The Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI recently published the results of a survey on omega-3 fatty acids and primary care physicians. In particular, this review addressed the question of how often primary health care doctors in Washington state prescribed omega-3 fatty acids for fish oil.
Only 17% of the responding doctors were identified as “highly qualified drugs”. Since fish oil supplements are readily available and a “recipe” is not needed, it is possible that doctors believe that there is no need to recommend omega-3 patients. But other factors may play.
Time, Time, Time ...
Most of the doctors surveyed agreed that proper nutrition is important for the prevention of heart disease and that patients should be aware of dietary considerations. Just over half recognized the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids, supplements for the health of fish oil, or simply added fish to the diet in a "secondary prevention" of heart disease. So why is fish oil often not recommended?
Have you recently visited your primary care physician? In many areas of the country, primary care doctors usually prescribe 6 or more patients per hour. This means that the waiting room is packed, and your time with your doctor can be no more than 5 minutes.
Those doctors in the survey who often recommended fish oil also reported that they had more time to discuss the importance of the diet with their patients. The researchers suggested that "reducing the temporal barriers associated with dietary counseling should be further explored in order to increase the recommendation of this important advice."
Other barriers ...
... in January 2006, researchers at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine wrote: “Physicians face several obstacles to advising their patients about nutrition, including conflicting evidence of the benefits of counseling, limited training and understanding of the topic, and imperfections ".
Numerous studies have confirmed that the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and primary care physicians should be aware of these benefits, but since (like almost everyone in medicine) there are conflicting opinions about omega-3 fatty acids, supplements for fish oil health and dietary fish consumption, the topic can be confusing. There are no clear rules about how much is too much, or how little effective.
Concerns about the presence of mercury in fish make it even harder to provide dietary recommendations that can be applied to everyone. Women carrying age and children should use the greatest caution when choosing which fish to eat and how often. For example, Oceans Living, a department of the Environmental Protection Network, recommends that young children never eat Atlantic salmon due to possible contamination with mercury.
It may be difficult to find a solution to all these issues. One of the best things an average person can do is to educate oneself about the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and primary care doctors who can help. Some research groups recommended handouts and brochures for doctor's offices. Consumer advocacy groups rated a number of different omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil health supplements in particular), and the results were good. For more information on the best fish oil supplements, please visit the Fish Oil Guide.
