Should Omega-3 be Part of Your Anticoagulant Therapy?
With heart disease on the rise, many people are turning to omega-3 as part of their anticoagulant therapy. Is this effective? Is it safe? These are some of the questions heart patients are asking and will be discussed in this article.
Omega-3 and anticoagulant therapy
Not yet familiar with omega-3, here's what you need to know. It is an essential fatty acid that plays in important role in brain and cardiovascular health. Omega-3 is a natural blood thinner that helps blood flow easier through the arteries and lowers the risk heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease.
Many types of anticoagulant drugs are available to thin blood, but most of these are very strong and contain serious side effects such as hemorrhagic stroke. Some people take aspirin as a blood thinner. But over time aspirin has the tendency to eat away at intestinal lining causing bleeding and ulcers. For these reasons, many patients turn to omega-3 as a natural blood thinner.
Omega-3 as an anticoagulant - does it work?
As a result of studies performed at the University of Maryland, professionals have come to the following conclusion:
"Strong evidence from population-based clinical studies suggests that omega-3 fatty acid intake (primarily from fish) helps protect against stroke caused by plaque buildup and blood clots in the arteries that lead to the brain. In fact, eating at least 2 servings of fish per week can reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 50%."
This encouraging news is a mere sample of many more studies backing up these findings. However, Robert O. Bonow, MD, of Northwestern University in Chicago is trying to "temper" enthusiasm until further studies are completed.
There is strong evidence that omega-3 consumed in the form of fish oil is very effective in treating heart disease. Heart disease is serious. You should always consult your doctor before attempting to treat yourself with omega-3. If you are interested in trying this method of anticoagulation therapy, consult your doctor before taking omega-3.
