A lot of questions on the use of aspirin for patients with atrial fibrillation are popping up. For almost a decade, aspirins have been used to combat strokes but it has been suggested that they cause more harm. They are being called 'smokescreens' because of their ineffectiveness. Doctors say that they should no longer be used to prevent strokes in heart patients. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE) suggest that aspirins should be avoided and that patients with atrial fibrillation should consult their general physicians and look out for alternate medication. This advice will be effective for more than a 100,000 people who are suffering from atrial fibrillation.

BBC had been told by the British Heart Foundation that most doctors have started prescribing alternate medication for their patients. In Britain, there are over a million patients with atrial fibrillation and a little more than a quarter are still undiagnosed. NICE has advised that aspirins should be replaced by anti-coagulants as they are more effective than aspirin in preventing strokes. NHS has suggested that aspirin is the wrong drug for over 200,000 patients suffering from heart disease.

Professor Mark Baker, Director of Centre for Clinical Practice, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, says, "This updated draft guidline reflects important new evidence about the best ways to treat the condition, including the use of the new generation of oral anti-coagulants and ablation strategies as well as the use of risk calculators to guide treatment decisions."

It is being said that educating patients with atrial fibrillation is of prime importance because those diagnosed with it are scared and it is of utmost importance for the physicians to explain to their patients the right medication for it.