Eat nutritious foods. Don't smoke. Exercise. We're all familiar with these heart-healthy tips. Now here's some new advice for keeping your ticker healthy: get a flu shot.
Yes, research has revealed that the annual jab not only protects you from the seasonal flu virus, but it can also protect against heart-disease deaths. The research published in the European Heart Journal shows that during past influenza outbreaks there were increases in the number of deaths from heart disease because the flu can actually trigger these deadly heart attacks.
How? The flu can cause the body to become severely inflamed, which in some patients can trigger blood clots to form in the arteries leading to the heart causing heart attacks. Individuals in lower socio-economic groups who do not have access to proper cardiac medical care and expensive medication and individuals who are at a higher risk of developing heart disease can receive an added bonus from an annual flu shot. The flu vaccine is not only inexpensive and easy to get, it could also save thousands of people from dying of heart disease or influenza each year.
4 comments:
These comments have been invaluable to me as is this whole site. I thank you for your comment.
How interesting!
Do only specific strains of influenza trigger heart attacks? Or is it a property of all of them? Or all viruses?
I'd be interested to hear more "side effects" that either the flu or flu shot might have. Keep up the good work!
I am currently one of the 5-10 percent experiencing side effects from the flu vaccine. It sucks! No barfing or diarrhea, but a sore throat that won't quit, stiffness and aches systemically, a fever the first night, and fatigue. It's like a mild version of the flu. And now I am on day three. So somebody is obviously playing down the side effects. Every web site says that they are so mild etc. Well I can tell you that whoever wrote that has never had any problems with the vaccine. So I have a new perspective on this wonder vaccine. I came across someone linking the flu vaccine to preventing heart attacks. Come on, that is a stretch. Another site said that skipping the shot is like playing Russian Roulette. Give me a break. Oh yeah it's only 70% effective, so basically as with anything in life, if someone or some organization is only telling you the benefits of a product, the are salesmen!
The list of strange sounding advice may also include one day: staying away from softdrinks, and caffeine rich coffee. With better research, you simply keep putting off seeing highway; you end up entering side roads!!
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