Click To View Products

Essentially, the prostate gland, unlike other glands, tends to degenerate over time. It is more prone to toxin accumulation, due in part to slow blood circulation and to its fatty, sponge-like makeup. The fact that blood flow is sluggish in the prostate area explains why antibiotic therapy for prostatitis takes so long to clear the infection.

BHP refers to a prostate condition where the gland becomes enlarged and diseased thereby affecting the function of the male urinary system. Prostatitis is an condition in which the prostate becomes inflamed (the symptoms of both BHP and prostatitis can be quite alike and their treatment protocols are similar).

Symptoms
Prostate malfunction can be characterized by pain or burning when urinating, dribbling urine, increased frequency of urination, fever and chills, penile discharge, abdominal pain, pain around the rectum or scrotum or in the lower back, blood or pus in the urine and impotence.

Precautions
Most men suffering from prostate trouble are experiencing nothing more than enlargement or inflammation although these same symptoms may be caused by prostate cancer. Prostate cancer, if caught early enough, is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. Call your physician immediately if you have any symptoms involving the prostate gland. It is essential to see a urologist or a similar expert to rule out the possibility of prostate cancer, which, if unchecked, will ravage other organs, like the lower intestine, the small intestine and the reproductive organs. If you cannot urinate at all, go to the nearest emergency room. Excessive urine retention is potentially life threatening.

Causes
Prostatitis usually results from a bacterial infection that has spread to the prostate gland from the urethra or other area of the body through the blood. BPH can result from prostatic tissue that has been infiltrated with certain hormonal compounds which encourage overgrowth. It has also been linked to diet, high cholesterol levels and zinc deficiencies.

Other ways that prostatitis and other prostate conditions may develop through sexual contact; as a complication of venereal disease; from the presence of a urinary catheter; zinc deficiency; taking antihistamines and decongestants for prolonged periods of time; and exposure to pesticides and heavy metals. Some health care professionals believe that constipation, the consumption of alcohol and a high-fat diet are connected to prostatitis. High cholesterol levels are thought to promote prostate enlargement by cholesterol metabolite accumulation within the gland itself. Lowering cholesterol levels is believed to reduce the risk of prostate disorders.

Conventional Therapies
Your physician will examine the prostate gland manually by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum. The gland will be tender to touch and enlarged. Lab tests will be ordered to classify the infection using urine samples and urethral secretions which can be obtained through manual massage oft he prostate gland.

Antibiotic treatment will be initiated with a slow recovery being more the rule than the exception. In severe cases, antibiotics will be administered intravenously. Unfortunately, the prostate gland has a poor blood supply making it difficult for antibiotic therapy to reach the area which prolongs curing the disease. Nalidixic acid is also prescribed for prostatitis. Proscar, (finasteride) is commonly used for prostate enlargement and while it can shrink the gland, it comes with unpleasant side effects such as possible impotence.

Taking Proscar can also inhibit the detection of prostate cancer. Painkillers are also routinely prescribed. If an abscess develops, surgical drainage may be required. If the infection does not respond to antibiotic therapy, an operation to drain out infected fluids may be required. It is considered fairly simple and requires a short hospital stay.

TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) is also available for an enlarged gland but has some side effects and may not provide permanent relief. New laser techniques will eventually improve this surgery.

The information presented is for informational purposes only. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Consult your doctor or health care practitioner for any health problem and before using any supplements.