The annual flu shot may do more than just save you from a nasty bout of influenza -- it might also prevent a heart attack.
An international team of researchers found that deaths from heart attacks jumped by an astounding 30 per cent in the general population whenever there was an outbreak of the flu.
The study is based on autopsy reports collected between 1993 and 2000 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The researchers picked this city for the study because very few residents get annual flu shots or take cholesterol-lowering drugs. So, the results should reflect what happens when flu sweeps through an unprotected community.
"Our research shows that influenza epidemics . . . can act as a trigger for heart attacks," said lead scientist Mohammad Madjid of the University of Texas in Houston.
How can the flu bring on a deadly heart attack? Dr. Madjid noted that many people have a buildup of plaque, or fatty deposits, lining the walls of their blood vessels. The flu, he said, produces severe inflammation, which can "destabilize" the atherosclerotic plaque and cause it to rupture. The plaque can then form a clot that blocks blood flow to the heart. And, presto, you get a heart attack.
"Flu is a killer," Dr. Madjid said. "Lots of people think if they get the flu they will just be spending a few days in bed. But you should take it very seriously -- especially if you are at risk of developing a heart attack."
He says people at high risk, or those living with vulnerable individuals, should make sure they get a flu shot each fall. "We should get vaccinated," said Dr. Madjid, whose study was published in the European Heart Journal. "The flu shot can provide protection against heart attacks."
