the moment, therapy of this kind offers many collections of medicinal plants, which mainly include extracts.

The effectiveness of such products depends on how much they contain phytosterols. Such drugs can reduce the production of prostaglandin in the prostate, relieve the inflammatory process, completely stop or slow down the active growth of tissue cells. Such drugs are taken only as directed by a doctor.

Hormones

Hormonal drugs allow you to normalize the process of active growth of prostate tissues. With the development of pathology, estrogens and androgens are of particular importance. The latter block the synthesis of testosterone. They can also affect the androgenic effect on the damage to the prostate or hypothalamus-pituitary gland.

Hormonal drugs can not only normalize urination, but also reduce prostate tissue in size. However, the use of such drugs has recently been limited, since such formulations have many side effects. It is especially worth highlighting such disorders as a decrease in impotence and sexual desire. It is not recommended to take any hormones on your own.

Surgical intervention

The doctor may prescribe surgery if the patient has an enlarged prostate. The causes of the development of the disease may be hidden in the formation of tumors. It is worth noting that not so long ago, this method of therapy was considered the most effective. However, more modern drugs have appeared, and surgical interventions for an enlarged prostate are rarely resorted to. Most often, the operation is performed in cases where there are factors that aggravate the patient's condition, or drug therapy has not helped.Surgery is performed if:

Bleeding from the urethra began; there were serious problems with the process of urination; there are stones in the bladder; acute urinary retention appeared; incomplete emptying of the bladder; medical treatment was ineffective; Complications appeared - a violation of the kidneys, an inflammatory process, and so on. Features of surgical intervention The operation, which is performed with an enlarged prostate, is an effective and radical method of therapy, but at the same time quite dangerous. This is the development of undesirable consequences after surgery. The patient may experience problems with potency, as well as uncontrolled leakage of fluid from the bladder and narrowing of the urethra. It is not recommended to perform the operation if the patient has:

• diabetes mellitus;
• severe diseases of the kidneys, lungs, heart;
• mental disorders;
• cirrhosis of the liver.

The most common way to treat an enlarged prostate through surgery is transurethral surgery and prostatectomy. In the first case, the removal of the gland is carried out through the urethra, and in the second - by cutting the abdominal wall.

If left untreated

What if the prostate is enlarged? What to do if such a pathology occurs? If the cause of the development of the disease is not identified in time, complications may appear. First of all, the bladder will not empty completely. It will gradually accumulate fluid, which, ultimately, will lead to the growth of microorganisms and the development of an infectious disease. Often, under such circumstances, stones are formed.

In this case, the vessels located on the inner surface will be subject to regular damage. This can lead to blood in the urine. A similar symptom may occur due to stretching of the tissues of the bladder. If at this stage the man does not consult a doctor, the disease will progress. As a result, urine will begin to flow back to the kidneys, which will further lead to their insufficiency.

It is for this reason that it is worth paying attention to even minor symptoms. If prostate adenoma is enlarged and the disease is not treated, then irreversible consequences may begin.

Final

If the prostate is enlarged, then you should immediately visit a doctor. In the absence of adequate treatment, the pathology will continue to develop, which will eventually lead to irreversible consequences. Do not put off visiting the clinic. Timely treatment will help to avoid the development of prostate cancer.

Prostate enlargement with age and in young men: causes and consequences

What can an enlarged prostate indicate? According to doctors, an increase in the size and volume of the prostate may be the result of a number of dangerous pathologies of the genitourinary system.

The prostate gland can enlarge due to acute or chronic prostatitis, prostate adenoma/cancer/cyst, prostate abscess. Also, an increase in the size of the glandular organ is often observed during the period of male menopause and in people leading an unhealthy lifestyle.

In case of an enlarged prostate, it is recommended to consult a urologist for appropriate treatment. Let us consider in more detail the causes and symptoms of prostate enlargement, and also find out how this phenomenon can be leveled.

Causes of prostate enlargement

The prostate gland is an unpaired glandular organ. It is located under the bladder. The prostate consists of two glands, between which is the so-called groove. Part of the urethra (urethra) also passes through the pancreas.

