Fish oil is beneficial to heart health and is an ideal addition to any diet. Fish oils have several overall benefits but also must be used with caution if you are taking other medications due to their potential interactions with those medications. For surgical candidates, it is important to mention your use of fish oil supplements to your doctor, as there may be both benefits and potential problems related to their use.
Features
The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times per week, particularly fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon. Ideally, fish oils should be consumed in the diet, but supplements are available for those who cannot. The Association contends that omega-3 fatty acids, the most common fish oil, can decrease triglyceride levels, slow the process of hardening of the arteries, reduce the risk of sudden death and somewhat decrease blood pressure.
Significance
Occasionally, doctors will recommend fish oil after heart or kidney transplant surgery. The purpose is to prevent high blood pressure and kidney damage following this surgery. According to the Mayo Clinic, the supplement can also help prevent these conditions, which can be caused by both the surgery and the anti-rejection medications. Also, following the coronary artery bypass surgery, fish oil is sometimes used to keep the newly rerouted blood vessels open.
Warning
Fish oils may slow the ability of the blood to clot. Fish oils should not be taken along with medications that slow blood clotting as fish oil may increase the chances of bruising and bleeding, according to the National Institutes of Health. These blood-thinning medications, such as Coumadin, are commonly prescribed following surgeries to prevent blood clot formation. It is important to mention all supplements, specifically fish oil, to your doctor before you are taken into the operating room.
Interactions
Fish oil may interact with several medications causing serious reactions. Following surgery, you may be placed on blood pressure medication to decrease high blood pressure. The National Institutes of Health believes fish oil may decrease blood pressure, therefore adding fish oil to medications designed to lower your blood pressure may lead to critically low blood pressure levels. These medications include captopril, diltiazem and furosemide. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you if your medications may cause interactions.
Side Effects
Large doses of fish oil do not enhance the benefits of the supplements. Actually, high doses may cause nausea, diarrhea, belching and a bad taste in the mouth. According to the University of California Berkeley, "Large doses of fish oil can also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, suppress the immune system, and decrease glucose control in people with diabetes." Following your doctor's recommendation for dosage is particularly important before and after any surgical procedure to decrease the risk of these side effects.
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