Could a flu shot also prevent heart disease too?
New research is showing that people who have had a flu shot have had less hearts attacks and strokes. Imagine? Going for a flu shot may also protect you against heart disease!
Two Toronto researchers recently presented the findings at the 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress. They had run clinical trials since the 1960s. Their trials shows that the flu shot produced a 50% reduction in a major cardiac event like a heart attack, stroke or even death from them. This was proven on those already with or those without heart disease. In their trials 1/2 the subjects had the flu vaccine and the other half had a placebo. It was tested on over 3,200 people.
Research also showed that people people with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators who get the flu shot have fewer cardiac adverse events too. More patients with ICD’s do suffer more cardiac events during the flu season.
How Many Get Their Flu Shots?
- Last year about 42% of the American population got their annual flu shot.
- Babies had the most flu shots with 80% of them being vaccinated.
- Only 47% of pregnant women received their flu shots last year. That’s quite low for a high risk group.
- Healthcare workers themselves were not all vaccinated at 67% getting their own shots.
Heart Disease
More than 600,00o people die each year from heart disease. That accounts for 25% of the deaths in America. Over 900,000 suffer from heart attacks yearly. Could having the flu shot greatly reduce these staggering numbers? Of those 600,000 people 47% die outside of a hospital. Many people are not aware of the early warning signs of a heart attack. Many still believe chest pain is the primary symptom.
Other heart attack symptoms may include:
- Upper body pain in the jaw, neck, arms, back or upper stomach
- Cold sweats
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
Would you get a flu shot too if you were at a high risk of having a heart attack or stroke?
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