As if the flu wasn’t bad enough already! Researchers have confirmed that flu sharply increases the risk of heart attack for older people.  The flu bug is brutal this year and for people with heart conditions, it may be just the thing to trigger a cardiac event.
Doctors have long known that flu can trigger heart problems. It’s one of the reasons flu shots are recommended for nearly everyone.  Recent studies found that risk was six times higher in the first week after flu is diagnosed, compared to the year before and after the bug hits. Unlike previous studies, the researchers used lab tests to make sure people suspected of having the flu really did.
It was also emphasized that this season’s activity looks similar to the 2014-2015 pandemic season, when H3N2 was the dominant strain and involved more severe disease and death. Hospitalizations rates are currently 41.9 per 100,000 for the flu, which is similar to the 2014-15 flu season.
People 65 and older have the highest hospitalization rates so far, followed by baby boomers (50-64.) Young people typically have the second highest number of visits for flu, but this season boomers have higher rates than their grandchildren.
The rapid spread of flu cases most likely came immediately after children returned to school after the holidays.