According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the flu vaccine may not only ward off serious complications from influenza, but it may also reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
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For the study, the team examined a total of 3,227 patients, with and without established heart disease. As per Researchers, the flu vaccine provided an approximate 50% reduction in the risk of a major cardiac event (heart attack, stroke, or cardiac death). The influenza vaccine reduced cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death in people with or without heart disease.
The reason influenza stresses the heart and vascular system so much has to do with the body’s inflammatory response to the infection. Researchers highly recommend the flu shot for everyone, but in particular for people diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions.
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