Heart Disease and Flu
Does having heart disease increase my risk of getting the flu?
While everyone is at risk of getting the flu this upcoming flu season, having a heart disease makes it more difficult for you to fight off the viruses that cause the flu because your body may be too weak to fight off the flu. Additionally, heart disease also increases your risk of experiencing flu-related complications such as pneumonia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 37 percent of adults hospitalized during the 2010-2011 flu season had a heart disease, and studies have shown that the flu is associated with an increase in heart attacks or stroke.
How can I protect myself from the flu?
If you have a heart disease, it is important that you take all the necessary steps to prevent the flu. The most effective way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine. If you have a heart disease or have had a stroke, it is recommended that you get the flu shot and not the nasal spray vaccine. In addition to the flu shot, you should be taking everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of the flu such as washing your hands regularly or covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
What should I do if I have a heart disease and flu?
If you are diagnosed with a heart disease and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is important for you to seek medical attention as a health care provide can prescribe antiviral medications, which can alleviate your symptoms and facilitate faster recovery. In addition to seeking medical attention, you should also continue taking your prescribed medications.
When do I seek urgent medical care?
If your symptoms of flu and heart disease worsen, you may need urgent medical care. Do not hesitate to seek emergency medical care if you have heart disease and flu because it is better to quickly receive medical attention and treatment versus taking a risk to see if the symptoms might resolve on their own.
Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Symptoms that do not improve or may worsen after three to four days of illness
- Sick-to-your-stomach feeling
- Vomiting
- High fever
- Shaking chills
- Chest pain
- Coughing with thick yellow-green mucus
Don’t spend hours waiting in a hospital emergency room, but instead come into your local Healthpointe urgent care center if you have a heart disease and are experiencing any flu-like symptoms. Our full service facilities can treat your symptoms and return you back your daily routine quickly!
Source: Centers for Disease Control, WebMD
For more information about flu treatments, contact us at 888-719-8448 or any of our clinics, such as the one in La Mirada Clinic by Whittier, La Habra, Norwalk, Cerritos, Buena Park, and Santa Fe Springs.
Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles county, Orange county, San Bernardino county and Riverside county). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including Los Angeles by Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Inglewood, Hawthorne. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit healthpointe.net.