Heart disease, heart attack prevention

[Astronuc]

Influenza vaccines can reduce risk of heart attack

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/shot-prevents-heart-attacks

Scientists from TIMU Study Group and Network for Innovation in Clinical Research analyzed published clinical trials involving a total of 3,227 patients, half of whom had been diagnosed with heart disease. Participants, whose average age was 60, were randomly assigned to either receive flu vaccine or a placebo shot, then their health was tracked for 12 months.

Those who got the flu shot were 50 percent less likely to suffer major cardiac events (such as heart attacks or strokes) and 40 percent less likely to die of cardiac causes. Similar trends were found in patients with and without previous heart disease. . . . .

My sister, a doctor, has mentioned this before. She makes a habit of getting an annual flu shot.

 

[lisab]

That's a good reason to get a flu shot.

If you're young and healthy, there's a tendency to think, Why should I bother? What's the big deal with getting the flu? Well, one reason to get a flu shot is to protect those around you. Babies, old people, people with compromised immune systems - flu can be devastating, even fatal, to them. Or people with lung conditions like asthma or chronic bronchitis.

I can't quite grasp some peoples' reticence to getting a flu vaccine. It goes against science!