Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 9: Amid nearly a dozen H1N1 deaths in Kashmir, a doctors’ body today warned that swine flu patients are at an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
The medicos body, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) said while people may think of the flu as nothing more than a fever, runny nose or bodyaches, the consequences could be grave. “Researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that heart attack and stroke risk rose sharply among study participants during the first few days following the illness,” the DAK president Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said.
“A fivefold increase in heart attacks and threefold increase in strokes were reported during the first three days of infection,” he said, adding that flu causes acute and severe inflammation that builds up fat deposits in the inner walls of blood vessels. “These fat deposits dislodge and get stuck in heart or brain, where they block the blood flow,” he added.
Dr Nisar said the infection activates blood cells and clotting system leading to increased risk of blood clots. “The number of heart attacks and stroke patients in Kashmir doubles in winter and flu is a major factor,” he informed. He said the risk is similar to the risk seen for other known risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or smoking.
Dr Nisar said flu vaccine is the single best tool to reduce risk of heart attack or stroke. “Studies have shown people who receive flu shots are 55% less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke,” he said. “Ideally, people should get vaccine by the end of October. However, getting vaccinated later can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later,” advised the DAK president.
He said early use of antiviral therapy against flu can further decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke that are the leading cause of death and disability both for men and women.
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