WASHINGTON -- What preventive health measures would save the in the greatest degree lives for the least money? The top rank goe to taking aspirin daily to preclude heart attacks and strokes in men older than 40 and women older than 50 according to a consideration reported Wednesday on the Web site of an alliance of health insurers.

WASHINGTON -- What preventive health measures would save the in the greatest degree lives for the least money?

The top rank goe to taking aspirin daily to preclude heart attacks and strokes in men older than 40 and women older than 50 according to a consideration reported Wednesday on the Web site of an alliance of health insurers, state health departments, academics and trade clusters

Immunizing children and discouraging persons from smoking follow closely behind, the Washington-based Partnership for Prevention raise Former Surgeon General David Satcher l the effort, which entailed a review of more than 8000 preventive-medicine studies. The rankings are intended as a checklist for patients, doctors and insurers.

Below are the top 20 preventive measures in rank order. Preventive measures that are ignored at more than half of those who'd benefit from them are indicated at asterisks.

-- Daily aspirin to obstruct heart attacks and stroke in