Flu Shot Might Protect Your Heart

When you live in Florida, it can be easy to miss the impending arrival of flu season. Of course, you can get sick from the influenza virus at any time of the year, but it is far more likely in the fall and winter.

Those colder months are more jarring in northern cities like Chicago and New York, but the flu is no less threatening in the Sunshine State. And the vaccine might not just protect you from the flu. if you have a pre-existing heart condition, getting a flu shot is an important step toward protecting your heart health.

Influenza Dangers

Fewer than half of U.S. adults get the flu vaccine annually. One of the benefits of this statistic is that it creates a large body of data to help understand the value of vaccinations for the heart. Among the things we have learned: You are 20 percent less likely to die from heart issues if you have been vaccinated.

Researchers do not fully understand why, but studies have shown that people are six times more likely to have a heart attack in the week after being diagnosed with the flu. Among the theories is that inflammation related to the flu could be the culprit. Heart attacks can be caused by blockages created when plaque (made of cholesterol and other substances) interferes with the normal flow of blood through your arteries. Inflammation may cause plaque deposits to become unstable and rupture.

This makes people with heart disease particularly vulnerable to flu-related complications, including:

• Bronchitis
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Pneumonia
• Stroke

Getting a Flu Shot

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual flu shots for anyone over the age of 6 months. But that advice is particularly important for anyone with a heart condition – including heart disease, a previous heart attack, heart bypass or heart stents.

There are several reasons why people are hesitant to get vaccinated, including a fear of needles. But one of the biggest drivers is a concern about potential side effects – namely the mistaken belief that you can get the flu from the vaccine.

It’s true that there can be some uncomfortable side effects, including swelling and redness around the injection site, muscle aches, chills, fever and nausea. But these symptoms tend to be mild and do not mean you have the flu, which hospitalizes up to 800,000 people a year. And going back to the heart connection – half of those hospitalizations are people with heart disease.

Some studies even suggest that mildly adverse reactions to the shot may be a sign that your body is developing a stronger immune response.

It’s important to remember the vaccine doesn’t guarantee you won’t get the flu. But it will lower your risk and the severity of the illness and its complications. Instead of being hospitalized, for example, you may only experience chills and a fever for a few days.

That means your efforts to protect yourself against the flu don’t end with an injection.

Other Flu Prevention Tips

In addition to getting vaccinated, there are other preventive measures you can take, including:

• Don’t touch your face. When you touch a surface contaminated with germs and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, it increases your risk of getting sick.
• Cover your nose and mouth. Wearing a face covering when you are outside your home can help protect against the flu and other airborne viruses and bacteria.
• Eat nutritious food. A balanced diet rich in nutrients boosts your immune system and overall health.
• Exercise. Regular physical activity bolsters your immune system, helps maintain a healthy weight and is good for your heart health.
• Wash your hands frequently. Thoroughly wash with soap and water after leaving your home, touching contaminated surfaces or coming into close contact with others.