Influenza now gets an even worse reputation. Research links influenza with a high risk of heart attack. Apparently, the flu gives the heart a Bad Valentine. That phrase, “bad Valentine,” sounds like a new rock song for a singer like Lady Gaga.
But it’s our way of cautioning you to increase your efforts to avoid the flu. That could help avoid a possible heart attack. The scientific researchers at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and Public Health Ontario (PHO) stated, “Chances of a heart attack are increased six-fold during the first seven days after detection of laboratory-confirmed influenza infection, according to a new study.”
The Research: A Process to Find the Truth
1. The scientists evaluated 20,000 adult cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza.
Don’t let Influenza give your heart a Bad Valentine!
2. They discovered 332 patients who suffered a heart attack within a year of the laboratory Confirmed influenza diagnosis.
3. They announced,”People at risk of heart disease should take precautions to prevent respiratory infections, and especially influenza, through measures including vaccinations and handwashing,” says Kwong.
4. Watch Out for that first Week after diagnosis! The researchers warned influenza patients not to put off going to their health care provider if they suffered any heart symptoms within the first week of an acute respiratory infection. This alert was based on this study,
5. The researchers identified the connection between influenza and heart attacks. They did so, through the use of several laboratory tests. Also, they reported they “used various high-specificity laboratory methods to confirm influenza infection in respiratory specimens…” They then studied the hospital records and discovered what they named the “risk interval.” The time period was a term of 7 days after the diagnosis of the authentic influenza virus.
6. They followed the interval paper trail for a year before and a year after the risk interval. They named that time period the “control period.”
Around Influenza, FLASS says, “Don’t Wear Your Heart on your Sleeve!”
That’s our FLASS way of saying you should take every caution to avoid this season’s flu virus.
Dr. Jeff Kwong, a scientist at ICES and PHO and lead author of the study, stated,“Our findings are important because an association between influenza and acute myocardial infarction reinforces the importance of vaccination.”
Indeed, this is one more crucial reason for getting those vital flu shots.
He added, “People at risk of heart disease should take precautions to prevent respiratory infections,” And Dr. Kwong especially stressed influenza avoidance measures. These measures included “vaccinations and handwashing.”
Details of the Flu Plus Heart Attack Data:
The Scientists found 20.0 admissions per week occurred during the risk interval and 344 during the control interval. Therefore, they calculated the incidence ratio of an admission for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) during the risk interval, when compared with the control interval, was 6.05.
Flu Virus Can Offer A Significant Threat.
This number translates as a 95% confidence factor, making the influenza virus guilty of greatly increasing the risk of heart attack, and even acting as a trigger for a deadly heart attack.
Plus, you were 7 times more likely to have a heart attack within 7 days of contracting influenza, than on a normal, healthy day. Likewise, this was evidenced additionally by Australian studies. The Australian Studies were conducted last May. Their results showed even stronger statistical proofs.
Strong Evidence that the Flu Virus Acts as a Trigger for Heart Attacks.
The Australian study from last May mounted even stronger evidence that the flu intensified your chances of having a heart attack. The senior author was Professor Geoffrey Tofler, a cardiologist from University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital and Heart Research Australia. Professor Tofler stated, “Our findings confirm what has been suggested in prior studies that a respiratory infection can act as a trigger for a heart attack.”
More Heart-Felt Reasons to Protect Yourself Against the Flu
“The data showed that the increased risk of a heart attack isn’t necessarily just at the beginning of respiratory symptoms. It peaks in the first 7 days and gradually reduces but remains elevated for one month.”
The researchers investigated 578 consecutive patients who suffered a heart attack due to a coronary artery blockage. 17 of these patients explained that they had endured flu or flu-like symptoms previously, within 7 days of the heart attack. Seventeen percent of patients reported symptoms of respiratory infection within 7 days of the heart attack, and 21 percent of the patients reported they had suffered from influenza within 31 days of their heart attack.
