Prostatitis

Prostatitis is inflammation of your prostate gland. Your prostate gland sits below your bladder, in front of your rectum. Your urethra (the tube that carries pee and semen out of your body) runs through the center of your prostate.

If you have one of the four types of prostatitis, the tissue in and around your prostate gland becomes swollen, tender and irritated. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other bacterial infections can cause certain types of prostatitis, but some have no cause. There are treatments that help manage your symptoms.

What are the types of prostatitis?

Types of prostatitis include:

Acute bacterial prostatitis: A bacterial infection causes acute prostatitis. Symptoms include fever and chills. You may experience painful and frequent urination or have trouble urinating. Acute bacterial prostatitis requires medical treatment with antibiotics. Acute means it comes on suddenly.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Bacteria also cause this type of prostatitis. Symptoms may come on gradually, and it can take longer to treat. Unlike acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis doesn’t usually cause fever and chills. You’ll still have symptoms like pain when you pee or difficulty urinating.
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (or CPPS): CPPS is the most common type of prostatitis. It occurs in approximately 1 out of 3 people assigned male at birth (AMAB). As the name implies, this type causes chronic pain in your pelvis, perineum (the area between your scrotum and rectum) and genitals. Pain from CPPS can last months or years. It’s not an infection.
Nonbacterial prostatitis (asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis): This condition causes prostate gland inflammation but no symptoms. You may learn you have this condition after getting tests to find the cause of other symptoms. This type doesn’t need treatment and isn’t an infection.

How common is prostatitis?

More than 2 million people AMAB see a healthcare provider every year for prostatitis symptoms. Up to 50% of all people AMAB will have symptoms of prostatitis at some point in their lives. It’s the most common urinary tract issue in people AMAB under 50 and the third most common in people AMAB over 50.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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