Warfarin and dementia

[netpi]

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[BobD Volunteer]

Oh goody another scare story!

Lets stop and think about that for a moment. There has long been a suspicion that AF may increase the risk of dementia, the mechanics probably being micro clots lodging in the brain and dropping very tiny areas until you get areas of the brain which either work slowly or don't at all. Ideal conditions for dementia.

If anticoagulation is incomplete due to poor INR control this may well exacerbate the problem and we know that a large number of warfarin users have poor INR control.

NOACs offer a good alternative but are still very new on the block and when they have been in use as long as poor old warfarin no doubt there will be loads of such reports blaming them for everything from erectile dysfunction to (insert unlikely condition here.)

 Move on.

Bob

[maryjc in reply to BobD]

Bob your usual feet on the ground reply. Worry and fear is far more likely  to lead to any form of mental illness!

[djmnet in reply to maryjc]

Where would we be without Bob and his wise counsel?

[George2467814 in reply to BobD]

Sounds like real common sense to me Bob thanks

[Timmo50 in reply to BobD]

Yes its a scare story, but because it is a scare story that you diagree with, is it right to just poo poo it? Many people have major worries about the side effects of Warfarin and some of us choose to make our own minds up.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Timmo50]

This forum is supposed to be about support and encouragement for those with a very scary condition. Many of them have extreme anxiety problems  and maybe  easily lead  so a more responsible approach to posts would be sensible. Posting links to news items regardless of how good they are with no comment is not what this forum should be about in my view.

 We don't want sensor-ship as such  and for now at any rate there is no pre moderation but that could easily change.

[netpi in reply to BobD]

For those of us who don't have all the answers or know everything, I see no problem or issue with posting relevant news articles as a source of information, whether with or without comment, since knowledge is power and any and relevant information may be of some value to someone even if not for everyone - the issue of "censorship" is a slippery slope as is the suggestion of changes to moderation which sounds more like a threat than a worthwhile response - dealing with issues that one disagrees with by means of "censorship" or moderation does nothing to increase the free flow of relevant information whether you agree with it or not 

[Timmo50 in reply to BobD]

I agree that the lack of comment with the link is unhelpful. But maybe that person is trying to balance the Warfarin debate. My advice is to follow the advice of your Cardioligist/EP and mine thinks that at the moment in my case, the side effects of Warfarin  outweigh the benefits.

[netpi in reply to Timmo50]

Yes everyone is unique and will have different needs and requirements but in all cases it goes without saying there is no substitute for sound medical advice from qualified professionals 

[PeterWh in reply to netpi]

I agree that people should solicict sound medical advice but it is very important to understand (and I know you might not like me saying this) but there is not a consensus between different consultants on a load of topics or aspects. As has been said you could ask 6 consultants the same questions on the same person and you'll. Get 6 different answers.

You should also be aware that an individual consultant can give very different answers to different to patients with very similar conditions because of what they interpret what the patient wants to hear. People who are negative and ask very closed questions will get a different response to those who are positive and openly engage. 

[netpi]

I think it's wise to consider all sources of information, even and especially those that might be in conflict with my own

[Wightbaby]

While having my morning cuppa at my favourite cafe, I saw this mentioned in The Sun (yes....i KNOW!!!...... not exactly reliable)...so googled "Dr THOMAS BUNCH and Warfarin"...and sure enough there it was....for those who might be interested.....I haven't bothered to read it all...as bob says " a bit more scaremongering"!!

[Japaholic]

I read somewhere that AF is to blame for the rise of Donald Trump, and looking at David Cameron long enough leads to a bad case of Atrial Flutter. Don't believe everything you read in the papers, do your own research and decide on the balance of probability.