Mayo Clinic Health Letter - Tip of the Month - December 2002

Thursday, December 12, 2002

An Aspirin a Day to Keep Cancer Away?

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Aspirin, the old standby for aches and pains, helps decrease the risk for a number of diseases, including several cancers, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Aspirin has been shown to:

• Reduce the risk of heart attacks. A study of 22,000 physicians published in 1989 showed a 44 percent decrease in heart attacks among those who took aspirin every other day.
• Reduce the risk of stroke in people at high risk for stroke.
• Reduce the risk of colon cancer. A 1995 study found that people who took aspirin daily were about half as likely to develop colon cancer as those who didn't.
• Reduce the risk of developing cancers of the esophagus, stomach, rectum, prostate and pancreas.

Because aspirin reduces the tendency of blood to clot, it leads to reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. Scientists aren't sure exactly how aspirin may prevent cancer, but they theorize that it limits the production of prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance that may be involved in tumor growth.

Ask your doctor if an aspirin a day is right for you. It's often recommended to prevent heart disease for men over age 40 and women past menopause. For some people, a daily dose of aspirin is not recommended because of potential side effects or other medical conditions.

New Treatment for Clogged Arteries Reduces Repeat Clogs

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Drug-coated stents, a pending treatment for clogged coronary arteries, is a major advance in patient care, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. However, it's not clear whether coated stents are appropriate for all people receiving stents or for all types of blockages.

Stents have been used to prop open clogged arteries since the early 1990s. But about one-third of the time, the arteries become blocked again (restenosis). A study published in September 2002 showed that drug-coated stents reduce the retenosis rate to nine percent. The coated stents slowly release the drug Sirolimus, which reduces inflammation and tissue scarring, both of which can cause restenosis in the artery wall. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing coated stents. They could be approved and available in early 2003.

Heel Pain That Heals, Eventually

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The first few steps in the morning feel like you are stepping on a knife, and then the pain lets up somewhat after you've been up and around a few minutes.

It's probably due to plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis), an inflammation of the fibrous tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone and toes.

According to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, plantar fasciitis generally clears up with simple treatments for pain and inflammation, but it sometimes takes a year or longer.

Try these self-help steps to relieve the pain. If they aren't effective, your physician may prescribe additional treatments.

• Lose excess weight. It increases the risk of plantar fasciitis.
• Do daily stretching and strengthening — even before you put your feet on the floor in the morning. ry toe curls and flexing and extending the foot.
• Apply ice. Place a cloth-covered ice pack on the area of pain for 15 minutes after an activity.
• Wear the right shoes. High quality walking or running shoes are the best.
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers. Use as directed to ease pain and inflammation.
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