Prostatitis:
The prostate gland is a doughnut shaped male sex gland, positioned beneath the urinary bladder. It encircles the urinary outlet, or urethra. Contraction of the muscles in the prostate sqeeze fluid from the prostate into the ureathral tract during ejaculation. Prostatic fluid makes up the bulk of semen.
The prostate is the most common site of disorders in the male genitourinary system. There are several conditions that can cause problems with the prostate:
- Prostatitis which is inflammation of the prostate. The usual cause is infectious bacteria that invade the prostate from another part of the body.
- Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH , which is an enlarged prostate, with no signs of cancer.
- Hormonal Changes associated with aging may also be a cause.
- Prostate Cancer also associated with aging may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, which is also known as estrogen dominance.
The inflammation can result in urine retention. This causes the bladder to become distended, weak, tender and itself susceptible to infection. Infection in the bladder is in turn easily transmitted up the ureters to the kidneys.
There Are Three Types Of Prostatitis:
- Acute Infectious Prostatitis is usually caused by bacteria. The onset is sudden. Symptoms may include pain between the scrotum and the rectum, fever, frequent urination accompanied by a burning sensation, a feeling of fullness in the bladder and blood or pus in the urine.
- Chronic Prostatitis (long term) is also a bacterial infection. Symptoms may include nothing more than a recurring bladder infection.
- Nonbacterial Prostatitis is not caused by a bacterial infection. The cause for this infection could be viral. This condition has the same symptoms as a bacterial infection and also can include pain after ejaculation and lower abdominal pain.
BPH is the gradual enlargement of the prostate. It occurs in almost 50% of all men over 50. It also occurs in 75% of all men over 70. This condition is largely attributable to hormonal changes associated with aging. After the age of forty a mans free testosterone levels decrease, while the level of estradiol increases. This causes an overproduction of prostate cells, which ultimately results in prostate enlargement.
While not cancerous, an enlarged prostate can nevertheless cause problems. If it becomes too large, it obstructs the urethra, interfering with the ability to drain the bladder. Because the bladder cannot empty completely, the kidneys also may not empty as they should. This can cause dangerous pressure on the kidneys. In severe cases, the kidneys may be damaged both by the pressure and the substances in the urine. Bladder infections are associated with both prostatitis and an enlarged prostate.
The major symptom of an enlarged prostate is the need to pass urine frequently, with frequency increasing as time passes. A man may find himself rising several times during the night to urinate. There can also be pain, burning, and difficulty in starting and stopping urination. The presence of blood in the urine is not uncommon.
How Is Prostatitis Diagnosed?
A doctor performs a digital rectal exam (DRE) by inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the patient's rectum, just behind the prostate. The doctor can feel the prostate to see if it is swollen or tender in spots.
To confirm the prostate infection, the doctor should obtain two urine samples-before and after prostate massage. To perform a prostate massage, the doctor will insert a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum, as in a DRE, and stroke the prostate to release fluids from the gland. The post-massage urine sample will contain prostate fluid. If that second urine sample contains bacteria or infection-fighting cells that were not present in the premassage urine sample, this suggests the prostate contains infection.
To diagnose chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the doctor must rule out all other possible causes of urinary symptoms, such as kidney stones, bladder disorders, and infections. Since many different conditions must be considered, the doctor may order a full range of tests, including ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biopsy, blood tests, and tests of bladder function.
If all other possible causes of a patient's symptoms are ruled out, the doctor may then diagnose chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. To aid in understanding the symptoms and measuring the effects of treatment, the doctor may ask a series of questions from a standard questionnaire, the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index.
The Following Nutrients May Be Helpful To Alleviate The Symptoms:
- Probiotics as directed on the label
- Quercetin 2,000 mg. daily
- Selinium 200 mcg. daily
- Vitamin B Complex 50 mg. of each major B three times daily
- Vitamin B-6 50 mg. extra twice daily
- Zinc 80 mg. daily
- Copper 3 mg. daily
- Fish Oil 2,000 mg. three times daily
- Garlic as directed on the label
- L-Alanine as directed on the label
- L-Glutamic Acid as directed on the label
- L-Glycine as directed on the label
- MSM as directed on the label
- Raw Prostate Glandular as directed on the label
- Vitamin A 10,000 IU daily
- Vitamin E 400 IU daily
- Berry Seed Complex as directed on the label
- Lecithin 1,200 mg. three times daily
- Magnesium 200 mg. daily
- Calcium 300 mg. three times daily
- Vitamin C 2,000 mg. three times daily
- D-Mannose may help with an infection in the bladder
Prostatitis Information: Dr. Mercola - Larry Clapps "The 60 Day Cure"
Prostatitis Information: Acu-Cell - Prostatitis And BPH: Nutritional Causes, Prevention And Therapies
Prostatitis Information: High Island Prostate Massager
Prostatitis Information: Chinese Herbal Remedy
Prostatitis Information: All About Prostate
Prostatitis Information: Alternative Prostatitis Treatment