What are the causes and consequences of prostate enlargement? Let's start with the reasons, of which there are a huge number. Certain diseases, bad habits, hypothermia, etc. can provoke an increase in the size of the prostate gland.

So, the main reasons are:

Predisposing factors include poor ecology, hereditary predisposition, harmful working conditions, the presence of other diseases of the genitourinary system.

How to recognize an enlarged prostate?

When the size of the prostate gland increases, the patient has certain signs. The severity of symptoms directly depends on the root cause of pathological changes and the age of the patient.

The first characteristic symptom is pain in the perineum. The intensity of pain sensations can vary. If the pancreas increases due to congestion, menopause or bad habits, pain may appear periodically and then disappear without a trace.

In more serious pathologies, the patient has pain in the perineum almost constantly. Moreover, pain sensations can irradiate ("give") to the lower back, anus, penis and testicles.

• Erectile dysfunction.Libido may also decrease and premature ejaculation may appear.
• Dysuric disorders. Manifestations of an enlarged prostate can be frequent urge to urinate, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, intermittent jet syndrome, pain during urination. Also, the patient may complain of itching and burning in the urethra.
• The appearance of blood in the urine / semen.
• Weakness, body aches, fever.
• Urinary incontinence (in rare cases).
• Purulent, mucous, cheesy discharge from the urethra. Occur only with infectious, fungal or bacterial prostatitis.

Differential diagnosis will help to identify the root cause of prostate enlargement.

Diagnostic measures

If you experience dysuric disorders and other symptoms of prostate enlargement, you should immediately seek medical help. A urologist treats diseases of the genitourinary system.

First, the doctor conducts an oral survey, clarifies the patient's complaints, studies the anamnesis data. Then a physical digital examination of the prostate is performed. With palpation, the physician will be able to examine the structure, size and shape of the prostate.

The diagnostics, of course, does not end there. The following examinations are mandatory:

If cancer is suspected, a biopsy and MRI of the prostate may be additionally prescribed.

How to reduce the size of the prostate?

What to do with an enlarged prostate? The principle of treatment is selected by the doctor. The doctor takes into account the root cause of pathological changes. Therapy can be performed conservatively or surgically.

There are a number of general recommendations. Regardless of the underlying cause, patients are encouraged to move more and eat a balanced diet. Also, a prerequisite for recovery is the rejection of bad habits - drug addiction, smoking and alcoholism.

The principles of treatment are as follows:

• Prostatitis. With inflammation of the pancreas, conservative therapy is indicated. The patient will need to take a number of medications - antibiotics, alpha-1-blockers, NSAIDs, herbal remedies, bioregulatory peptides. prostate massage and physiotherapy are also recommended for prostatitis.
• Male menopause. It is impossible to get rid of it, and there is no need for it. But if a patient has a severe androgen deficiency, testosterone-based hormonal preparations may be prescribed.
• Prostate cyst. If the cystic formation is small, does not fester and does not bring discomfort, the patient is shown dynamic observation by doctors. Remove the cyst only if it increases in size or brings a lot of discomfort.
• Prostate abscess. Treatment is exclusively surgical. After surgery, the patient is prescribed antibiotics.
• Stagnation. The prostate can grow due to the fact that a man has impaired blood circulation in the pelvis. To level this phenomenon is very simple - you need to move more, get rid of excess weight, have sex more often, attend prostate massage sessions.
• Prostate adenoma. BPH is treated conservatively or surgically. If the tumor is small, then the patient will need to take alpha-1-blockers, herbal remedies, and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. When the tumor is large in size, surgical treatment is prescribed. Adenoma can be removed with a laser, cryosurgery, needle ablation, prostatectomy.
• Prostate cancer. It is treated with an operation during which the neoplasm and the prostate are removed. Additionally, chemotherapy may be prescribed.

As you can see, absolutely any root cause of prostate enlargement can be eliminated. The main thing is not to hesitate and seek medical help in a timely manner.

