Fish oil for a regular beat

Arrhythmia and palpitations are types of irregular heart beat. They can often indicate heart disease and are a concern to medical doctors and their patients where there is known heart disease.

The heart beat is regulated by a complex natural electrical system which requires careful balance to function properly. Where heart weaknesses, heart attacks, and artery problems exist then this balance is upset.

A variety of studies now indicate clearly that omega 3 fish oils protect against heart arrhythmias and in addition, help to reduce the risk of developing this problem after heart surgery and heart attacks.

In a recent study in the Netherlands, patients who were experiencing arrhythmia were supplemented with either fish oil or placebo for approximately 14 weeks. The average 24 hour heart rate was significantly affected, decreasing in the fish-oil group by 2.1 beats per minute more than in the placebo group. The researchers considered this a significant decrease which would have a protective effect on the hearts of these patients.

Because of this and other major studies, dietary supplementation with omega-3 is now recommended as a preventative after heart attack in national and international guidelines.

Fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids.