A new study appearing in the February 5 issue of Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, reinforces the benefits of aspirin in reducing the risk of recurrent heart attack and stroke. Researchers found that aspirin alone was as effective as aspirin combined with warfarin, a prescription blood thinner, in reducing the risk of a recurrent heart attack.

The study is titled Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Clinical Trial Comparing Combined Warfarin and Aspirin with Aspirin Alone in Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

This research comes on the heels of another study published last month in the British Medical Journal, which confirmed that a significantly lower strength of aspirin -- between 75 milligrams and 150 milligrams -- is just as effective as regular strength 325mg aspirin, for long-term cardiovascular therapy. This is significant because higher doses of aspirin, while no more effective, are associated with significantly higher risk of serious gastrointestinal problems.

"Many of the 26 million Americans who are on an aspirin therapy for its cardiovascular benefit may be taking more than they need. In the case of aspirin, more is not always better," explains Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD, MPH, FACC, assistant professor of medicine cardiology and geriatrics, co-director of Women's CARE (Cardiovascular Assessment And Risk Evaluation), Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. "For my patients who are at risk for heart disease, I recommend 81mg of aspirin because this single dose provides effective cardio-protection, and higher doses of aspirin are associated with an elevated risk of stomach problems."

In the United States, 81 milligrams of aspirin is the standard for low strength aspirin. St. Joseph Aspirin is the only branded aspirin currently available in just one strength, 81mg. The brand was reintroduced last year for adults as part of a doctor-recommended treatment regimen to help reduce the risk of recurrent heart attack or stroke.