Seasonal flu shot linked to reduced heart attack rate

[HuckleB]

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100920/flu-shot-100920/20100920/?hub=TorontoNewHome

I'm not convinced that this is anything more than correlation, at this point. But if this is repeated, and explored in depth, it would be an interesting finding.

:hi:

[supernova]

1. Interesting quote from the article

It's believed that inflammation caused by influenza may cause plaque inside coronary arteries to break off and cause a heart attack.

OTOH, it could just be that people who get their flu shots regularly are more prone to taking care of themselves in a lot of other ways too.

[HuckleB]

2. Exactly.

That's why I'm not convinced that the vaccination is the cause of the difference.

[supernova]

3. To be fair,

it may not be the vaccine per se, so much as the *lack of* the flu which would otherwise be causing inflammation in the body. One side effect of which, might be plaque peeling off.

[HuckleB]

5. Yes, but then the "lack of flu" may be because of the flu shot.

So the flu shot is still a big factor, if that is the case.

[supernova]

6. Yes, in a

once-removed sort of sense.

[Elmore Furth]

10. Actually viral inflammation has been associated with plaque ruptues

The only pathogen linked to cardiovascular disease risk was CMV, which increased the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death by about 24 percent.

Viral infection linked to heart attack and stroke

However, the existing data suggest that viruses more commonly than bacteria predispose to plaque rupture, whereas both viruses and bacteria appear to contribute to the initiation and/or progression of atherosclerosis.

In summary, compelling data indicate that infection does contribute to atherogenesis and to the acute complications of atherosclerosis caused by plaque rupture.


Insights Into the Role of Infection in Atherogenesis and in Plaque Rupture

[MineralMan]

4. Well, the last time I actually had the flu, I went into the doc when

my cough got pretty bad. He checked my blood oxygen level and it was down some from normal levels.. For someone with a compromised cardio-vascular system, that could trigger a heart attack, I'd think.

[xchrom]

7. Recommend

[SheilaT]

8. As Supernova said, there really

could be some other things going on here. I wonder if overall the population of people who get flu shots are substantially different from those who don't. They're probably in a higher socio-economic rank, have more money, better educated, and those things are very positively correlated with good health. What could be very interesting, although probably almost impossible to do, would be to do a matching population study of those who get the flu shot and those who don't. If you match for age, other health status, nutritional status, income, and so on, what kind of eventual outcome differences might there be. I don't even have a hypothesis to offer. Just look at them and see what turns up.

[HuckleB]

9. Yes, that's why I noted that this only a correlation, at this point.

:hi:

[wuvuj]

11. Vit D?

http://www.naturalnews.com/024982_Vitamin_D_influenza_the_flu.html