Recent approved efficiency of "Polypill," a cheap five-in-one pill in reducing the average person's risk of heart disease and stroke. This new pill is combination of five heart drugs -- three blood-pressure-lowering drugs, a cholesterol-lowering statin drug, and aspirin.

Research team led by Salim Yusuf, MD, of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario analyzed data collected from more than 2,000 people with one heart disease risk factor, such as obesity, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.

Study subjects were groups, one group was given the polypill while the other eight groups were given individual components of the pill or combinations of them.

Data analysis revealed that the polypill reduced systolic blood pressure by 7.4 points and diastolic blood pressure by 5.6 points as compared to groups not receiving blood-pressure-lowering drugs.

There was 25% reduction in LDL "bad" cholesterol in the polypill group and 28% in the statin drug group. Polypill group showed same reduction in heart rate and blood clotting as the group taking the beta-blocker or aspirin alone.

Study researcher Salim Yusuf said that the single capsule, taken just once a day, has the potential to slash the average person's risk of heart disease and stroke by about half.

He added that the side effect rate "was identical for the polypill as for the five separate drugs. This was a pleasant surprise."