‘Polypill’ could slash heart attacks and strokes

June 27, 2003 | Source: NewScientist.com news service

A wonder pill that could slash the rate of deaths from heart attack or stroke by over 80 per cent is being proposed by UK researchers.

The pill would combine a statin, folic acid, aspirin and three blood pressure lowering drugs to try to lower the four key risk factors for heart disease: cholesterol, high blood pressure, high homocysteine blood levels and blood platelet function. It should be given to everybody over the age of 55, the researchers argue.