Prostate Trouble: How Prostate Problems Can Lead to Something Worse

Unfortunately, prostate trouble is almost an inevitable part of being a man. If a man lives long enough, there is up to a 90 percent chance that prostate trouble will affect his health and quality of life. Outside of cancer, there is a dual threat when it comes to prostate trouble: prostatitis and enlarged prostate (BPH).

Enlarged prostate, or BPH, will only lead to serious prostate trouble if it prevents a man from emptying his bladder. A bladder that must remain constantly full because of prostate trouble like BPH can lead to quite serious health threats, including:

• Urinary tract infections—frequent infections that may require surgery
• Kidney damage—infections and urinary difficulties from prostate trouble may damage kidney tissues
• Bladder stones and other bladder damage—urinary problems from prostatitis can cause the bladder to build up mineral deposits or otherwise malfunction
• Acute urinary retention—a sudden and painful inability to urinate

The prostate trouble known as prostatitis is an all-purpose word for inflammation or infection of the prostate. Bacterial prostatitis can be acute or chronic, but some prostatitis is not linked to any type of bacterial infection. Prostatitis causes prostate trouble with symptoms like fever, chills, groin pain, and many urinary difficulties. Left untreated, a man can experience long-term, serious prostate trouble from prostatitis, such as infertility, inability to urinate, and bacteria in the bloodstream.