Swine Flu, Influenza and Heart Disease

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We are facing the possibility of a global influenza pandemic due to an outbreak of a type of flu known as swine flu that has recently broken out in parts of Mexico, and is now rapidly spreading to all parts of the world.

The World health organisation has issued a statement that containment of the virus is now not possible, and that we should prepare for a possible global influenza pandemic. This is because the virus is capable of spreading rapidly from person to person.

This has special relevance for people with heart disease. If you have existing heart disease you should be aware that it is generally safe for you to get a flu vaccination. But It is also true that your risk of dying from contracting flu, swine flu, bird flu or any other type of influenza is higher than those of any other group of people suffering from a chronic illness.

Additionally, those suffering from heart disease are at greater risk of developing complications from all types of influenza. These complications include breathing problems and lack of bodily hydration that can cause problems for existing heart related and other illnesses, such as heart failure, asthma and diabetes, and may even trigger a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Precautions for preventing spread of disease

The official advice from the UK government is that this highly contagious illness is spread by bodily fluids from coughing and sneezing. The following tips should therefore be followed to minimise your risk, and should you become ill with flu-like symptoms, prevent the risk of spreading the virus to others:

• Avoid contact with people with suspected infection
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water

If you develop cold and flu-like symptoms yourself :-

• Quarantine yourself if possible, and avoid close contact with others
• Use disposable tissues, always cover your mouth and nose, and dispose of your waste carefully
• seek medical advice by telephone initially, and follow your doctors advice

Is there a specific vaccine for swine flu?

There is currently no vaccine that is specifically targetted towards the latest outbreak of swine flu, and it will take scientists an estimated 6 months to develop one. However, regular flu medication such as Tamiflu and Relenza contains anti viral components that can mitigate some of the effects of the new virus. These existing influenza drugs will help to reduce the severity of the illness, and will also reduce the risk of heart attack in heart disease sufferers.

Although prevention is always better than cure, those of us who are immunised against existing strains of influenza may be protected from the more severe effects of the virus if we are unfortunate enough to contract the new strain.

Can I get swine flu from eating pork or pig products?

Fortunately, the swine flu virus cannot be transmitted by eating any type of food, including pork or any other food products derived from pigs.

Seasonal flu already causes thousands of deaths each year

We should not forget that outbreaks of the seasonal human influenza virus already causes tens of thousands of deaths each year in the United States and the United Kingdom. This is why physicians advise that vulnerable groups of people such as younger people and older adults are vaccinated against flu. However because people with heart disease have higher rates of complications if they do catch flu, this advice is more important for people who have heart conditions.

Warnings about flu vaccination

It is generally safe and advisable for heart disease patients to be immunised against flu. However there are a few warnings that you should be aware of :-

• You should have your flu jab done with a needle, as nasal sprays contain live virus and can trigger adverse reactions
• If you’re allergic to eggs you should consult with your doctor before taking any anti-influenza medication. This is because the drug may contain traces of egg due to the production process, and your doctor will need to balance the risks of getting the vaccine against the risk of allergic reaction

This article has been updated with new information. For the latest information please visit  ‘swine flu and heart disease update April 30th 2009‘