A Daily Aspirin Can Protect Your Heart
and Prostate

Protecting your heart can painproof your prostate. Taking a daily aspirin can prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is nonmalignant (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland, a common occurrence in older men. The enlarged prostate gland may compress the urethra which courses through the center of the prostate. This can impede the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside. It can cause urine to back up in the bladder (retention) leading to the need to urinate frequently during the day and night. Other common symptoms include a slow flow of urine, the need to urinate urgently and difficulty starting the urinary stream. More serious problems include urinary tract infections and complete blockage of the urethra, which may be a medical emergency and can lead to injury to the kidneys.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic analyzed the medical records of 2,500 men and determined that those who swallowed a daily nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), such as aspirin, were 40 percent less likely to develop BPH than those who didn't pop a painkiller.

"NSAIDs may prevent inflammation in the urinary and genital tracts, and therefore may prevent the development of BPH," says Dr. Jennifer St Sauver, the study's lead author. Men as young as 40 should consider taking 75 to 100mg of aspirin a day to reduce their risk of both heart disease and BPH. "Even this low a dose can help," says St Sauver.