Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Can Constipation Affect The Prostate

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Using Palliative Care To Ease Discomfort

Constipation, Urinary and Prostate Problems, Rigidity-Father John S-Part 1

For both urinary and bowel incontinence that is caused by compression of nerves in the spinal cord as a result of prostate cancer that has spread to the spine or bones, palliative treatments for metastasized cancer may be of use. These treatments include radiotherapy, medication, or surgical removal of spinal cord tumors. However, these treatment options are not indicated for every situation. Your doctor will help you determine what path is right for you and to improve your quality of life. As always, coping with quality of life symptoms like these can take a toll on an individual or their caretaker both mentally and physically. For this reason, it can be a good idea to consult a therapist or counselor if needed for extra support.

Constipation And The Bladder

Constipation can affect bladder control and urinary continence. If you sometimes leak urine or feel that you need to frequently visit the toilet to pass urine, it could be that constipation is involved. An over-full bowel can press on the bladder, reducing the amount of urine it can hold or making you feel like to need to pass urine urgently.

Bladder And Bowel Incontinence

Incontinence is a loss of control of a person’s bowels or bladder which can cause accidental leakage of body fluids and waste. Incontinence can be more than a physical problem. It can disrupt your quality of life if its not managed well.

Fear, anxiety, and anger are common feelings for people dealing with incontinence. You may avoid being intimate or having sex because you are afraid of urine, gas, or stool leakage. Fear of having an accident may keep you from being physically active, enjoying hobbies, or spending extended time outside your home.;

Both men and women can have incontinence during and after surgery or some other treatments for cancer. Incontinence can also occur because of other non-cancer medical conditions. Be sure to talk to your health care team if you have difficulty controlling urination or bowels. Talking about incontinence can be embarrassing, but being open and honest with your health care team can help manage it.

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Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

Once a tumor causes your prostate gland to swell, or once cancer spreads beyond your prostate, you may have symptoms including:

  • The need to pee often, especially at night
  • Trouble starting or stopping a stream of urine
  • A weak stream or one that starts and stops
  • Leaking pee when you laugh or cough
  • Not being able to pee standing up
  • Pain or burning when you pee
  • Pain or burning when you ejaculate
  • Less fluid when you ejaculate
  • Blood in your pee or semen
  • Pressure or pain in your rectum
  • Pain or stiffness in your lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs
  • New trouble getting an erection

These arenât symptoms of the cancer itself. They happen because the cancer growth is blocking your prostate.

Chronic Constipation: A Strain For Men

How constipation affects your prostate?

When the topic of guts comes up in the locker room, most men are talking about courage on the field, not results in the bathroom. Bowel function is not a “guy thing,” but chronic constipation sure is, particularly for older men. Here are some things you should know about a topic you may never talk about outside your doctor’s office.

Read Also: Will Prostatitis Go Away On Its Own

Anatomy Of The Large Intestine

Before starting exercising, I guess, it would be helpful to have a clear image of the large intestine to understand the meaning of each pressure or massage movements.

In humans, the large intestine begins in the right iliac region of the pelvis, just at or below the waist, where it is joined to the end of the small intestine at the cecum, via the ileocecal valve. It then continues as the colon ascending the abdomen, across the width of the abdominal cavity as the transverse colon, and then descending to the rectum and its endpoint at the anal canal. Overall, in humans, the large intestine is about 1.5 meters long, which is about one-fifth of the whole length of the gastrointestinal tract.

Treatments And Prevention Of Constipation

Probiotics, high fiber diets and stool softeners are all ways to avoid constipation, says Dr. Rice.

Probiotics are found in live culture yogurt and kefir, and in the form of pills. Foods high in fiber include lentils, peas, fruits and vegetables.

A sedentary lifestyle promotes constipation.

If you have a desk job, get up every 45 minutes or so and walk around for a few minutes.

If you dont have a workout regimen, then start one. Excessive inertia is a risk factor for constipation.

For more information on the UTI Tracker, you can go to utitracker.com.

Dr. Rice is with Inova Medical Group in Fairfax, VA, and her clinical interests include bladder, kidney and prostate cancer, minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.;;

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How To Reduce Prostate Size

This article was medically reviewed by . Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 65,131 times.

The prostate gland is a part of the male reproductive system that can enlarge with age, putting uncomfortable pressure on the urethra. This can cause urinary difficulties, urinary tract infections , and even bladder stones. By making lifestyle changes and using medication, most men can reduce their urinary troubles. A few men, though, may need to consider minimally invasive or traditional surgery options to feel their best.

