KUCHING: Did you know catching influenza can trigger a heart attack?
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs.
Internal medicine specialist and cardiologist from the National Heart Institute (IJN) Dr Aslannif Roslan said influenza can also cause or worsen existing heart disease.
“A bad case of influenza – such as one that is complicated by pneumonia – can worsen your existing heart disease.
“Even those without heart disease but who have the risk factors such as old age, smoking, and Type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of developing a heart attack because of influenza,” he said in an article issued by Immunise4Life.
He added the risk is also higher when one has underlying chronic diseases, increasing by more than 10 times in the first seven days after contracting influenza.
In further explaining the connection between severe influenza and the heart, Dr Aslannif said influenza can result in severe pneumonia which causes a reduction of oxygen levels in the arteries.
“This in turn results in a reduced oxygen supply to the heart muscle. At the same time, the fever and increased heart rate caused by influenza further increase the metabolic needs of your body leading to a greater demand for oxygen by the heart,” he said.
He also said influenza can also trigger an inflammatory response so great that it may cause rupture of atherosclerotic plaques, which is the build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the arteries, and it may also cause inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).
“The reduced oxygen levels and rupture of atherosclerotic plaque can trigger a heart attack,” he said.
Hence, he said he would recommend the annual influenza vaccination to all his patients.
“If you get the influenza vaccination every year, it can reduce your risk of developing a heart attack,” said Dr Aslannif.
