Experiencing heart palpitations is a concerning symptom while taking fish oil supplements. Stop using the supplement immediately, and call your doctor for a medical assessment. Heart palpitations may occur from fish oil supplements if you have a severe allergy to fish or if you have an implanted defibrillator. Irregular heartbeats are a sign of more serious complications that may lead to death if not medically addressed. Do not start taking fish oil supplements without first talking with your doctor.
Heart Palpitations
When you have heart palpitations, you feel that your heart is beating too fast or is pounding in your chest. Palpitations may be felt in your chest, neck or throat and may cause you feel as if your heart is skipping or missing beats. MedlinePlus states that a heart normally beats between 60 and 100 times a minute. Anything over 100 times a minute is considered an irregular heartbeat, or heart palpitations. In some cases, relaxing, taking deep breathes or reducing stress may help your heart return to normal its beating pattern. Heart palpitations accompanied with shortness of breath, pale skin, sweating and arm pain may be a sign of a heart attack. Call 911 immediately if you develop these symptoms.
Fish Allergy
If you’re allergic to seafood or fish, MedlinePlus recommends that you avoid the use of fish oil pills. About 7 million Americans have a fish allergy, which is a hypersensitivity to the proteins found in fish, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. If you have a severe allergic reaction to fish, taking fish oil supplements may trigger anaphylaxis, an extreme allergic reaction. During anaphylaxis your main bodily systems overact, causing life-threatening symptoms, such as heart palpitations, a drop in blood pressure, lightheadedness, pale skin, a faint pulse, convulsions, shock and an inability to breathe.
Defibrillator Consideration
If you have an implanted defibrillator device, you are advised by MedlinePlus not to take fish oil supplements. A defibrillator is a device that’s placed in your chest to help control your heartbeats. The device uses small shocks to maintain regular heartbeats. Without the device, some patients may go into cardiac arrest, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. The use of fish oil supplements may interfere with the device's ability to regulate your heartbeat, causing a heart attack.
Considerations
If you are taking fish oil supplements to increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake, you can talk with your doctor about using fish-free supplements. Flaxseed oil supplements are another source of omega-3 fatty acids that may be recommended for people with fish allergies. Flaxseed oil can also cause an allergic reaction in some people.
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