Fish oil could save lives by preventing heart failure deaths

The capsules of fish oil given to heart patients could save more than ten thousand lives every year, claimed researchers. A study review revealed that providing omega-3 supplements can prevent the death of approximately one in ten patients of heart attack. The regular use of omega-3 supplements can also prevent the hospital admission due to breathlessness and fluid retention.

According study statists approximately seven lakh Britons suffer heart failure and more than sixty-eight thousand new cases of cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed each year and it is thought to kill more than one lakh people every year. The survival rates are shoddier than for breast and prostate cancer. The study review is published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine.

In a study survey, researcher monitored seven thousand heart failure patients over the period of four and half year, those took part in larger Italian study. The results showed that there was nine percent fall in death rate of those taking purified fish oil and there was reduce by eight percent in hospitalization rates.

Omega-3 fatty acids are natural polyunsaturated found in oily fish, flaxseed, walnuts, soya beans, pumpkin seeds and rapeseed oil. These fats are significant throughout adult life for mental wellbeing but particularly help heart patients and arthritis patients by blocking the body’s reaction to cutting blood fats, inflammation, blocking dangerous heart rhythms and reducing the chances of blood fats, inflammation, blocking dangerous heart rhythms and reducing the chances of blood clotting.

If five lakh heart patients took omega-3 supplements regularly then ten thousands lives a year might ultimately be saved, said Professor Martin Cowie, speaking at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Stockholm. He anticipated ESC guidelines to recommend the use of omega-3 supplements in heart failure in near future.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence suggests supplements on the NHS to prevent a second heart attack. The most recent evidence would persuade NICE that heart patients should also get them explained Professor Cowie from Imperial College London and the Royal Brompton Hospital.