topic Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack in Community Chat

The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:10:18 GMT

"The news about the flu seems to keep getting worse: A new study suggests that the risk of heart attack dramatically increases for people who are suffering from influenza.

A study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine found that heart attacks are six times more likely seven days after a flu diagnosis, compared to a year before or after the flu diagnosis.

According to the study, the heart attack rate was 20 admissions per week seven days after a flu diagnosis, compared to only 3.3 heart attack admissions a week in the year before and after a flu diagnosis.

The researchers found that the risk of heart attack increases slightly for those over 65. Sixty nine percent of the 332 people in the study who had a heart attack following a flu diagnosis had not gotten a flu shot, according to the study. "

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/01/25/flu-can-increase-your-risk-heart-attack-week-after-diagnosis-study-finds/1064559001/

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:13:10 GMT

There are numerous other reports available online if anyone is interested.

The early morning news said Type B respiratory flu seems the worst, the horrendous coughing is hard on the body.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

cherry — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:29:04 GMT

I believe it @Noel7 I had the shot and was sick for weeks last year. The cough was brutal and this year's is even worse

I was at the dental office and the hygienist, whom I really like a lot, was bragging that she gets the flu every year despite getting the flu shot. She said this year she didn't get the shot ,and hasn't had the flu

I just shuddered. I hope she wasn't in the early stages of flu when she cleaned my teeth yesterday

I have heard you are contagious, before you ever have symptoms

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

2blonde — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:35:54 GMT

You are right, Cherry. People are contageous before they begin to show symptoms. That's really scary to me as a 69 year old. I did get the shot as I always do (it's free at work), but they gave it to us way back in September, so I wonder if it's wearing off. Also, I declined the over 65 stronger version because I was thinking I might overreact to it, but now I kind of wish I had gotten that one. I also have asthma and a history of bad bronchitis infections, so I'd be in a bad way if I did catch it. I'm just praying.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

cherry — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:40:18 GMT

@2blonde I hope you will be ok. We got the stronger shot. Of course I got it last year too, and that didn't stop me from getting the flu

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:45:52 GMT

wrote:
I believe it @Noel7 I had the shot and was sick for weeks last year. The cough was brutal and this year's is even worse

I was at the dental office and the hygienist, whom I really like a lot, was bragging that she gets the flu every year despite getting the flu shot. She said this year she didn't get the shot ,and hasn't had the flu

I just shuddered. I hope she wasn't in the early stages of flu when she cleaned my teeth yesterday

I have heard you are contagious, before you ever have symptoms

Hi @cherry

You're right. You probably don't even realize you're coming down with it at first.

I had Type B right before Thanksgiving and my ribs are STILL sore from the coughing. I never experienced anything that bad before.

I thank God I didn't have a heart attack. The entire five days I was in the hospital, they gave me a shot of blood thinner meds in the tummy... every day. "Just in case," as they put it.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Ibby114 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:48:05 GMT

Bacteria and germs in your system causes inflammation - which affects the heart. I was so surprised to learn about the connection between dental hygiene and heart disease, so it makes sense about the flu as well.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:49:10 GMT

wrote:
You are right, Cherry. People are contageous before they begin to show symptoms. That's really scary to me as a 69 year old. I did get the shot as I always do (it's free at work), but they gave it to us way back in September, so I wonder if it's wearing off. Also, I declined the over 65 stronger version because I was thinking I might overreact to it, but now I kind of wish I had gotten that one. I also have asthma and a history of bad bronchitis infections, so I'd be in a bad way if I did catch it. I'm just praying.

@2blonde

I have asthma, too, and at the time was also suffering from smoke in the air from the California fires. It was really awful but I made

I sure hope you don't get either flu. I admit I've been avoiding going out in public, and the family is doing a lot of hand washing.

Good luck!

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

cherry — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:50:11 GMT

I hope they can come up with a universal shot. That should help us a lot. But I am sure it's easier said than done

The Swine Flue is also floating around. We did get a shot when Pres Ford said it was the moral equivalent to war. I think he did the right thing ,even though so many people really gave him a hard time about it

I wonder if those of us who got that flu shot ,will still have antibodies against it? It was back in the 70's...

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:50:57 GMT

wrote:
Bacteria and germs in your system causes inflammation - which affects the heart. I was so surprised to learn about the connection between dental hygiene and heart disease, so it makes sense about the flu as well.

Yes, @Ibby114 That inflammation can be a killer. Take care

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:53:44 GMT

wrote:
I hope they can come up with a universal shot. That should help us a lot. But I am sure it's easier said than done

The Swine Flue is also floating around. We did get a shot when Pres Ford said it was the moral equivalent to war. I think he did the right thing ,even though so many people really gave him a hard time about it

I wonder if those of us who got that flu shot ,will still have antibodies against it? It was back in the 70's...

