Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Fish Oil
There are a number of
risk factors for heart disease, which are conditions or behaviors that increase a person's chances for developing it. Some of the risk factors that can be controlled include:
Recommendations for Fish Oil
So should everyone take fish oil supplements or consume fish oil for
heart disease prevention? Not necessarily. For people without risk factors for
heart disease, the added cost of these supplements is probably not worth any possible benefit; however, these people can still increase the amount of fish they eat as part of a heart-healthy diet. People should try to eat oily types of fish at least twice a week.
For people at serious risk for
heart disease, or those already with heart disease, increasing the amount of fish oil in one's diet or taking supplements is a good proactive step. People should get at least 1 gram of fish oil per day, whether through their diet or through supplements.
People considering taking fish oil supplements should not take more than 3 grams a day due to the increased risk of bleeding. Anyone thinking about taking these supplements should talk with their healthcare provider, as there could be interactions with medicines they are already taking.
Finally,
preventing heart disease requires more than just fish oil. It involves adopting the well-proven prevention approaches that reduce the risk of heart disease, such as:
- Following a heart-healthy diet
- Getting regular physical activity
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Quitting smoking (or not starting at all)
- Controlling high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
If you still have questions after reading this eMedTV article, talk to your healthcare provider about fish oil and heart disease. He or she can help you determine if this product is right for your situation.
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