According to a study published in The Journal of Urology, men who take medications for enlarged prostate may be at a higher risk for developing heart failure. Although the risk is small, researchers warn it is still significant and should be considered by physicians when prescribing the medication.
Researchers from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, used administrative databases to identify 175,201 men who were 66 years and up with a diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) between 2005 and 2015. The men were analyzed according to which medications they had been exposed to, including 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) exposure and/or alpha-blocker (α-blocker) exposure.
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There were 8,339 men who had taken 5ARI, 55,383 exposed to a-blockers, and 41,491 who used combination therapy. It was found that a higher cardiac failure risk was observed among men treated with 5ARI and α-blocker, alone or in combination, versus men with no medication use.
The highest risk was for a-blockers alone, followed by a combination of a-blockers and 5ARI and lowest for 5ARI alone.
Widely Used Medications
Researchers believe these are significant findings, given that BPH is so common among older men. These medications are so widely used that more research is needed to find each risk associated to better help physicians direct patients into which ones may be right for them.
Physicians should consider the risk of heart failure among men who use medications for enlarged prostate. More research is needed to confirm findings and to find any relationships between other underlying medical conditions. If there is a history of heart disease, patients should speak to their doctor about finding the proper medication that would put them at the lowest risk for cardiac failure.
Sarah began her interest in nutritional healing at an early age. After going through health problems and becoming frustrated with the conventional ways doctors wanted to treat her illness (which were not working), she took it upon herself to find alternative treatments. This led her to revolutionize her own diet to help her get healthier and tackle her health problems. She began treating her illness by living a more balanced lifestyle through healthy food choices, exercise and other alternative medicine such as meditation. This total positive lifestyle change led her to earn a diploma in Nutritional Therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London, England. Today, Sarah enjoys helping others by teaching healthy lifestyle changes through her personal consultations and with her regular contributions to the Doctors Health Press. Also, passionate about following her dreams in life, Sarah moved to France and lived in Paris for over 5 years where she earned a certification in beadwork and embroidery from Lesage (an atelier owned by Chanel). She then went on to be a familiar face sitting front row and reporting from Paris Fashion Week. Sarah continues to practice some of the cultural ways of life she learned while in Europe. They enjoy their food, and take the time to relax and enjoy many of life’s little moments. These are life lessons she is glad to have brought back home with her.
