A new spin on NSAIDs?
NSAIDs and BPH
Drug companies now have a new spin they can put on sales pitches for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
As I’ve noted in previous e-Alerts, BPH – benign prostatic hyperplasia – is an enlargement of the prostate gland; a typical condition in about half of all older men, and one out of four middle-aged men. BPH symptoms include frequent or painful urination and weak urinary flow.
A new Mayo Clinic survey shows that men who take NSAIDs on a regular basis may cut their risk of BPH in half, compared to men who don’t take the anti-inflammatory drugs.
Given that BPH can develop anytime from middle age onward, a three-year survey is by no means conclusive. Nevertheless, you can be sure that drug companies that produce NSAIDs will put the results to promotional use, offering more incentive for men whose doctors recommend a daily aspirin to lower heart attack risk.
Unfortunately, most men may not realize there’s a little problem with everyday aspirin use. When a 2005 study suggested that a majority of regular NSAID users may suffer some type of bowel injury (ranging from minor erosions to significant ulcers), the makers of Nexium responded with advertising aimed at the NSAID crowd. The gist of it went like this: Nexium may help prevent the ulcers you’re at risk of developing.
Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for advertisements that target the side effects of Nexium. According to the Nexium web site, those adverse side effects include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation and headaches.
Headaches? You can get rid of headaches with NSAIDs! Perfect!
Men who recognize the first symptoms of BPH should talk to their doctor about treating their condition safely with saw palmetto extract. You can get all the details about saw palmetto from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., in the e-Alert “Go With the Flow” (7/7/05), which you can find at this link:
Source:
“NSAIDs for Enlarged Prostate” Ivanhoe Newswire, 8/30/06, ivanhoe.com
