The Atrial Fibrillation Optimal Treatment Task Force, led by the Alliance for Aging Research, has just released a consensus statement developed by a group of leading afib stroke prevention experts. We at StopAfib.org are proud to have been part of the development of this consensus statement, which recommends a process for assessing afib stroke and bleeding risk to ensure that patients get appropriate anticoagulation. Importantly, aspirin was not recommended for atrial fibrillation stroke prevention.
To learn more, see:
Statement is contrary to recommendations of two cardiologists I have seen. After three AFib events in a 9 month period, I totally gave up alcohol, caffeine, and have increased my potassium intake. I exercise regularly. It has now been 1 1/2 years since the last AFib event and I have not had more than an occasional 5 to 10 second blip on occasion. I take 50mg of Atenolol per day. My two cardiologists have me take a 325mg aspirin each evening instead of taking Coumadin. I know several friends who use Coumadin, and I am repulsed by it. Pradaxa may be OK, but I don’t like the side effect risks.
If aspirin is of no value, why does Dr. OZ recommend it? Why did two cardiologists recommend it? Why isn’t the medical community on the same page? So who is right – my doctors, or you?
Sometimes I think we are better off with less knowledge. It means far less stress in our lives. I’m 78, and confusing medical recommendations and advice are the last things I need.
Did Dr. Oz recommend aspirin for heart disease, or for afib stroke prevention? It’s very effective for heart disease, just not for afib stroke prevention.
The European guidelines for afib, and the Japanese guidelines as well, have removed aspirin for afib stroke prevention, and it’s expected that the same will be done for the US guidelines when they are revised.
Here is the video where one of the top afib experts, Dr. Al Waldo, talks about why aspirin is now longer recommended for afib stroke prevention: http://www.stopafib.org/newsitem.cfm/NEWSID/412
You might ask your doctors why they are recommending aspirin when it has been removed from the all the guidelines except US, and those are under revision, too.
Mellanie
The consensus statement link leads to a page that says it is no longer available.
I’m sorry the link was broken, but thank you for pointing it out. Here is an updated link to the consensus statement, and the news story has been updated as well. Happy New Year!