| |
 |
|
| Medical Edge |
|
|
|
Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
ASPIRIN, SUPPLEMENTS MAY HAVE HAD ROLE IN NOSEBLEED
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I recently had a spontaneous nosebleed, which
had to be cauterized. My doctor didn’t know whether my daily intake of
two flaxseed oil tablets and two fish oil tablets could contribute to
the nosebleed. I also take a baby aspirin daily, which he knew might contribute
to it. Can flax oil and fish oil pills contribute to nosebleeds? — Anonymous
ANSWER: It’s possible that this combination could contribute to
a spontaneous nosebleed or other types of bleeding. No studies have been
done to specifically determine the risk of bleeding when these agents
are combined, so there’s no definitive answer. Here’s what we do know:
Aspirin: Aspirin interferes with your blood’s clotting action, and that
helps your heart maintain blood flow by reducing the risk of clots (blockages)
in your arteries. That’s why aspirin is recommended to help prevent heart
attack and stroke.
Fish oil and flaxseed oil — dietary supplements — are believed to act
in similar ways.
Fish oil: High doses of fish oil (greater than 3 grams a day) have been
associated with an increased risk of bleeding, but there’s little evidence
of significant bleeding at lower doses. Fish oil is a good source of omega-3
fatty acids that help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Flaxseed oil: In one clinical study, flaxseed oil was reported to decrease
platelet aggregation, an effect similar to aspirin. While flaxseed oil
also contains omega-3 fatty acids, the heart health benefits of this supplement
are less clear. Studies have shown mixed results.
Bottom line, your doctor was correct when he said the connection between
fish oil/flaxseed oil and bleeding is unclear.
Talk with your doctor before taking aspirin and the supplements together.
You might want to take aspirin alone because there’s strong evidence of
its benefits. After three months, if you don’t have bleeding problems,
consider adding fish oil again, especially if you have coronary artery
disease. There’s a growing body of evidence to support its use for CAD.
It’s debatable whether it’s worthwhile to take flaxseed oil. The evidence
isn’t as strong regarding its efficacy.
— Brent Bauer, M.D., Complementary and Integrative Medicine,
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
READERS: Choices in over-the-counter pain relief just keep growing.
Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource offers tips to help you make the best
choice:
If your condition involves pain and swelling, consider nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen sodium
(Aleve) and ketoprofen (Orudis). A caution: NSAIDs can irritate your stomach
lining and cause ulcers, resulting in abdominal pain or bleeding.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) relieves pain, but doesn’t reduce inflammation.
One benefit: acetaminophen isn’t associated with stomach irritation or
bleeding problems. But taking too much may cause liver damage, so never
exceed the recommended dose of 4,000 mg per day.
Buffered pain medications contain an antacid and some have a coating that
reduces but does not completely prevent stomach irritation.
Timed-release formulations dissolve slowly and prolong the relief.
If you need recommendations, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- - -
Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t
replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org,
or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite
114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.
© 2004 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
|
|
