Tag: Prostatitis

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Avoiding Prostatitis: Helpful Tips

Prostatitis is the most common prostate condition, especially in men under 50. It is a painful condition that involves inflammation of the prostate gland and is usually caused by a bacterial infection and treated with antibiotics.

Though sometimes prostatitis can result from bacteria entering the prostate during a medical procedure or from another prostate condition such an as enlarged prostate-  The majority of cases are linked to poor hygiene, a sedentary lifestyle, unprotected sex, and a diet that is deficient in vital nutrients.

The good news is, that there are plenty of things that can be done to reduce the chance of getting this type of infection. Here’s a look at a few tips on how to prevent prostatitis, or at least decrease its symptoms and duration.

Practice good hygiene:
One of the best ways to ensure your penis and the area around it are healthy and infection-free is to keep them clean. Adopting proper hygiene habits, and making sure to wash your genital area regularly, can greatly reduce the risk of prostatitis.

Drink more water:
Making sure to keep your body hydrated is essential for maintaining good prostate health. Drinking plenty of fluids will help to flush bacteria from the bladder. It can also help prevent constipation.

Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake:
Though it is important to increase your fluid intake- not all beverages are created equal. Caffeinated beverages and alcoholic beverages can irritate and inflame the urinary tract, bladder, and prostate.

Practice safe sex:
When it comes to avoiding bacterial prostatitis, using a condom can greatly reduce your risk. Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause bacterial prostatitis as well as other health complications.

Exercise:
Regular physical activity can help prevent prostatitis and inflammation. In fact, according to an Italian study, by exercising three times a week for 18 weeks through either brisk walking or leg lifts, sit-ups, and stretching- previously sedentary men with chronic prostatitis not only felt better, but they had less discomfort, anxiety, and improved quality of life. Exercising improves circulation, and combined with proper hydration can help keep the body clean.

Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet:
With their high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and other powerful nutrients, fruits and vegetables can help fight infections and reduce inflammation.

Maintain a healthy weight:
Studies have shown that by being overweight, the body is at a much higher risk for a slew of health problems- including an increased risk of prostatitis.

Manage your stress levels:
Studies have found that men who deal with high levels of stress are more likely to experience prostatitis. Not only can stress deplete energy levels, but it also contributes to weight gain, mental health issues, heart problems, and prostate issues. Stress can also exacerbate and increase prostatitis-related pain.

By making the effort to follow these suggestions, you can not only improve your prostate health and reduce the risk of prostatitis- but you can also feel better, look better, and have a much better quality of life.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Prostatitis and BPH

When it comes to experiencing prostate symptoms sometimes it’s hard to tell if the symptoms point to prostatitis or an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Though both conditions can share similar symptoms, there are certain differentiating factors including the cause and the treatment.

First of all, BPH is a normal part of aging for men. In fact, between the ages of 20 and 50 years old, it is estimated that the prostate nearly doubles in size. And by age 80, it is not uncommon for the prostate to double in size again.

Sometimes men with an enlarged prostate have very few symptoms and do not require treatment. While others with an enlarged prostate will experience pressure on the urethra causing a slew of urinary issues.

If the enlarged prostate is particularly troublesome, an excellent treatment option is Prostate Artery Embolization, which we perform regularly here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional.

However, if you are experiencing an enlarged prostate under the age of 50, chances are this is actually inflammation caused by prostatitis.

Prostatitis, which we covered more in-depth in a previous article, is usually caused by a bacterial infection. This infection causes the prostate to become tender, swollen, and enlarged. Unlike benign prostate hyperplasia, prostatitis is usually treated with antibiotics. Sometimes medications to relax the muscle in the upper part of the urethra are also administered to help relieve any pain associated with the infection.

Enlarged prostate and prostatitis are different diagnoses, however, when it comes to chronic bacterial prostatitis, there can be a connection between the two.

Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis is defined as an ongoing or recurring prostate infection, and one common culprit- an enlarged prostate.

Why is this?

The most common reason for this is that having benign prostatic hyperplasia can cause urinary problems which inhibit the ability to completely empty the bladder. As a result, the stagnant urine acts as a growth medium for bacteria.

Though the symptoms of an enlarged prostate and prostatitis can be similar, there are differences. First, let’s take a look at the symptoms of each.

Symptoms of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia:

  • An urgent, at times uncontrollable, need to urinate, which may lead to incontinence if the person can’t make it to the bathroom in time
  • Trouble urinating
  • Frequent urination
  • Urinary hesitancy, i.e. slow start till urine streams out
  • Weak flow of urine
  • Frequent need to urinate at night, known as nocturia
  • Intermittent flow, i.e. stopping and starting
  • Leaking or dribbling urine
  • Urinary retention

Symptoms of Prostatitis

  • Hematuria (blood in the urine) or blood in semen
  • Pain in the penis and testicles
  • Burning or painful sensation during urination
  • Painful or difficult ejaculation
  • Urethral discharge
  • Pain and/or pressure in the rectum
  • Painful defecation (painful bowel movements)
  • Discomfort and/or pain in the genitals, groin, lower back and/or lower abdomen
  • Recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Sexual problems and loss of sex drive
  • Postcoital pain (pain after having sex)

As you can see, both an enlarged prostate and prostatitis are associated with similar urinary problems, however, prostatitis may also be associated with pain during ejaculation,  general abdominal pain, and the other symptoms listed above.

Another key difference is that since prostatitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection, it can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, and a pus-like discharge. These symptoms are rarely associated with an enlarged prostate.

If you think you may have a case of prostatitis or an enlarged prostate, it is important that you reach out to your doctor right away, as ignoring the symptoms, will only make it worse. And by getting the proper diagnosis, you and your doctor can develop a treatment plan, and work to reduce your symptoms and potentially resolve the issue.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Prostatitis. What is it? And How is it treated?

Did you know that half of all men will experience the symptoms of prostatitis at some point in their lives? In fact, prostatitis is the most common urinary tract issue in men under 50, and it is estimated that more than two million men seek treatment for prostatitis symptoms every year. So what is prostatitis?

Prostatitis is the term given to inflammation or infection of the prostate gland. It is often detected due to urinary symptoms caused by the inflamed prostate, which surrounds the urethra. Though there are several different types of prostatitis, the common symptoms associated with it are:

Pain or burning sensation when urinating. Difficulty urinating. Frequent urination, particularly at night. Urgent need to urinate. Cloudy urine. Blood in the urine. Pain in the abdomen, groin, or lower back. Pain in the area between the scrotum and rectum. Pain or discomfort of the penis or testicles. Painful ejaculation. Fever, chills, muscle aches, and other flu-like symptoms.

Prostatitis is not contagious and is not transmitted during sex. And diagnosing it can be tricky because other problems such as prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate need to be ruled out before an accurate diagnosis can be made. In order to determine this, the doctor performs a physical exam, including a rectal exam. Depending on the symptoms, the doctor may also test the patient’s urine and semen for infection.

There are four classifications of prostatitis: acute bacterial, chronic bacterial, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and asymptomatic.

Though the exact cause of prostatitis and its corresponding pelvic pain is not always known, there are several things that can raise the risk of developing it. These include a bacterial infection such as a bladder infection, an infection caused by a catheter, an infection from sex, or an issue within the urinary tract. Prostatitis can also be caused by non-bacterial sources. These include stress, injury, prior urinary tract infections, and nerve irritation or inflammation. 

Fortunately, prostatitis is treatable and curable. Your physician will usually treat it with a few weeks of antibiotics. However, in the case of chronic prostatitis, your doctor might also treat the infection with ibuprofen, an alpha-blocker- to help relax the muscles in the prostate making urination easier, as well as antibiotics.

The bottom line: If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of prostatitis, it’s important to make an appointment with a physician. During your visit, you can discuss your symptoms, and your doctor can rule out if there are any other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate with could be contributing to the problem. If the problem is connected to an enlarged prostate, call us up at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional, and we can go over treatment options, such as Prostate Artery Embolization, which we offer here at our office.