It’s Time For Flu Vaccination.... To Protect Your Heart!?!

With the winter approaching, flu, cold and cough and even a bigger disease are ready to affect you. Hence, the health experts suggest better to have the flu shots than to lie on bed.

While reviewing the success story of the flu shots, researchers concluded that the vaccination against flu may also help in reducing the risk of major heart problems, such as heart attacks or unexpected chest pain. The researchers even suggested these shots are wonderful on even the people who have recently experienced such heart complications.

Flu season runs from October to sometimes as late as May, with the peak usually arriving in January or February.

The researchers analyzing information, facts and figures of five previously published studies in which more than 6,000 people, whose average age was 67, were randomly assigned to receive an influenza vaccination, a placebo or no treatment. Out of all the participants, about one-third of participants had a history of cardiovascular problems.

Check List

• After the study, the researchers concluded that the benefit of vaccination was more evident among patients who had recently experienced a cardiovascular problem.

• Of these patients, about 10.25 percent of those who received flu shots experienced another cardiovascular problem in a one-year period, compared to 23.1 percent of those who received a placebo or no treatment.

• Among those who received flu shots, 95 people, or 2.9 percent, experienced a major cardiovascular problem over a one-year period.

• Among those who received a placebo or no treatment, 151 people, or 4.7 percent, experienced a major cardiovascular problem.

• In vulnerable patients, getting the flu may trigger the rupture of artery plaques, inflammation of the heart muscle, irregular heartbeats or other problems that could lead to heart injury.

After the study, the researchers suggested all the heart patients in particular to have flu vaccination as it provides a simple, once-annual protective therapy to reduce cardiovascular events. However, the researchers stressed that the study found only an association and cannot prove that flu shots actually prevent major cardiovascular problems

The findings were published in the October 23 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers from the University of Toronto.

Meanwhile with the onset of flu season, the government is gearing up to combat the attack of diseases with decking up its vaccination preparations, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the health officials, symptoms indicative of the flu include fever, coughing, a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches and fatigue. So, it’s better to have the flu shots.

High-risk people typically include seniors, children between the ages of six months (the earliest point at which flu vaccine is given) and five years, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions. Some also covered are people who care for these high-risk individuals and could transmit flu to them, though the list differs from province to province and people in doubt should check their health ministry’s website or ask a doctor.