The sniffles

[tikistitch]

Flu triggers heart attacks, study shows

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Influenza can trigger deadly heart attacks, researchers said on Wednesday in a study that supports what experts have long believed -- flu can kill people even if they do not die directly from the flu.

Their report shows that the seasonal virus can worsen heart disease and that deaths from heart attacks and heart disease are far more common during flu season.

This can add up to 90,000 extra deaths a year in the United States alone, said Dr. Mohammad Madjid of the University of Texas-Houston, who led the study.

90,000? Gah. Get your flu shots, kiddies.

Comments

[sinderellah.livejournal.com]

See, I'm conflicted about the flu shot. Everyone I know who has gotten it ends up being sick during flu season, whereas those who don't get one seem just fine. I can understand if you have a compromised immune system, or working with the elderly/children/immunocompromised, but I dunno. That heart attack thing is news to me, scary!

[meekorouse.livejournal.com]

yeah I've never had a flu shot. I'm not saying I won't get sick (I have chronic sinusitus and allergies/ asthma) but I figure with the shots not being available and many people getting sick anyway, why would I want to run that risk of messing up my already pretty ok immune system. Let the kids and the older folks queue up first.

Besides once you get the shot it just changes every year anyway. Best to keep clean and avoid public restroom doors (oh and those little mint dishes at the registers).

[jabberwockypie.livejournal.com]

Eek. Scary.

A friend of my Mom's had a bad reaction to a flu shot and now she's really allergic to eggs because they make the vaccines with chicken eggs. I know it's not common, but it makes me nervous. I love eggs. http://www.iloveegg.com/index.htm