Flu Shot Prevents Heart Attacks and Stroke

Having a flu shot can dramatically reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke both for people with and without underlying conditions such as heart disease, according to data from two sets of research presented at the 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.

A team of researchers at Women’s College Hospital and the University of Toronto looked at published clinical studies dating back to the 1960s, which included over 3,000 people with and without established heart disease. Their analysis showed that individuals who received a flu shot had a 50% lower risk of a major cardiac event—including heart attack, stroke, or cardiac death—compared with those who received placebo, after a year of follow-up. In fact, the flu vaccine appeared to reduce death from any cause by about 40%. Read more