An
Aspirin a Day May Help Prevent Enlarged Prostate
Older men who regularly take aspirin or a similar painkiller
may help keep prostate enlargement at bay, according to a report in the American
Journal of Epidemiology.
The common condition, called benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), typically affects one of every four men ages 40 to 50 and almost half
of those over 70, experts say.
An enlarged prostate can lead to frequent urination and
other bothersome effects.
However, men who regularly took a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
medication (NSAID) "had a reduction of 50 percent in enlargement and a 35 percent
reduction in moderate to severe urinary problems," says Jenny St. Sauver, Ph.D.,
a Mayo Clinic epidemiologist who led the study.
It did not matter which NSAID a man was taking: aspirin,
ibuprofen, naproxen (Aleve), or a more expensive cox-2 inhibitor such as Celebrex.
Eighty percent were taking daily aspirin," says Dr. St. Sauver.
The study was prompted by several earlier studies that suggested
a decreased risk of prostate cancer for men who took NSAIDs regularly.
This study included nearly 2,500 men living in the neighborhood
of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
Data on NSAID use and prostate enlargement arose from questionnaires
the men completed every two years from 1990 to 2002.
There are several theories as to how NSAIDs might keep prostates
from enlarging.
According to Dr. St. Sauver, the medications may reduce
prostate cell growth or increase the natural death of these cells. Another
theory credits the medications' anti-inflammatory activity.
The findings should not be seen as a green light for men
to rush out and start taking these painkillers without consulting a physician
first, the experts stress.
Men should always be cautious about taking NSAIDs, Dr. St.
Sauver notes, because the medications raise risks for gastrointestinal bleeding.
"We would like to see the results of our study replicated," she
explains. "If it can be, it would be important to figure out what kind of dose
and what kind of timing would be proper."
The warning against indiscriminate use of NSAIDs was repeated
in stronger terms by Eric Jacobs, Ph.D., senior epidemiologist at the American
Cancer Society.
Dr. Jacobs headed a study last year that found that men
who had taken NSAIDs regularly for a long period of time were at slightly decreased
risk of developing prostate cancer.
"The important thing about NSAIDs in general is that they
can have very serious side effects, gastrointestinal bleeding that can be fatal," says
Dr. Jacobs. "We do not recommend using NSAIDs for cancer prevention."
Many of the men in the Mayo Clinic study were taking low-dose
aspirin to protect against heart disease, he says.
"Currently, the decision about whether or not to take aspirin
is based on balancing cardiovascular benefits with the risk of gastrointestinal
bleeding," notes Dr. Jacobs.
"If someone is at high risk, the doctor can decide that
the benefits outweigh the risk," he says. "Currently, cancer is not part of
the risk-benefit ratio."
Always consult your physician for more information.
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An
Aspirin a Day May Help Prevent Enlarged Prostate
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BPH (also referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy)
is a condition in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged and may cause
problems associated with urination.
BPH can raise PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels
in the blood two to three times higher than the normal level.
An increased PSA level does not indicate cancer, but
the higher the PSA level, the higher the chance of having cancer.
Some of the signs of BPH and prostate cancer are the
same; however, having BPH does not seem to increase the chances of developing
prostate cancer.
A man who has BPH may also have undetected prostate
cancer at the same time or may develop prostate cancer in the future.
Therefore, the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) and the American Cancer
Society recommend that all men over 50 consult their physicians
about having a digital rectal and PSA examination once a year to screen
for prostate cancer.
The prostate goes through two main periods of growth.
In early puberty, the prostate doubles in size. Then, around age 25, the
prostate begins to grow again and continues to grow throughout most of
a man's life.
The continuing enlargement of the prostate does not
usually cause problems until later in life.
However, the second period of growth may, many years
later, result in BPH. According to the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK),
BPH rarely causes symptoms before age 40. The NIDDK states
that more than half of men in their 60s have some symptoms of BPH and as
many as 90 percent of men in their 70s and 80s have some symptoms of BPH.
As the prostate enlarges, it presses against the urethra
and interferes with urination.
At the same time, the bladder wall becomes thicker and
irritated, and begins to contract - even when it contains small amounts
of urine - which causes more frequent urination.
And, as the bladder continues to weaken, it may not
empty completely and leave some urine behind.
Blocking or narrowing of the urethra by the prostate,
and partial emptying of the bladder, cause many of the problems associated
with BPH.
The following are the most common symptoms of benign
prostatic hyperplasia:
- leaking or dribbling of urine
- more frequent urination, especially at night
- urgency to urinate
- urine retention - inability to urinate
- a hesitant, interrupted, weak stream of urine
These problems may lead to one/more of the following:
- incontinence
- kidney damage
- bladder damage
- urinary tract infections
- bladder stones
The symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia may resemble
other conditions or medical problems.
Always consult your physician for more information.
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