Prostate Disorders
Nearly one-third of
al men over 50 years suffer from prostate troubles of one form or
another. The percentage rises with age and reaches 75 after the age of
80 years. Prostate and bladder disorders can lead to numerous other
ailments such as arthritis, kidney disorders and uremia.
The prostate
gland is a male gland, comparable in shape and size to a large
chestnut. It is reddish brown in appearance. It measures approximately
3.8 cm. in width and about 2.5cm. in length and weighs approximately 25
grams. It is situated at the base of the urinary bladder and around the
commencement of the urethra, the membranous tube for the passage of the
urine. It is thus vital in relation to the emptying of the bladder and
bears a close relationship to the rectum. The gland plays an important
role in normal sexual life and its function is to secrete a fluid which
is added to semen during sexual intercourse.
Various
Disorders
There are various
types of prostate disorders. Of these the most important are
prostatitis or inflammation in the prostate gland and hypertrophy or
enlargement of the prostate gland. Prostatitis may be acute or chronic.
It is a painful and distressing disorder, but can be cured with proper
treatment without any adverse effects.
Enlargement of
the prostate gland or hypertrophy is the most common complaint
affecting the gland. This occurs mostly in men of middle or advanced
age. The enlargement develops so gradually over a long period that it
often assumes serious proportions before it is detected.
Symptoms
There are two
warning signals to indicate the possibility of prostate disorders. The
first is the interface with the passage of urine and the second is the
need to void the urine frequently during the night’s sleep. Other
symptoms are a dull aching pain in the lower back and pain in the hips,
legs and feet. Prostate enlargement affects the glandular system as a
whole. The patient experiences al the symptoms of disturbed health such
as lack of energy and physical, mental and nervous disturbances.
Causes
The position of the
prostate gland makes it liable to congestion and other disorders. In an
erect position, pressure falls on the pelvic region just where the
prostate gland is situated. With ageing, the body gets heavier and
loses its flexibility which makes the pressure on the pelvis even
greater and increases the vulnerability of the prostate gland.
Prolonged periods of sitting down, as in certain occupations, also
increases the pressure on the pelvic region resulting in congestion of
the tissues in and around the prostate gland. With the passage of time,
changes such as inflammation or enlargement occur in the gland. Acute
prostatis may also result from exposure to cold and chill and from an
infectious disease. Chronic prostatis is an after-effect of the acute
condition. It may also result from continual irritation of the gland
due to excessive sexual excitement.
Another important
cause of prostate disorders is constipation. In constipation, the feces
becomes hardened and the rectum or lower bowel overloaded. This causes
undue pressure on the prostate gland. It also entails a great deal of
straining at stools and this adversely affects the prostate gland due
to its proximity to the rectum.
Treatment
|