The Dangerous Enemy Of The Season

When the air turns crisp and the leaves start changing, it’s time to dig out those boots, scarves, jackets, and flannels that were tucked away last spring. Stop in for a flu shot at any of our TrustCare locations today. You remember the aches and pains, the lingering sore throat and stuffy nose, all of the symptoms that attempted to ruin your favorite holidays. The flu is a dangerous foe to everyone, but especially if you suffer from heart disease.

Flu And Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries which strengthens your potential for a heart attack. If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, the flu may create complications that bring further damage to your heart in the form of bacterial pneumonia. Pneumonia is actually an infection in the lungs that prevents oxygen from getting to your bloodstream, putting a strain on your heart. If your heart is already sick, infections from flu and pneumonia put your heart at greater risk and can even be fatal.

The flu is also a great enemy to those who have suffered a stroke. Strokes occur when the blood vessels carrying oxygen and nutrients to your brain are blocked by a clot or rupture. The oxygen does not make it to the brain causing brain cells to die. Stroke is the number five cause of death and is a leading cause of disability in Americans. If your loved one endured a stroke, catches the flu and it leads to pneumonia, the lack of oxygen flow can cause great harm. Be sure to encourage them to take preventative measures this season.

Symptoms Of The Flu

The flu, a vicious virus, begins in October and continues to attack until early spring. Symptoms of the flu may initially feel like a cold or an upper-respiratory infection, but its symptoms are much more severe and tend to last several weeks.

Symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Runny, or stuffy, nose
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue

Children may also experience diarrhea and vomiting as other symptoms of the flu. The flu virus is highly contagious, which is why so many people in your community seem to be affected by the flu at the same time. There are several things you can do in order to prevent the flu from taking you out this season.

Preventing The Flu

An obvious, though often forgotten, prevention technique is to stay away from people who have the flu. Dropping off a pot of soup may make you “friend of the year” but it may also make you sick, too. Do your best to avoid the virus by staying away from those infected by it, large crowds, and wash your hands often! But the best way to prevent the virus from striking is to have a vaccination. The flu shot is available as early as September and while everyone is encouraged to get the vaccine, it’s a must for those with cardiovascular disease.

The flu vaccine is extremely safe and may only leave behind a tenderness in the area the shot was given. The vaccine is designed to fight off the unique stream that threatens in a particular year. The immunity that builds up in your body over the course of a month is your best armor against this dangerous enemy. If you have not received a flu shot and are experiencing symptoms of the flu, the sooner you can meet with one of our doctors, the better chance we have to reduce the time and strength of your symptoms. Don’t put your heart at risk. You’ve already endured so much, worked so hard, and overcome so many obstacles. Don’t give the flu virus an opportunity to harm your heart. Stop in for a flu shot at any of our TrustCare locations today.