Complications and prevention

What will happen if you do not get rid of prostate diseases in a timely manner? Negligent attitude to this problem is fraught with many complications. The most dangerous consequences of pancreatic cancer. If the patient does not treat cancer in a timely manner, then metastases may appear. In this case, even death is possible.

Also, the consequences of untimely treatment of prostate diseases are impotence, prostate fibrosis, acute urinary retention, renal failure, urolithiasis, calculous prostatitis, cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis.

As for the prevention of pancreatic diseases, doctors give the following recommendations:

It is also recommended to undergo preventive examinations from doctors from time to time.

Patients over 45 years of age should have a blood test for PSA and ultrasound of the prostate gland at least once every 3-4 months. If diseases are detected in the early stages, they will be much easier to cure.

A common prostate problem in men is an enlarged prostate

Some experts believe that under the guise of a syndrome called Chronic prostatitis, there are many types of pathologies not only of the prostate, but of the body as a whole.

Studying this problem, it is sometimes difficult to separate where is the cause and where is the consequence of the disease; to understand the imposition and interweaving of various prerequisites for its occurrence; stick to the classification line on a single basis.

The negative consequences for genitourinary function are obvious, but the chain of circumstances that led to them is very diverse. With the help of this article, you will learn many useful facts about prostate enlargement in men, about the causes and treatment of the disease.

Causes of prostate enlargement in men

What can cause an enlarged prostate? Reasons may be:

Sedentary lifestyle. For those who constantly sit in the office in front of the computer during the day, and in front of the TV in the evening, the blood circulation in the pelvic area inevitably decreases, and prerequisites for the development of the disease arise. The same applies to truck drivers. Absence of sexual life. Ejaculation is a natural prostate massage. Men who have sex less than three times a week are deprived of such prevention and are at risk. Those who do without sexual activity for longer periods, without alternative preventive activity, are more likely to develop prostatitis. Hormonal disorders. Testosterone is the main hormone responsible for a man's ability to fertilize and other specifically male qualities. Prostate adenoma is a consequence of its deficiency. Prostatitis often occurs at its normal level, but the inflamed prostate does not convert it into an active form. If its content is below 6.1 nmol / l, the man needs treatment. Violation of blood circulation. The blood vessels of the prostate gland are pinched due to the occurrence of edema in it. This entails stagnation of blood. Sometimes edema is caused by congenital anomalies in the structure of the prostate, due to which it produces insufficient testosterone. The narrowing of the urinary canal is also acquired by external influence, due to injury, illness, as a result, the outflow of urine is difficult. Injuries. When the perineum is damaged due to trauma, congestion occurs in the prostate. Their development turns into inflammation, sometimes it becomes chronic. Hypothermia. Acute prostatitis is the result of a one-time hypothermia of the pelvic region. For example, fans of winter fishing, extreme tourists. Chronic prostatitis occurs in those who systematically do not take precautions when working, living in cold conditions, in a draft. Excessive sexual activity. The constant change of partners leads to sexually transmitted diseases, one of the consequences of which is inflammation of the prostate. Abuse of onanism. The negative consequences of onanism are primarily psychological in nature. A man feels inferior due to the lack of normal sexual contacts, is constantly in a state of stress, depression, which lead to illness. In addition, frequent onanistic acts make the prostate muscles flabby, full ejaculation does not occur, which leads to stagnation of blood. Nervous strain. This category of causes includes: chronic fatigue, high mental workload, depression, stress, regular lack of sleep. Prostatitis is caused by specific substances that secrete nerve endings in such cases. Physical stress. Overload during sports, hard physical labor without proper rest lead to inflammation of the prostate. Weak immunity. If the barrier between the blood and prostate tissues is violated for any reason, they become inflamed from the aggression of antibodies contained in the blood, even without exposure to microorganisms, leading to abacterial prostatitis. Immune barriers are broken due to: injuries, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, poor-quality nutrition with the use of dangerous chemical additives.