How Does Obesity Work

Poor memory , prostate,swelling , constipation , bronchitis , migraines , insomnia ,eczema

Currently, over 30% of American men are obese based on a body mass index of >30, about two decades past, this figure was two times less.Usually, you have an excessive body mass, not because of muscles but fat. Fat or how it called adipose tissue consists mostly of lipid-rich cells which are the energy storage of the body. It has been shown both on humans and animals that adipose tissue is a site where the high activity of enzyme aromatase is observed. Aromatase converts testosterone a male hormone produced in the testicles and making you masculine, into estrogen, or the most common form of estrogen estradiol . Although E2 is called a female sex hormone, it plays a crucial role in multiple functions, including reproductive, in mens bodies as well. And it works perfectly as long as you did not gain extra weight. Obese men have more aromatase activity than normal, more T irreversibly converts into E2 disrupting their balance. Males with increasing obesity have on average twofold higher estrogen levels in both systemic circulation and locally in the prostate. And of course, these hormonal changes not only make a man more feminine affecting his body shape, sexual sphere, and even his social behavior but have a significant influence on prostate health as well.

BMI >30 has been found to correlate with higher prostate weight, prostate-specific antigen , and more aggressive prostate cancer . BMI thus is an additional risk factor besides PSA.

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Belly Acupressure And Massage

  • Put your fingers together and press down with your fingertips on four areas around the navel. To find appropriate areas for the pressure, measure the width of four fingers to the right, left, up and down from the navel. The pressure is applied with both hands simultaneously, and it must be hard enough to feel discomfort in the pressing area. Hold in this position for 10 sec, breathe easily. Repeat the pressure ten times in each area.
  • Put the palms of both hands on the navel, make a deep exhale. In this position make ten retractions and protrusions of the abdomen and then inhale. Repeat the exercise 8-10 times.
  • Massage your belly for 1-2 minutes. Stroke the stomach in the direction from the right side up, to the left and down. Make a few stroking motions over the areas experiencing discomfort.
  • In the toilet, make a deep exhale and press down the left and lower abdomen. Hold in this position for 8-10 sec. Repeat the exercise a few times.Usually, it takes 2-4 months to get the desired result. If youve done exercises regularly, youll make a useful habit of massaging or pressing certain areas on your stomach to help your bowel to get clean from the waste.
  • Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression

    Metastatic spinal cord compression happens when cancer cells grow in or near to the spine and press on the spinal cord. MSCC isnt common, but you need to be aware of the risk if your prostate cancer has spread to your bones or has a high risk of spreading to your bones. The risk of MSCC is highest if the cancer has already spread to the spine. Speak to your doctor or nurse for more information about your risk.

    MSCC can cause any of the following symptoms.

    • Pain or soreness in your lower, middle or upper back or neck. The pain may be severe or get worse over time. It might get worse when you cough, sneeze, lift or strain, or go to the toilet. It might get worse when you are lying down. It may wake you at night or stop you from sleeping.
    • A narrow band of pain around your abdomen or chest that can move towards your lower back, buttocks or legs.
    • Pain that moves down your arms or legs.
    • Weakness in your arms or legs, or difficulty standing or walking. You might feel unsteady on your feet or feel as if your legs are giving way. Some people say they feel clumsy.
    • Numbness or tingling in your legs, arms, fingers, toes, buttocks, stomach area or chest, that doesnt go away.
    • Problems controlling your bladder or bowel. You might not be able to empty your bladder or bowel, or you might have no control over emptying them.

    Dont wait

    It is very important to seek medical advice immediately if you think you might have MSCC.

    Read more about metastatic spinal cord compression .

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    Bowel Dysfunction After Prostate Cancer Treatment

    The broad term of bowel dysfunction includes:

    • Diarrhea or frequent stools

    • Fecal incontinence or the inability to control bowel movements

    • Rectal bleeding

    All of these side effects are far more common following external beam radiotherapy than any other primary therapy, but as techniques and dose planning strategies improve, even these rates have been dropping.

    How Can I Manage Bowel Problems Myself

    The Health Website : Bowel (Colon / Colorectal) Cancer

    Living with bowel problems can be distressing, and for a lot of men it’s not an easy thing to talk about. But remember that doctors and nurses often help men with these issues. They’re used to discussing the problem and finding ways to deal with it.You may find it helpful to plan ahead and find out where toilets are before you go out, and carry absorbent pads.If you are having problems with diarrhoea, eating less fibre for a short time may help. Low fibre foods include white rice, pasta and bread, potatoes , cornmeal, eggs and lean white meat. Speak to your doctor, nurse or radiographer before changing your diet.

    Foods such as beans and pulses, cruciferous vegetables , fizzy drinks and beer can all cause wind and bloating so you may want to avoid these. Chewing your food slowly can also help.;

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    The Relationship Between Constipation And The Prostate Is Kind Of Like The Old Chicken And Egg Conundrum

    The egg: Constipation, aka the build-up of feces in the intestine , can put pressure on the bladder and the prostate, which can cause symptoms resembling those associated with an enlarged prostate. The chicken: an enlarged prostate can put pressure on the rectum and cause constipation. But wait, theres more

    Sonia Chartier

    What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

    As the second most common cancer found in American men, prostate cancer typically doesnt present warning signs in its early stages, but several signs and symptoms can signal the disease in its more advanced stages. Men of all ages need to watch for these warning signs. Here are the signs and symptoms we see most commonly among patients at Regional Cancer Care Associates.

