Fish oil and aspirin are both taken by people fighting heart disease and stroke. Fish oil contains essential fatty acids that may decrease cholesterol levels, prevent the hardening of the arteries and increase overall cardiovascular health. Routinely, health care professionals suggest patients take aspirin for its blood-thinning effects, to decrease the risk of stroke. One of fish oil's effects is also thinning of the blood. Before combining the two over-the-counter substances, consult with your doctor to determine if the combination is right for you and your condition.
Blood-thinning Effect
According to NYU Langone Medical Center, fish oil's blood-thinning effect is mild. However, it is strong enough to increase the anti-platelet activity of other prescription medications such as warfarin. Aspirin has the same mild effect. The university states taking fish oil alone or with aspirin does not normally cause bleeding disorders and generally considers it safe. MedlinePlus states fish oil and aspirin's medication interaction is mild. Still, consult with your medical doctor before changing your medication routine.
Amount
An average dose of daily fish oil depends on the reason for taking the omega-3 supplement. When fighting high triglyceride levels, the American Heart Association recommends between 2 and 4 g of fish oil daily. If you are suffering from coronary heart disease, 1 g of fish oil daily or consuming a daily serving of fish containing 1 g of fish oil is recommended. Higher doses than 3 g of fish oil may place you at risk of bleeding, especially when adding aspirin into the mix. Many patients who take a daily dose of aspirin consume 81 mg for the prevention of blood clots and stroke. This is the same amount in a baby aspirin. Others take up to 375 mg daily, MayoClinic.com notes. Because each patient is different, your body may react to a fish oil and aspirin combination differently.
Safety Concerns
When considering the benefits of fish oil and aspirin, consult with your doctor. Taking supplements and over-the-counter medications together may trigger unwanted side effects. Though risk is moderately low for combining fish oil and aspirin, you could still suffer from potential health complications.
Additional Interactions
According to MedlinePlus, fish oil also causes blood pressure to slightly decrease. If you are prescribed blood pressure medications, be aware your blood pressure could reduce to levels causing health complications. Signs of very low blood pressure may include excess fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath or unconsciousness. If you are allergic to fish or other seafood, you may also suffer from an allergic reaction to fish oil.
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