What is the percentage or number of americans currently taking anti-coagulant drugs?

Dear reinmoon, 

" Approximately 2.5 million Americans require anticoagulant therapy,
including the 500,000 U.S. patients with mechanical heart valves who
require lifelong anticoagulation medication to reduce the risk of
blood clots."
(SOURCE: "St. Jude Medical and LifeScan Launch Marketing Alliance to
Promote Anticoagulation Monitoring System.", Business Wire, Sept 5,
2001, <http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2001_Sept_5/ai_77838358>).

For more demographic information, see also: 
Ibrahim SA,Snow JS, Harper DL, Norris D, Kwoh CK, Baker DW. Racial
variation in the use of anticoagulant therapy in heart failure: a
study of elderly, hospitalized patients. JGIM 2000; 15(1): 134-137.

I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarification on it before you rate it. My search terms:
"percentage of americans" anticoagulant  
"percent of" anticoagulant" 
"in * * * anticoagulant" american 
"in * * * anticoagulant" patients 
"in * * * anticoagulant" 
"americans * anticoagulant"

Does this include aspirin? And does it include anticoagulant meds of
all types? Also, does it include herbal/natural products with
anticoagulant properties (e.g., ginger, ginko, ginseng)? I think the
final answer may turn out to be much higher when these are considered.