The first year after I was diagnosed with afib I refused to take a blood thinner. I had 3 clots two in my lungs one in one leg. I was lucky not have had a stroke. The newer blood thinners had just come out and
I was not comfortable with them. Yeah I was not thinking right for sure.

Been on warfarin for a few years now and take K7 with it. The afib events are few and far a couple a year. I do get palpations but mostly from cold water, too much food, stressing over anything and laying on my left side at night.

I consider myself blessed at this point in my life. It could be so much worse.

Islandlover: Aspirin does NOT work effectively for afib stroke prevention. It causes more brain bleeds than the NOACs.
look again:

"The Apixaban Versus Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to Prevent Strokes (AVERROES) trial18 was a randomized double-blind trial designed to compare apixaban 5 mg twice-daily vs. aspirin (81-324 mg/day) for stroke prevention in patients with AF and at least one additional risk factor for stroke, but considered "unsuitable" to treatment with warfarin. In a population with a mean age of 70 years, the study reported a comparable incidence of ICH for aspirin and apixaban. 11 intracranial bleeds were reported with apixaban and 13 with aspirin (0.4% per annum for both, OR for apixaban vs. aspirin: 0.85, 95% CI 0.38-1.90). - "

NOACs do NOT cause dementia. The only association with dementia is with Warfarin/Coumadin. And that was when they were above the therapeutic range on Warfarin AND WERE ON ASPIRIN! Yes, aspirin!:

"CHICAGO, IL Patients with atrial fibrillation who were taking an antiplatelet and were above the therapeutic range for warfarin a quarter of the time were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with dementia as patients who were not overtreated in a 4-year study. The antiplatelet agent was aspirin in more than 95% of cases and clopidogrel in the other cases."

Aspirin is not recommended for afib stroke prevention. Google it:

"Preventing Stroke When You Have Atrial Fibrillation | Patient
patient.info/health/preventing-stroke-when-you-have-atrial-fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes a fast and erratic heartbeat. ... Aspirin is no longer recommended for stroke prevention in people with atrial fibrillation because it is ...


Why Aspirin Should Not Be Used for Atrial Fibrillation Stroke ...
www.stopafib.org/.../aspirin-not-effective-for-atrial-fibrillation-stroke-pre... Stopafib.org

Jun 27, 2012 - Dr. Waldo Discusses Removal of Aspirin from Atrial Fibrillation ... bleeding but still would provide efficacy in some patients with low stroke risk.

New Guidelines for Afib Patients: Better Blood Thinners, Less Aspirin ...
www.everydayhealth.com/.../new-guidelines-for-afib-patients-better-...
Everyday Health

Feb 24, 2015 - Newer, safer blood thinner drug options are easier for afib patients to use. ... Improved blood-thinning drugs to prevent stroke-causing blood clots. ... Newer drug options prevent blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation and are alternatives to the previous mainstay of treatment ..."

If aspirin doesn't work well for afib stroke prevention and causes as least as many brain bleeds as Coumadin, why do you think it is a good choice?

It appears we are all doomed to dementia no matter if we take warfarin, aspirin or pradaxa. Just google afib and dementia.. Scary stuff. The studies show the younger you were when you got your first afib attack, the worse the potential brain damage. I was in my early 40's, so apparently, by the time I'm in my 60's, I'll be drooling in the hallway of a nursing home..

To reduce your risk of developing dementia and other serious health conditions, it's recommended that you:

1.eat a healthy diet.
2.maintain a healthy weight.
3.exercise regularly.
4.don't drink too much alcohol.
5.stop smoking (if you smoke)
6.make sure to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

That's in a normal person... Petey. But if you really start reading the medical studies that have come out in the past two years, the statistics are truly shocking. The problem too.. Is they have no idea why afib is such a huge risk factor for dementia. They found it didn't matter if you never had a stroke, had.an ablation, or are on anti-coagulants, the odds of developing dementia more than double for those with afib. The risk is even greater for those whose INR levels aren't stabilized on Warafin. And.. No matter which anti coagulant you're on, the younger you had your first afib episode, the greater the chance for early onset dementia.

Well, I've had AFIB for 40 years (40 years ago they didn't know what it was), and diagnosed for about 10 years. I've had a stroke, two ablations, have been on warfarin and now Eliquis, and I think I'm not babbling yet. At nearly 67 I still work 2-3 days per week as a computer engineer.

I follow Petey's recommendations I:
1.eat a healthy diet.
2.maintain a healthy weight.
3.exercise regularly.
4.don't drink too much alcohol.
5.stopped smoking (I quit over 30 years ago)
6.make sure to keep my blood pressure at a healthy level

You can't believe every that comes up on Google. Google will always find what you are trying to prove. Remember in the medical science world it's publish or perish. That doesn't mean that the findings are valid!!!

Island, No ones posting a rebuttal so my guess is what you post may have some merit or Petey has some cognitive impairment this week and cant come up with an answer. Ive read a few of those studies and I get dizzy attempting to dissect all of the variables in types, age groups and treatments. One study followed those 55-105. Getting to 105 with or without AF is incredible and having dementia then isnt earth shattering news. Those with paroxysmal and ablated fared much better than those with persistent. Men were much less likely to get dementia due to two factors, we die younger and are treated differently. Those untreated fared worse with both genders. Also, cognitive impairment was included in the study with dementia. I forgot where I left my car keys is much better than , Who are you? Even tho the average age in most studies varies from 78 to 83, Ill nonetheless acknowledge that we have a greater chance, but Im not ready to admit its double over those who do not have AF.