You've no doubt heard about the importance of a flu shot for most of us, but Cardiologists say that's especially true if you have heart disease. In addition to the life threatening risks of heart disease, people with it also have a greater chance of developing complications from the flu. Experts say that while we're all obviously at risk of getting the flu, if you have heart disease it makes it harder for the body to fight off the viruses that cause the flu. It's a simple message that could save your life.
Getting the flu obviously isn't a pleasant experience for anyone, but it can be even more problematic for people with heart disease like congestive heart failure or blockage, "The stress the flu causes on the body causes the body to work harder which in turn means the heart has to work harder with can exacerbate or make the syndrome worse."
Dr. Raj Kattar is with ProMedica's Northwest Ohio Cardiology Consultants. He says studies show there are more heart attacks during the peak of flu season. A three year study from 2005-2008 also shows that more than a third of people hospitalized with a confirmed case of the flu had heart disease, "There are higher incidents of ischemic events, ischemic means lack of blood flow to the heart muscle, in patients who have the flu."
You don't have to have a heart condition for the flu to cause problems with your heart, "The flu virus can have direct toxic effects on the heart and it can cause inflammation of the heart muscle. In some cases it can cause the heart muscle to get very weak and some patients develop congestive heart failure that way."
Dr. Kattar says the flu shot has added importance for people with heart disease, "Even though they say people over 65 should get the flu shot, people are not paying attention to the fact that if you have heart disease, the flu shot is key at any age."
February is National Heart Month. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women here in the United States. 600,000 people will die of it this year alone. Dr. Kattar says be aware of the risk factors including family history, diabetes, high blood pressure , high cholesterol, smoking. He says even having just one of those risk factors elevates your chances of a heart attack.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:49 AM EDT2013-05-21 09:49:55 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:32 AM EDT2013-05-21 09:32:35 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled flames at two homes on Toledo's East side Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 04:23:10 GMT
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:18:47 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened some 14 years ago.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:15:43 GMT
Thousands of shipwrecks rest close to home and some local divers are on a mission to discover them. The weather on Lake Erie can be violent at times without much warning. Darkness, fog, wind and waves
Local divers are on a search to discover some of the thousands of shipwrecks on the bottom of Lake Erie.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:11:56 GMT
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were reported killed.
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were reported killed.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:49 AM EDT2013-05-21 09:49:55 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:32 AM EDT2013-05-21 09:32:35 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled flames at two homes on Toledo's East side Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 04:23:10 GMT
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:18:47 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened some 14 years ago.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:15:43 GMT
Thousands of shipwrecks rest close to home and some local divers are on a mission to discover them. The weather on Lake Erie can be violent at times without much warning. Darkness, fog, wind and waves
Local divers are on a search to discover some of the thousands of shipwrecks on the bottom of Lake Erie.
Monday, May 20 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-21 02:44:13 GMT
Toledo Police have shut down southbound I-75 between Anthony Wayne Trail and South due to a serious accident. We're told it is a rollover crash. At least one man was seriously injured when he was ejected
I-75 remains closed between Anthony Wayne Trail and South as of 7:30 p.m. Monday evening after a serious accident.
Monday, May 20 2013 6:37 PM EDT2013-05-20 22:37:02 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Monday, May 20 2013 8:14 PM EDT2013-05-21 00:14:35 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
A large tornado roared through the southern part of Oklahoma City and Moore, Oklahoma Monday afternoon. Damage is extensive. Video showed blocks of flattened homes and vehicles tossed upside down.
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