The Gut–Prostate Connection: How Improving Constipation Reduces Prostate Pressure

Many patients with prostatitis have had such an experience: in addition to abdominal distension and poor urination, there are also problems in the intestinal tract. Either squatting for half a day without defecation, or always feeling anal distension and a desire to defecate, may also have constipation and diarrhea.

In fact, this is not a coincidence; the prostate and intestinal tract, especially the rectum, can be called "door-to-door" neighbors in the pelvic cavity. The connection between the two is much closer than we think.

Today, I will talk to you about the relationship between the intestinal tract and the prostate, and how to improve constipation and effectively reduce prostate pressure.

Relationship Between Prostate and Intestinal Tract

The structure of the human body: the prostate is located below the bladder, the front is next to the pubic bone, and the back is close to the rectum. How close are the two? When a doctor performs a digital rectal examination, he can feel the size and texture of the prostate through the rectal wall.

Because the distance is so close, the prostate is congested and swollen after inflammation, which will directly oppress the adjacent rectum, bringing about the feeling of anal bulging and always having the desire to defecate but not discharging. When the swelling is severe, it can also block the intestinal pathway and make defecation more difficult.

Conversely, intestinal problems, especially constipation, can also affect the prostate. The accumulation of feces in the rectum and hard lumps will oppress the prostate, resulting in poor local blood circulation; inflammatory substances cannot be discharged in time, inflammation is naturally prolonged, and it is difficult to heal.

Therefore, the prostate and the intestinal tract influence each other. Next, let's talk about how these two interact with each other.

Dysregulation of Nerves:

Our body is full of dense nerve networks, and the prostate and intestine share the "line" of the pelvic autonomic nerve. This means that as soon as one of the organs sends an "uncomfortable" signal, the other can receive it quickly.

Inflammation of the prostate can stimulate these nerves, and when the signal is transmitted to the intestine, the rhythm of intestinal peristalsis will be disrupted. Some patients will be constipated because intestinal peristalsis slows down; some patients will have diarrhea because the intestinal tract is stimulated to peristalsis too fast. But in either case, it is not the intestinal tract itself that is diseased, but the temporary disorder of nerve regulation.

More importantly, the pelvic floor muscles are interconnected. Excessive exertion during defecation will lead to excessive contraction and spasm of pelvic floor muscles, which will be directly transmitted to the prostate and aggravate prostate congestion. Since there was already a bad inflammation, this kind of additional stress will make the swelling and pain more intense, forming a vicious circle.

Inflammation and Flora: Leading to a Chain Reaction

When prostatitis attacks, the body produces inflammatory mediators, which do not stay in the prostate and spread to surrounding tissues, including the rectum. Rectal mucosa becomes sensitive when stimulated, and even a small amount of feces can trigger the desire to defecate, which is one of the reasons why many patients have a frequent desire to defecate.

There is also an easily overlooked point: many patients with chronic prostatitis will be treated with antibiotics. Although antibiotics can kill bacteria, they can also "accidentally injure" the beneficial flora in the intestinal tract, leading to the imbalance of intestinal flora, which can lead to abdominal distension, diarrhea, or constipation, which can be described as "curing a disease, adding a trouble."

In fact, to deal with this situation, you might as well try the natural herbal therapy of the Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill from Dr. Li's clinic. Unlike antibiotics, it does not destroy the balance of intestinal flora but can effectively solve the problem. 

On the one hand, it relieves prostate congestion and edema, reduces the stimulation of inflammation to surrounding tissues, and reduces the impact of the prostate on the intestinal tract. On the other hand, it can also diminish inflammation and diuresis, help the body to discharge inflammatory substances, improve the discomfort of urination, and alleviate the feeling of intestinal swelling. 

For chronic prostatitis patients who do not want to be troubled by the side effects of antibiotics, this mild conditioning method is more secure.

How to Relieve Prostate Pressure by Improving Constipation

Since constipation can increase the burden on the prostate, we should start with daily small things to solve the problem of constipation and help relieve the pressure on the prostate.

Healthy diet:

Eat less milled rice and white flour, and eat more celery, leek, oats, corn, and other foods rich in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is like the "cleaner" of the intestinal tract and can promote intestinal peristalsis. At the same time, drink 1.5-2 liters of water every day to keep the stool soft and defecate more smoothly. Spicy stimulation and fried food to eat less; they not only stimulate the intestinal tract but also aggravate prostate congestion.

Develop a good habit of regular defecation:

Fix a time every day; for example, after breakfast, go to the toilet and squat for 5-10 minutes, even if there is no desire to defecate. Because intestinal peristalsis is the most active after breakfast, the effect of cultivating the defecation reflex is the best at this time. 

Don't play with your mobile phone when you go to the toilet; concentrate on defecation, and control the time within 10 minutes. Squatting too long will aggravate pelvic congestion; the loss outweighs the gain.

Moderate exercise: 

Sitting for a long time can affect prostatitis and constipation. Thirty minutes of fast walking, jogging, or Tai Chi every day can promote intestinal peristalsis and improve pelvic blood circulation. 

In addition, Kegel exercises are also very effective; do several groups of contraction and relaxation of pelvic floor muscles every day. It can coordinate the function of pelvic floor muscles. Also, it is helpful for defecation and prostate recovery.

However, it should be noted that during the onset of acute prostatitis, one should not do strenuous exercise or increase abdominal pressure.

Do not blindly use drugs, and seek medical treatment in time if there are problems:

Don't take laxatives casually when you are constipated. Many laxatives can make the intestinal tract dependent, and the more you eat, the less effective they are. 

If constipation or diarrhea lasts for a long time, accompanied by abdominal pain, hematochezia, and other symptoms, we must seek medical treatment in time. 

Go to the hospital to investigate irritable bowel syndrome, proctitis, and other problems. If patients with prostatitis have abnormal defecation at the same time, it is better to let urologists and gastroenterologists jointly diagnose and find out the cause before treatment.

Conclusion

The prostate and the intestinal tract are neighbors who "share weal and woe." If you take good care of one, the other will be comfortable. Improving constipation seems like a small thing, but it can actually reduce the pressure on the prostate and help you get rid of inflammation faster.