In a patient with latent heart disease, this can be fatal. Rats suffering from researcher-induced prostatitis were subjected to stress of confinement to a small space for 15 minutes, twice a day for four weeks. Rats hate being trapped in small spaces. Inflammation increased in those rates, while those not so confined healed. Prostate inflammation is thought to be stimulated in part by prolactin.
Prolactin is produced in the stress response of both rats and humans.
A human study is now being designed at the National Institutes of Health to further examine this link. A new study of close to 48,000 male health professionals suggests that bladder cancer is influenced by fluid intake. A higher fluid intake, especially of water, seems to decrease the risk in a somewhat proportional manner. It is thought that diluted urine decreases the bladder wall irritation caused by chemicals being held there. Researchers did not find any increased risk of bladder cancer attributed to coffee or alcohol consumption.