Video Interview with Dr. Anne Cahill on Supplements and Arrhythmia

Video Interview with Dr. Anne Cahill on Supplements and Arrhythmia

August 3, 2009 5:34 AM CT

I recently spoke at a conference at which Dr. Anne Cahill, a cardiothoracic surgeon, followed me and was talking about women’s heart health. She mentioned some findings regarding supplements and heart health, including the impact of Omega-3 fatty acids on arrhythmias. Afterwards, we had an opportunity to capture some of that for you on a short video.

View the video: Dr. Anne Cahill on Supplements and Arrhythmia — 1 minute 36 seconds.

Comment: To clarify, Omega-3 fatty acids are found in Fish Oil and Flaxseed, though Fish Oil is nutritionally a better source than Flaxseed. 

Dr. Anne Cahill is a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Heart & Vascular Institute of the Pocono Medical Center, and a Clinical Associate at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Find out more about her at:

About Dr. Anne Cahill

Video Transcript:

Mellanie:  This is Mellanie True Hills with StopAfib.org. With me today is Dr. Anne Cahill. She is a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Heart and Vascular Institute of Pocono Medical Center, and a clinical associate at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She has just talked about women’s heart health and mentioned some interesting findings related to arrhythmias. Dr. Cahill, thank you for joining me today, and let me just throw it to you to share some of what you just talked about.

Dr. Cahill: Thank you, Mellanie. We have been able to show, statistically, scientifically-proven, that there are many negative effects of vitamins, minerals, and supplements. Most of those commonly taken have no benefit for the heart. Vitamin E, for example, has more negative effects than positive effects for the heart. The only supplement we currently can scientifically support is Omega-3 fatty acids. They have a significant benefit for heart health. One of those benefits is decreasing arrhythmias. We actually can show that the addition of Omega-3 [fatty acids] 1,000 mg three times per week — not seven times per week — decreases death from a fatal arrhythmia, and I strongly support it.

Mellanie: Thank you so much Dr. Cahill.