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While last winter may have been an extreme example (see CDC: More Than 900,000 Hospitalizations & 80,000 Deaths In Last Winter's Flu Season), every winter we see a spike in excess mortality.
Although respiratory infections exact a heavy toll, other causes of death increase during the winter months as well. So much so that I've written in the past about the importance of CPR As A Basic Holiday Survival Skill.Two decades ago, a study looked at the rate of heart attacks in the United States, and found that Acute Myocardial Infarctions (AMIs) run as much 53% higher during the winter months than than during the summer.
Seasonal distribution of acute myocardial infarction in the second National Registry of Myocardial Infarction.
Spencer FA, Goldberg RJ, Becker RC, Gore JM.Cold weather combined with strenuous physical activity (like clearing snow from sidewalks) have often been blamed for this increase, but even in balmy Southern California, studies have shown a 33% increase in heart attacks over the holidays (see below).
When Throughout the Year Is Coronary Death Most Likely to Occur?
A 12-Year Population-Based Analysis of More Than 220 000 CasesNon-climate related factors – such as over indulgence in food and alcohol, diminished activity levels, forgetting to take prescription medicines, and combined holiday stressors like shopping, running up debt, traveling, meal preparation, and the angst that comes from dysfunctional family gatherings are all likely contributors to this yearly spike.
Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD; W. Kenneth Poole, PhD; Rebecca L. Perritt, MS
But increasingly influenza and other respiratory infections have been linked to this seasonal increase in heart attacks and strokes as well.Just a few of the studies we've looked at over the past few years include:
Eur. Resp.J.: Influenza & Pneumonia Infections Increase Risk Of Heart Attack and Stroke
NEJM: Acute Myocardial Infarction After Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Infection
‘Tis The Cardiac SeasonSimply put, in the week or two following a respiratory infection, your odds of having a significant coronary event go up substantially - particularly if you are over 65, or have chronic health problems.
Int. Med. J.: Triggering Of Acute M.I. By Respiratory Infection
Last September the CDC weighed in with:
Flu and Heart Disease & Stroke
People with heart disease and those who have had a stroke are at high risk for developing serious complications from flu. Among adults hospitalized with flu during the 2017-2018 influenza season, heart disease was among the most commonly-occurring chronic conditions; about half of adults hospitalized with flu during the 2017-2018 flu season had heart disease.
Studies have shown that influenza is associated with an increase of heart attacks and stroke. Vaccination is the Best Protection Against Flu
Flu vaccination is especially important for people with heart disease or who have had a stroke because they are at high risk for complications from flu. Flu vaccines are often updated each season to keep up with changing viruses, and immunity wanes over a year so annual vaccination is needed to ensure the best possible protection against influenza. A flu vaccine protects against the flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. (See Vaccine Virus Selection for this season’s exact vaccine composition.) The 2018-2019 vaccine has been updated from last season’s vaccine to better match circulating viruses. Immunity from vaccination sets in after about two weeks.
CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year by the end of October if possible.
NFID (National Foundation For Infectious Diseases) highlights these risks in:
Influenza (flu) is a contagious and potentially deadly virus that can result in serious complications for individuals living with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, even when chronic conditions are well-controlled. Estimates indicate that 31 percent of US adults age 50-64 years and 47 percent of those age 65 and older have at least one chronic health condition that puts them at high risk for flu-related complications, including hospitalization, catastrophic disability, and even death.
There is an urgent need to raise awareness of the burden of flu in adults with chronic health conditions. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a key role in communicating the known benefits of annual flu vaccination in mitigating the risks of flu and reducing severe flu-related outcomes in patients with chronic health conditions.
Additionally, HCPs must be prepared to recognize and address barriers to vaccination, including lack of consumer confidence in vaccine efficacy and misperceptions about the impact of flu, and should insist upon annual flu vaccination—particularly for patients with known chronic health conditions and for those who may have an undiagnosed chronic health condition or are likely to spread flu to others.
NFID has developed the following free downloadable resources for HCPs and patients with chronic health conditions about the importance of annual flu vaccination.
(Continue . . . )
As I wrote last September in #NatlPrep: Giving Your Preparedness Plan A Shot In The Arm:
I've participated in the Flu Near You surveillance program - a partnership between HealthMap (healthmap.org), Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Skoll Global Threats Fund - every week since 2011 (see The `Flu Near You’ Survey), and because of that I know I haven't had a respiratory illness in 7 years.Because the flu vaccine isn't 100% protective - and there are other non-influenza respiratory viruses out there - now is also the time to start consistently practicing good flu hygiene (covering coughs, washing hands, staying home if you are sick, etc.).
While I'm sure my nearly obsessive use of hand sanitizer when out in public, my avoidance of crowds during the winter, and no small amount of good luck have probably been big contributors to that remarkable run . . . I've also not missed a flu vaccine in over a decade.As I'm soon to join that 65+ demographic, I feel getting that yearly flu shot (and a pneumonia vaccine once you are 65) becomes even more important. While I recognize that there are a lot of people who have reservations about the flu shot, I can only say that my experience has been positive.
While there are no guarantees in life, by taking a few simple protective steps, you can reduce your chances of becoming a statistic this winter.
