If you have a cerebral aneurysm, you may need to make some changes to your lifestyle to avoid complications of your disorder. If your doctor tells you to stop taking fish oil, she is most likely concerned about the effects fish oil has on your blood's ability to clot, although the fish oil may not lead to a clinically significant tendency to bleed. If you have any questions about your doctor's recommendations, ask your doctor to better explain her reasoning.
About Cerebral Aneurysms
An aneurysm is a weak point in a blood vessel that causes the vessel to bulge or balloon out. Aneurysms can burst or leak blood, resulting in internal hemorrhaging. This is especially dangerous if it occurs in the brain, as neurons are delicate and generally cannot be regenerated. If you have a cerebral aneurysm, you are at risk of developing extreme bleeding in your brain, including bleeding into the subarachnoid space, which is the space between your brain and your skull.
About Fish Oil
Fish oil is a supplement that is extracted from certain kinds of fish, such as salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel that have oil that is rich in a type of fat known as omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have many different roles in the body and they can also be used to treat different diseases. One of the most common reasons why you may take fish oil supplements is to reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Fish Oil and Bleeding
One of the most important side effects of fish oil supplements is impaired blood clotting. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil make it harder for your platelets to stick together. Decreased platelet adhesion makes it harder for your blood to form clots. Although this is part of the reason that fish oil helps prevent heart attacks or thrombotic strokes, the interference with blood clotting can increase the risk of bleeding as a result of your aneurysm.
Considerations
If your doctor tells you to avoid fish oil after an aneurysm, she is trying to reduce your risk of potentially fatal complications. However, fish oil does not necessarily cause clinically significant problems with blood clotting, a March 2003 article in "The Journal of Nutrition" notes. However, more research needs to be done on the safety of fish oil supplements for people with aneurysms. If you have questions about your doctor's recommendations, ask for clarification and do not go against any directions your doctor has given you.
References
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Cerebral Aneurysm Fact Sheet; November 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil and Alpha-Linolenic Acid; April 2011
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Fish Oil Consumption and Reduction of Arterial Disease; K. Vaschonbeek, et al.; March 2003
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