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Misericordia professor Fred Croop elected to PANO board

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It’s nice to have ‘Dolly’ back where she belongs

<p>I realize that I&#8217;ve written about the flu and the importance of immunization already this year &#8230; and last year &#8230; and the year before that.</p><p>But it&#8217;s frustrating that despite SOLID science showing how important vaccination is to either preventing or at least blunting the effect of influenza, so many of our otherwise smart and savvy neighbors are going into this dangerous time of the flu season unprotected.</p><p>But if you have heart disease, it&#8217;s especially important to take notice.</p><p>In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half of the patients admitted into the hospital with severe influenza last season were heart disease patients.</p><p>The symptoms of heart disease and the effects of flu amplify one another. Most people with a history of heart disease know they are at a higher risk for complications like cardiac rhythm problems, coronary artery disease and stroke. But when conditions like the flu and pneumonia coexist with heart disease, serious and sometimes life threatening trouble with the heart and lungs&#8217; primary job of delivering oxygen and fuel to all the body&#8217;s tissues develop.</p><p>Here&#8217;s what you need to know about the relationship between influenza and heart health, and what you can do to protect yourself.</p><p><strong>Symptoms and complications </strong></p><p>The flu, caused by infection from the influenza virus, can last for a few days or a few weeks depending on the severity of your infection and your overall health. The nature and virulence of the virus also fluctuates each season, as does the effectiveness of that year&#8217;s vaccine.</p><p>The most common symptoms of the flu include cold-like symptoms including fever, stuffy nose, body aches and fatigue.</p><p>People with the flu are at a higher risk of sepsis, pneumonia and asthma attacks, though serious complications are rare; nevertheless last year about 80,000 Americans died of flu-related illnesses.</p><p><strong>The flu and your heart </strong></p><p>The flu is a respiratory condition which means it affects your breathing. In serious cases, it can cause inflammation of the heart and brain in addition to direct injury to the lungs themselves.</p><p>In the case of those without a history of heart attack, stroke or heart disease, recent studies have shown that regular flu vaccinations decrease the likelihood of future cardiac events. There are a few theories on why this happens, including decreased strain on overall heart function and minimizing the effects of inflammation on potentially dangerous plaques within the arteries.</p><p><strong>Getting the vaccine </strong></p><p>Contrary to several popular myths, the injectable flu shot is healthy for most people with heart disease. Those with an allergy to eggs or previous vaccines, Guillain-Barre syndrome or a fever should not receive the shot.</p><p>Though mild side effects like temporary soreness of the injection site and mild fever are possible, the injectable flu shot is the only recommended delivery method for heart disease patients.</p><p>Vaccines delivered via nasal spray incorporate live virus cells which could trigger the flu. This method is not recommended for heart disease patients or anyone with an elevated risk and is not widely used today.</p><p>It&#8217;s never too early or late in the season to get vaccinated. Those with a higher risk, such as the elderly or those with a chronic illness, should get the vaccine as early as possible. But if you&#8217;ve been too busy, don&#8217;t count yourself out.</p><p>Flu season has not yet peaked this winter, and it can actually continue well into the beginning of spring. So, it&#8217;s never too late to get vaccinated.</p><p>Give yourself a Christmas gift early, get a flu vaccination &#8230; especially if you have some heart or lung disease you&#8217;re dealing with.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Alfred Casale</p><p>To Your Health</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Dr. Alfred Casale, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is Associate Chief Medical Officer for Geisinger Health and Chair of the Geisinger Cardiac Institute. Readers may write to him via ae@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Flu shot even more important when living with heart disease.