When it comes to the health of the nation, there are two classes of people. Those who don't give their health a second thought until it starts to disintegrate and those who firmly believe in covering their backs, so to speak, by taking out health insurance and also implementing preventative measures to look after themselves before an event.



This second group are the ones that will be interested in new findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. For reasons not yet fully understood, studies have shown that women who take a daily dose of aspirin are thirteen per cent less likely to suffer breast cancer. With more good news, the study also concluded that a daily dose of ibuprofen reduced the risks by twenty one per cent.

These painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are normally only reached for when a pain starts to interfere with everyday activities, unless you have a heart condition when aspirin is recommended for its blood thinning qualities.

A total of thirty eight studies were carried out by the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and the University of Santiago de Compostela with the results pooled for the report. It involved 2.7 million women.

For British women who reach the age of 90, 12 per cent can expect to experience breast cancer. If this could be reduced by preventative measures, this would save many lives and for those who declared themselves to be taking such measures, this could possibly help reduce the premiums of some health insurance companies because the insured party would be seen as less of a risk.

It should be remembered that this study is not conclusive in that all contributing factors cannot be explained. A lot of health issues also involve lifestyle and diet as preventative measures. That said, Dr Mahyar Etminan of the University of British Columbia is encouraged. He says that anything that helps them to better understand the pathology of this disease is sending them in the right direction to save lives. He also goes on to stress that the routine use of these drugs should not be entered into without further trials as mis-use can increase the risk of stomach ulcers and kidney problems.

Cancer Research UK doctor, Dr Jodie Moffat, agrees saying that more research is needed but the results so far look promising.

Past studies have already shown that aspirin helps fight heart disease and tests have been so successful that it is now routine for GP's to recommend the daily dose to heart patients. It has also been found to lower blood pressure and hold back Alzheimers as well as being linked to lower incidents of bowel, mouth and throat cancers. So what is it about these little white pills that could possibly have such cancer preventing properties?

Some medical experts believe it is because they block enzymes that contribute to inflammation and cancers. It is already known that thinning the blood with aspirin prevents the formation of clots, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is also a possibility that aspirin helps to prevent the build up of harmful proteins in the brain and it is this that is thought to contribute towards the assistance for Alzheimers patients.

Whatever the reasons, let's hope that studies continue in this vain bringing us all welcome relief in the short term of reduced health insurance premiums and of longer, healthier lives in the long term.