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Flu And Heart Disease Risk
January 30th, 2010 by admin
According to a recent study that recommends cardiac patients be vaccinated against flu, heart problems may account for a huge share of deaths from influenza. The study, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, reviews deaths for acute myocardial infarction and cardiovascular disease during outbreaks of flu between 1932 and 2008. Between 35 and 50 per cent of the increase in deaths recorded during influenza outbreaks could be attributed to increased heart disease risk. The reserachers concluded that the flu virus causes inflammation and acts on the molecular pathways that control blood coagulation. These combined effects destabilise the fatty deposits that line the arterial wall and can cause clots that block coronary arteries.