U of M to expand low-dose aspirin campaign as stroke, heart attack prevention

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a low-dose aspirin a day could keep thousands of Minnesotans out of the emergency room by helping to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. That's the message of a five-year statewide campaign that will be launched this spring by the University of Minnesota, together with Target stores and primary care providers, that aims to reach people who would benefit from aspirin and can withstand its potential adverse effects. Organizers hope to demonstrate that an over-the-counter medicine that costs just 2 to 3 cents a day can prevent many cataclysmic cardiovascular events, saving lives and millions of dollars in health care costs