During oral sex, microbes enter the patient's penis from the partner's mouth, under normal conditions causing tonsillitis, herpes, sinusitis, dental caries, bronchitis. Penetrating into the prostate, they cause inflammation. Microorganisms that affect the prostate. These include: bacteria: streptococcus; sticks (pyocyanic, intestinal), other types; fungus Candida, fungus, others; papilloma virus. Symptoms and signs The following are symptoms of an enlarged prostate:

Specialists can distinguish between these diseases on the basis of test data, tissue samples, and ultrasound. You can find more information about various prostate diseases and their symptoms on our website.

Possible consequences

If the prostate is enlarged and does not shrink after home treatment, most likely you are not disciplined enough to follow all the doctor's recommendations without supervision. We'll have to go to the restrictions of freedom, the proposed placement in a hospital.

But if you break the regime here, expect complications that will definitely lead to a long hospitalization, possibly with surgery.

Compulsory hospitalization of patients with prostatitis is carried out in order to:

• a course of intravenous antibiotics;
• surgical operation (for example, for an abscess).

The need for such methods of treatment arises when the disease is exacerbated or extremely neglected, there is a danger of getting complications.

Now that you know about the possible consequences that await you with an enlarged prostate, what to do is the next important topic, which we will cover in the section below.

Ways to stop prostate growth

How to reduce the size of the prostate? Take a course of antibiotics, but this type of treatment is not suitable for everyone, it all depends on the specific case. The individual features of the structure of the prostate, the presence / absence of allergies in the patient, the causes of the disease, the degree of its severity play a role.

The urologist decides on the method of treatment for the enlarged prostate. Treatment includes:

Antibiotics are the main means of killing bacteria. To prescribe them, the urologist must make sure that he is dealing with a bacterial form of prostatitis. Otherwise, taking antibiotics will only hurt.

Usually, a doctor for the treatment of bacterial prostatitis prescribes fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin, gatiloxacin, lomefloxacin, moxifloxacin ofloxacin. They differ in activity, permeability, action against many types of bacteria; when administered orally, they accumulate in the gland.

Candles. Filling rectal suppositories in the treatment of prostatitis make antibiotics, propolis, antispasmodics, components of the glands of cattle, and other components. Examples of drugs administered with suppositories: bioprost, prostatilen, viferon, prostopin, olestezin.

The use of suppositories for prostatitis eliminates edema, pain, inflammation. With their help, sexual and urinary functions are restored, the development of vascular thrombosis is suppressed, and blood circulation improves.

Chinese Prostatic Navel patches act on the focus of prostate inflammation by penetrating drug microparticles through the skin. This was achieved by nanotechnology.

They are easy to use: wash the area around the navel well with soap, shave off the hair there, remove the sticker, stick the patch. After three days, remove, wash the place of gluing again.

After a day, stick another patch. The course of treatment for prostatitis - six patches, 24 days. In parallel, you can drink antibiotics to enhance the effect.

Folk methods

Tested folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis include:

Overheating will lead to prostate edema. The time spent in the steam room, heating, must be strictly regulated. You should also be careful about cooling after the steam room.

Finnish scientists have proven that sauna increases libido, that is, sexual desire. This is its difference from a regular bath with a temperature of 37 degrees, which, on the contrary, reduces the mobility and number of spermatozoa.

The sauna has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscle of the prostate gland, increases blood flow in the lower abdomen, and improves immunity. The condition of a patient with prostatitis improves if the sauna is combined with diaphoretic tea, the use of apple cider vinegar.

In the diet of a patient with prostatitis, most of the vegetables and fruits. Spices - parsley, mustard, horseradish - reduce inflammation, speed up recovery.

Onions, garlic kill bacteria that cause disease; improve blood circulation, potency.

Zinc, necessary for the functioning of the prostate, is found in marine products: shrimp, algae, crabs, fish, mussels.

If you have a large prostate, you should avoid these foods:

Conclusion

The variety of causes of prostatitis entails no less differentiation of treatment methods. Disease prevention is based primarily on the elimination or neutralization of its causes. Each cause, after it has been identified during diagnostics, tests, provides for specific methods of treating inflammation of the prostate.

See the following video for simple exercises to prevent prostate diseases: