Why Flu Shots are Important for Those with Heart Disease:
People with heart disease are also at a higher risk for complications from the flu, such as pneumonia, heart attack and respiratory failure.
Decrease Your Risk of Blood Clots:
If you have cardiovascular disease or a history of blood clots, here is another reason to get your flu shot. It may decrease your risk of a blood clot in the future.
Researchers have known that the flu vaccine reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems in those with coronary artery disease, but weren’t sure why. It still isn’t clear exactly how the protection occurs, but those people in the study who had a flu shot were 26% less likely to develop a blood clot in the next five years.
For people under the age of 52, the benefit was even greater. These participants were 48% less likely to develop a clot.
Final Note:
It is important to note that people with heart disease or cardiovascular disease should not have the nasal flu vaccine, only the flu shot. The nasal flu vaccine contains a weakened live virus, which could trigger symptoms in people with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease.
Talk with your healthcare provider or your cardiologist about whether or not the flu shot is right for you.
Sources:
”Flu Shots Lower Risk of Blood Clots.” Health Day 11 Nov 08. Medline Plus. National Institutes of Health. 01 Jan 09.
”Flu Shots: Important if you Have Heart Disease.” MayoClinic.com 05 Sep 08. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 02 Jan 09.
