Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Cardiac Arrest and Flu Shots

KENDALL, FL - SEPTEMBER 02:  Maria Bucio, an A...Image by Getty Images via @daylifeNew research by the Canadian Medical Association indicates how the highly recommended yearly flu shot may have much more benefits than stopping the seasonal flu. There is certainly evidence the shots may also help to avoid cardiac arrest additionally, the protection seems to be greater the earlier the shot is administered.

Although heart disease happen throughout the year, the highest risk of heart attacks occurs while in the winter months. Since this is the highest risk season for flu at the same time, there could be a link between influenza and heart attacks that, until now, wasn't suspected. Just how receiving a flu shot protects against a heart attack is not yet known. Some analysts tied in with the study theorize that a flue infection may somehow bring about what they called a “plaque rupture” which can bring about either a stroke or cardiac arrest.

The Canadian Medical Association study encompassed 16,012 individuals who experienced cardiac arrest in the period of Nov. 1, 2001 and May 31, 2007, together with 62,694 people, coordinated for both age and sex, who did not experience either stroke or heart attacks. The study found the individuals who received their flu shot statistically reduced their risk of heart attack by 19% in relation to the others in the study who failed to receive a flu shot.

The results of the study also suggest that there is a benefit for getting the flu shot at the start of the flu season. The earlier in the season that people received their shots, the less risk they had for a heart attack.
Experts think that because heart attacks and strokes take place with greater frequency in winter months and there are more infections during winter the two factors might be related. In the event the study’s conclusions are confirmed, it becomes a very effective argument for getting a flu shot plus getting it as early in the season as you possibly can for protection against both flu and heart attacks.

The “official” flu months are from September through March and this year the CDC is recommending flu vaccinations for all aged six months or more. Influenza infections peak through the period of December through February so now is not too soon to go get a shot. But even if you wait for some reason, it's never “too late” to receive the shot.

Best of all, last year’s shortage of flu vaccine is a thing of the past and supplies are more than adequate in all areas.

Learn more about heart health at Chia Benefits.net.
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