Preface
Lao Niu is a bus driver who drives for ten hours a day and has a heavy workload.
Some time ago, he felt a little unwell, frequent urination, urgency, incomplete urination, and sometimes scrotal distension and discomfort.
At first he thought he was just too tired, but the symptoms became more and more obvious, and he decided to go to the hospital.
In the Department of Urology, the doctor performed a series of examinations for him, including digital rectal examination, blood PSA measurement, and ultrasound.
The results showed that the prostate gland of the old cow was enlarged, showing a typical "orange flap-like change", and the diagnosis was prostatic hyperplasia.
The doctor told Lao Niu that prostatic hyperplasia is a common disease in middle-aged and elderly men, and the prevalence in men over 50 years old is more than 50%.
However, the age of onset is early, which may be related to poor lifestyle habits.
Lao Niu recalled his daily life, due to the nature of his work, he often held his urine, sometimes only once or twice a day in the toilet.
The doctor explained that holding urine for a long time can lead to hyperfunction of the detrusor muscle of the bladder, thickening of the muscular layer of the bladder wall, and difficulty urinating;
At the same time, urine is retained in the bladder for a long time, and bacteria breed, which can easily cause urinary tract infections and aggravate prostate congestion and edema.
In addition to holding urine, Lao Niu usually likes to eat spicy and stimulating food, and often drinks alcohol at night to help him sleep.
The doctor reminded him that these are all risk factors for prostatic hyperplasia.
Spicy foods can irritate the prostate and worsen congestion, while alcohol can inhibit the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, leading to increased nocturia and increasing the burden on the bladder.
In addition, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, constipation, etc. are also triggers.
After several months of treatment, the symptoms of the old cow improved significantly.
He said with emotion: "I was too careless, I didn't expect that small habits in the details of life would cause a big disaster."
What is Prostate?
The prostate gland is a key gland in the male reproductive system, located below the bladder and next to the urethra.
This tiny gland may be inconspicuous, but its role is not to be underestimated.
The prostate gland is mainly responsible for the production of a part of semen, which is rich in nutrients and essential for sperm motility and health.
This means that the health of the prostate directly affects a man's fertility.
The prostate gland has another function, which is to assist in ejaculation.
This process involves two ejaculatory ducts inside the prostate, which help transport sperm from the testicles to the outside.
The prostate gland is positioned so that it forms a ring-like structure around the urethra, which also has a certain regulatory effect on the urinary function of men.
What is prostatic hyperplasia
When the prostate gland enlarges, the condition is known as prostatic hyperplasia.
This phenomenon becomes more common in men with age.
Because the prostate gland is close to the urethra, its enlargement may cause pressure on the urethra.
This pressure narrows the urethra, which can lead to difficulty urinating, a condition medically known as lower urinary tract symptoms.
These five bad habits for men are harming your prostate
1. Holding urine for a long time
Many people have a habit of holding their urine, especially when they are busy or inconvenient, such as when they are addicted to games or when they are in bed in the morning.
Holding urine leads to increased pressure in the bladder and prolonged retention of bacteria in the urethra, which not only increases the risk of urinary tract infections, but may also affect the prostate gland through pressure, causing it to proliferate.
2. Sitting for long periods of time
For office workers or people who drive long periods of time, sitting for long periods of time has become the norm of life.
Prolonged sedentary periods can lead to obstruction of pelvic blood circulation, which is bad news for the prostate because poor blood circulation increases the risk of prostate inflammation.
3. Craving for irritating foods
While spicy foods can provide a temporary thrill to the taste buds, frequent consumption of these foods can irritate the digestive system and may also irritate the prostate.
Studies have shown that excessive intake of irritating foods is associated with the incidence of prostate disease, so a lighter diet is recommended.
4. Excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol is a harmful substance, especially to the male reproductive system.
Alcohol increases the sympathetic activity of the prostate, causing the prostate to dilate capillaries, which may induce enlargement and inflammation of the prostate in the long term.
Moderate alcohol consumption is essential for prostate health.
5. Irregular sex life
Sexual activity, whether frequent or infrequent, can have adverse effects on the prostate.
A healthy sex life should be regular and balanced.
Too much or prolonged depression is not good for prostate health.
Dangers of prostatic hyperplasia
1. Increased urinary frequency, urgency and nocturia
One of the direct consequences of prostatic hyperplasia is frequent urination, urgency, and frequent waking up at night (nocturia).
This condition can greatly affect the quality of life of the patient.
Waking up frequently at night to go to the toilet interrupts the normal sleep cycle, resulting in a lack of energy for the next day, and may affect other body functions in the long run.
2. Difficulty urinating and incontinence
As the prostate gland enlarges further, some patients may experience more severe symptoms such as difficulty urinating and urinary incontinence.
Not only can this cause physical distress to patients, but it can also affect their work and social activities, especially those in professions that require long meetings or continuous work.
3. Risk of complications
Long-term prostatic hyperplasia can lead to a range of complications if left untreated.
For example:
1. Bladder stones: Due to poor urination, there may be more residual urine in the bladder, and over time, the minerals in these residual urine may crystallize to form stones.
2. Hematuria: The increase in the volume of the prostate may cause pressure on the blood vessels near the bladder and prostate, causing blood vessels to be damaged and bleeding, which is manifested as blood in the urine.
3. Kidney damage: Severe urination disorders may lead to reflux of urine to the kidneys, which may affect kidney function in the long run and increase the risk of uremia.
4. Inflammation of the urethra and bladder: Due to the presence of residual urine, bacteria can easily breed in the urethra or bladder, causing infection.
epilogue
Although prostatic hyperplasia is a very common problem, its effects are multifaceted and not limited to the urinary system.
Understanding these potential harms can help patients seek medical help earlier and take appropriate treatment to manage or alleviate these symptoms.
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(The story in the article is purely fictional, intended to popularize medical and health knowledge, if there are similarities are purely coincidental, the body is not suitable to seek help from a doctor in time)