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    How Does Obesity Affect Bph

    The results of all studies agree on one thing: obese men have a higher risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia and worsened urinary symptoms. . The greater the size of WC the larger the volume of the prostate and higher the values of prostate-specific antigen and International Prostate Symptom Score. All this shows the worsened lower urinary tract symptoms in obese men. .

    Several mechanisms may help to link obesity and BPH. They all work together, contributing to the worsening of the BPH symptoms independently of each other.;

  • Visceral obesity may increase intra-abdominal pressure and bladder pressure, which in turn aggravate lower urinary tract symptoms related to BPH.
  • Hormonal imbalance is another mechanism connecting obesity to BPH. Due to the high activity of the aromatase gene in adipose tissues and progressive conversion of testosterone to estradiol and androstenedione to estrone the ratio of estrogens to androgens increases. Besides, an increased estradiol production may suppress the Hypothalamicpituitary-gonadal axis and result in a further decline in the T levels and the development of hypogonadism thus favorable in the development of BPH. .;
  • How May My Constipation Be Treated

    Constipation relief for CPPS and male pelvic pain

    Constipation is a common side effect or unwanted change in your body when you have chemotherapy treatment. Constipation can make you feel very uncomfortable. The most important thing for you to remember is to not let your constipation go on for days and days, but to get help right away. If you do not have a bowel movement for two days, you should tell your health care team right away. There are medicines that your doctor or health care team can give to you that will make your constipation better.

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    Persistent Ejaculation And Prostatitis

    One study has found a connection between persistent ejaculations and the occurrence of chronic prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate over a period of time longer than 3;months.

    Symptoms and signs of chronic prostatitis include the following:

    • Post-ejaculatory;pain;is a hallmark of the condition.
    • Perineal;or pelvic;pain;without any evidence of a urinary tract infection, which;lasts;longer than 3 months.;
    • Pain can be present in the perineum, testes, tip of the penis;and the;pubic or bladder area.
    • Pain which;radiates to the back and rectum and;makes;sitting down;uncomfortable.;
    • Arthralgia.
    • Constant burning pain in the penis.
    • Abdominal pain.
    • Erectile difficulties.
    • Sexual dysfunction.

    The reason for this is because persistent ejaculation causes buildup of lactic acid and free radicals. These products are not cleared properly by the liver because its activity is suppressed by stress hormones released during the ejaculatory process. The buildup of these products;then;leads to inflammation of the prostatic tissue.

    Masturbation and testicular size

    Testicular size can be negatively affected by the following issues:

    There are literally over a hundred conditions that can cause testicular atrophy but masturbation is really one activity that one shouldn’t worry about causing this issue.

    Connection Between Ejaculation And Prostate Cancer

    The amount of ejaculations included those from sexual intercourse, masturbation and nocturnal emissions . The one study found that men who ejaculated 21 or more time a month had a 33% decreased chance of developing prostate cancer compared to those who;ejaculated 4-7 times a month. The second study showed that men who averaged 4-7 ejaculations a week showed a 36% decreased chance of developing prostate cancer, before the age of 70, as compared to men who ejaculated less than 2-3 times a week.

    It’s not known how this increased rate of ejaculation leads to a decreased risk of prostate cancer. The theory behind it is that ejaculation expels potentially harmful or irritating substances from the prostate, thereby decreasing the chances of the occurrence of a;malignancy.

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    What Is An Enlarged Prostate

    The prostate is a small gland, usually about the size of a walnut, that is situated just below the bladder and above the penis. The urethra passes through the prostate, which produces fluid that is mixed with sperm to create semen. When the prostate enlarges, it places pressure on the bladder and the urethra, which can cause urinary problems.

    The prostate is made up of four zones:

    • Peripheral zone. The area most easily felt during the standard digital rectal exam and the zone from which prostate cancer tends to develop.
    • Transition zone. This surrounds the part of the urethra that passes through the prostate. It enlarges as men age, causing benign prostatic hyperplasia and consequent urinary symptoms.
    • Central zone
    • Anterior fibromuscular stroma

    The prostate can become enlarged for a variety of reasons. The most common are:

    Constipation And The Pelvic Floor

    Urinary Retention â Phoenix, AZ â Enlarged Prostate â Ischuria

    Constipation can affect your pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscle strength is important for both bladder and bowel control. These muscles stretch like a trampoline from the pubic bone at the front to the coccyx at the back. They can be weakened by straining due to constipation, pregnancy and childbirth, or perhaps heavy lifting. Strong pelvic floor muscles are necessary for bladder and bowel control – to be able to ‘hold on’.

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