The researchers concluded that, for such patients, the risk of heart attack was 17 times greater than those who did not have influenza. This discovery confirms the importance of healthy habits and flu shots during flu season.
A Second Level of Testing Including Other Viruses
A second part of the study included those patients who expressed “flu-like illness with fever and sore throat.” Likewise, a second phase of the study focused on patients who complained of a cough, fever, sinus pain, or a diagnosis of pneumonia or bronchitis.
This part of the study investigated patients with symptoms restricted to the upper respiratory tract. This included the common cold, pharyngitis, rhinitis and sinusitis.
In conclusion, the lead author Dr. Lorcan Ruane, at the University of Sydney revealed some strikingly dramatic relationships between the upper respiratory tract infection and the incidence of the heart attacks. “For those participants who reported milder upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, the risk increase was less, but was still elevated by 13 fold.”
The Researchers Noted The Heart Attack Danger Was Seasonal, Like the Influenza
At FLASS, we could not help but ask a question. Does this mean that there is a heart attack season directly attached to the flu season? It certainly seems like it from all the evidence.
It Is Not to Late to Get Your Flu Shot.
“Although upper respiratory infections are less severe, they are far more common than lower respiratory tract symptoms. Therefore, it is important to understand their relationship to the risk of heart attacks, particularly as we are coming into winter in Australia,” he said. The researchers engaged in quite a study of time, the seasons, viruses and inductive reasoning.
Associate Professor Thomas Buckley, study investigator from Sydney Nursing School said: “The incidence of heart attacks is highest during winter in Australia.” She deduced, “This winter peak, seen not only in Australia but also in other countries around the world, is likely due in part to the increased incidence of respiratory infections.”
Then she took the next logical step with a warning to all of us. “People should take measures to reduce exposure to infection, including flu and pneumonia vaccines where appropriate.”
Anatomical Reasons for the “Trigger” Effect between Influenza and the Heart
Professor Tofler added: “Possible reasons for why respiratory infection may trigger a heart attack include:
1. “An increased tendency towards blood clotting,
2. Inflammation and toxins damaging blood vessels,
3. and changes in blood flow.”
Then he concluded with a protocol: “Our message to people is while the absolute risk that any one episode will trigger a heart attack is low, they need to be aware that a respiratory infection could lead to a coronary event. “
Meanwhile, FLASS Battles America’s Worst Flu Epidemic in 5 years.
Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists tends to think there is a fine element of common sense in this research. In fact, it seems like a lot of American Grandmothers knew this when they made our parents get flu shots, eat chicken soup, wear heavy winter coats, wash our hands all the time and go to bed early for good rest.
FLASS Endorses Research and Common Sense
Before catching influenza, it just makes sense to take all possible preventative strategies. After a battle with influenza, we must urge our loved ones not to ignore symptoms that could indicate a heart attack. Now that the heart attack connection is scientifically valid, we know the virus could strike you with worse than a relapse if you rush your recovery.
The researchers are eager to expand their study of the flu in relation to heart attack risk, stating,”The next step is to identify treatment strategies to decrease this risk of heart attack, particularly in individuals who may have increased susceptibility.”
Influenza Aside, FLASS Sends You Heart to Heart Good Wishes in February
FLASS helps you show your Hearts and Lungs some love in February.
As you know, the FLASS family of doctors and health care providers are supporting and celebrating the American Heart Association’s advocacy during the month of February.
We genuinely know that what is good for hearts is good for lungs, so we support The #GoRedGetFit challenge. Check out the online resource that shows how women are striving to move towards being well rounded and healthy.
For this challenge, focus on portion control and journaling your daily meals, snacks and exercise.
Here are the steps in the Challenge:
1. Make a weekly meal plan,
2. Post that healthy meal plan on your refrigerator
3. Watch your portion control.
4. Get Active! “Keep moving for a minimum of 150 minutes per week – at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week. These are power moves!”
5. Get Social: “Share your stories, advice, tips and photos in the #GoRedGetFit Facebook group…”