U.K. research suggests flu vaccine lowers risk of heart attack

"Canadians with serious heart conditions should line up for the flu vaccine as soon as they can this year - getting the shot, and getting it earlier, could significantly lower the risk of heart attack, a new British study suggests. Previous research has shown that heart attacks increase dramatically in winter when patients often develop pneumonia or the flu, and scientists say there may be a link between respiratory infections and heart attacks. A study of more than 78,700 patients, who were at least 40 years old and living in England and Wales, suggest that flu vaccinations are connected to a reduced risk of heart attack. And the earlier people got the shot, the better, although even those whose vaccination was delayed saw a benefit. Receiving a flu shot between September and mid-November was associated with a 21 per cent decrease in the rate of heart attacks compared with later vaccination, which was linked to a 12 per cent reduction, said Niroshan Siriwardena, lead investigator and a University of Lincoln professor"