I've wondered that, too @cherry

Some years ago, they said elderly people weren't getting one flu (Swine flu?) because they had antibodies from the 1918 pandemic.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

cherry — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:58:50 GMT

@Noel7 I remember that ,and my mother opted out for that very reason..

I think they used live vaccine back then too. Some people got Gilliian Barre from the vaccine and were very sick. But, I do think Pres Ford was still doing the best thing ,that science at the time , told him

That flu was a killer, and our GI's took it to Europe and it killed millions apon millions of people. I think more people died from the flu, than did from WW1

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

SahmIam — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:00:15 GMT

This does not surprise me. I don't know why, it just doesn't.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

2blonde — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:03:13 GMT

@Noel7Thank you! I have never gotten the flu since I've been getting the shot every year. The last time I had it I was probably in my early 40's, and I still have horrifying memories of being so weak I couldn't get up the stairs, and cou'dn't even stand up long enough to get some food. I'd hate to think how it would get me at 69! I've been an avid hand washer for years, and I know that helps, but I recently heard that a cough or sneeze can travel 20 feet!

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

SahmIam — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:05:23 GMT

@cherry My SIL developed Gilliian Barre 2 years ago after receiving the flu shot. It was thought by her doctors then that the shot triggered whatever was already in her system; she was hospitalized almost 72 hours after it, I do know that. My In-Laws flew to the UK as she was in ICU; she could not move, could not swallow, could not breathe on her on. She was able to communicate by blinking. It was months before she could feed herself. She had PT and OT for a year afterwards. She told me that the drugged her to help keep calm as most patients go into panic mode and that can trigger more issues (heart attack, apparently). I had NO idea about this disease until it hit her.

Today, you would NEVER know it to see her.

Sorry for the off-topic, Noel.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:07:02 GMT

wrote:
@Noel7Thank you! I have never gotten the flu since I've been getting the shot every year. The last time I had it I was probably in my early 40's, and I still have horrifying memories of being so weak I couldn't get up the stairs, and cou'dn't even stand up long enough to get some food. I'd hate to think how it would get me at 69! I've been an avid hand washer for years, and I know that helps, but I recently heard that a cough or sneeze can travel 20 feet!

@2blonde

I know how you feel, I'm worried, too. After having Type B, I'm guessing my reserves are a little too low to deal with Type A.

Crossing my fingers for us all

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

2blonde — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:17:09 GMT

@Noel7 I'm not sure about that. It may be that the antibodies you produced during the first (type B) attack would also be helpful against the type A (should you be so unfortunate as to get that one too).

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Trinity11 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:21:44 GMT

wrote:
@Noel7 I'm not sure about that. It may be that the antibodies you produced during the first (type B) attack would also be helpful against the type A (should you be so unfortunate as to get that one too).

Hi @2blondeand@Noel7, I just saw my physician and was told that once you have one type it is rare to get the other during the flu season. I had Type B also and have curtailed little of my activities. I still food shop and go out. My physician said just the activity is helpful for my heart and diabetes. I cannot stay home because with diabetes activity is essential to keep blood glucose down.

As far as having a heart attack with the flu, wouldn't you need to have underlying heart disease in the first place? Can the flu actually give a normal, healthy individual a heart attack?

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:23:15 GMT

wrote:
@Noel7 I'm not sure about that. It may be that the antibodies you produced during the first (type B) attack would also be helpful against the type A (should you be so unfortunate as to get that one too).

@2blonde I thought of that also, and I'm hoping there is a common denominator.

Since those who work on flu vaccines are trying to come up with one that covers them all, I hope there are enough similarities in antibodies to help ward off Type A.

Re: The Flu Increases Risk Of Heart Attack

Noel7 — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:27:35 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
@Noel7 I'm not sure about that. It may be that the antibodies you produced during the first (type B) attack would also be helpful against the type A (should you be so unfortunate as to get that one too).
Hi @2blondeand@Noel7, I just saw my physician and was told that once you have one type it is rare to get the other during the flu season. I had Type B also and have curtailed little of my activities. I still food shop and go out. My physician said just the activity is helpful for my heart and diabetes. I cannot stay home because with diabetes activity is essential to keep blood glucose down.

As far as having a heart attack with the flu, wouldn't you need to have underlying heart disease in the first place? Can the flu actually give a normal, healthy individual a heart attack?

Hi @Trinity11

I sure hope it's true that there might be some protection from already having one flu!

I haven't seen a report specifically on who gets the heart attack, but they were talking about a group over 69 if I remember correctly. That could be a vulnerablility factor.