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PRINTABLE
VERSION
WHAT
IS THE FLU?
Seasonal influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a contagious and potentially
deadly infection that affects on average, five percent to 20 percent of
the total U.S. population each flu season. In past years, flu and its
complications have caused an average of 36,000 deaths (1990-1999) and
more than 200,000 hospitalizations (1979-2001) annually. Most of these
deaths occurred in people 65 years of age and older. The flu is easily
passed from one person to another through the air by droplets released
when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, but may also be spread
by direct contact with influenza virus- contaminated
surfaces.
HOW
DOES THE FLU AFFECT THE HEART?
Flu-related death is more common among individuals with heart disease
than among patients with any other chronic medical condition. Persons
with heart disease are at a high risk of complications from the flu. The
American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC)
recommend that the more than 12 million persons in the United States with
heart conditions get annual flu shots. However, according to recent CDC
data, approximately 40 percent of adults living with heart disease did
not receive a flu shot in 2007. Mended Hearts joins the AHA and ACC in
urging people living with heart disease to get a flu shot each and every
year.
CAN
THE FLU BE PREVENTED?
According to the CDC,
annual flu vaccination is the best way to help prevent influenza infection
and its complications.
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DID
YOU KNOW?
- The flu
can exacerbate heart disease conditions and can lead to conditions
like viral or bacterial pneumonia that cause complications of
heart disease.
- Flu vaccination
can save lives: the American Heart Association and the American
College of Cardiology have said that flu vaccination is as important
as controlling cholesterol in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
- It has been
estimated that flu vaccination could help prevent thousands of
deaths from heart attacks and strokes each year.
- The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination
of household contacts and caregivers of persons at high risk of
severe complications of flu (e.g., persons with heart disease).
- People with
severe allergies to chicken eggs or who have had severe reaction
(including Guillain-Barré syndrome) to flu vaccination in the
past should not be vaccinated.
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Mended
Hearts Inc., received funding and other support from
GlaxoSmithKline for the I Heart Flu Shots™ initiative.
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