There are not many problems that can relate to the prostate. According http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov, the prostate has a specific set of functions, “The prostate is part of a man’s sex organs. It’s about the size of a walnut and surrounds the tube called the urethra, located just below the bladder.
The urethra has two jobs: to carry urine from the bladder when you urinate and to carry semen during a sexual climax, or ejaculation. Semen is a combination of sperm plus fluid that the prostate adds.”
So, what can go wrong with a prostate? Well, first, it can become enlarged. “For men over 50, the most common prostate problem is prostate enlargement. This condition is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). Older men are at risk for prostate cancer as well, but this disease is much less common than BPH. “
Another possibility is prostatitis, especially for men under the age of 50, “Prostatitis means the prostate might be inflamed or irritated. If you have prostatitis, you may have a burning feeling when you urinate, or you may have to urinate more often. Or you may have a fever or just feel tired.”
But what does the inflammation mean? “Inflammation in any part of the body is usually a sign that the body is fighting germs or repairing an injury. Some kinds of prostatitis are caused by bacteria, tiny organisms that can cause infection or disease.
If you have bacterial prostatitis, your doctor can look through a microscope and find bacteria in a sample of your urine. Your doctor can then give you an antibiotic that kills the bacteria.”
What about if the doctor does not find any bacteria causing the prostatitis? “Most of the time, doctors don’t find any bacteria in men with prostatitis. If you have urinary problems, the doctor will look for other possible causes, such as a kidney stone or cancer.
If no other causes are found, the doctor may decide you have a condition called nonbacterial prostatitis. You may have to work with your doctor to find a treatment that’s right for you. Changing your diet or taking warm baths may help. Your doctor may give you a medicine called an alpha-blocker to relax the muscle tissue in the prostate. No single solution works for everyone with this condition.”
The lessons I learned from writing this article is that it is never too early to go see the doctor and check on your vitals, even the obscure small organs need careful attention. Even though the prostate is small and not something men think of checking on often, they need to be open with their doctors about how frequently they urinate and pay attention to these little details.
The earlier you catch and become aware of an illness, the better off you are. You need to pay attention to the frequency of your urination, if wine and caffeinated drinks make things worse for you, and tell your doctor. Stay healthy!
