Anchorage, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2022 — While most parents are good at keeping track of the vaccines kids need to stay healthy, many don’t realize there are immunizations important to keeping their heart and brain healthy, too. The American Heart Association urges all adults, especially those with a history of heart disease or stroke, to review their immunization status, and stay up to date on vaccines that are important to long-term health. 

  • Influenza/Flu – Flu season begins in early fall and extends into early spring. Although many people may only experience a few days of aches and chills, the flu can be deadly for some. The flu is especially dangerous for babies, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions like heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Some research links flu infections to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Getting a flu shot can not only prevent the flu, it may also reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
    • A study published earlier this year in the American Heart Association journal, Stroke, found that, among a group of people hospitalized for various reasons, those who experienced a flu-like illness within a month of their hospitalization were 38% more likely to have a stroke. Receiving a flu vaccine within the year prior to hospitalization lowered a person’s stroke risk to 11%.
    • People over the age of 50 who were hospitalized and those in nursing homes who were at high risk for influenza had lower rates of death, heart attack, transient ischemic attacks or TIAs and cardiac arrest if they were vaccinated against flu, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2020 meeting.
    • A study published in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal, Circulation, found that people living with heart failure who got an annual flu shot had an 18% lower chance of dying from CVD or any other cause. 

“Getting an annual flu shot should be part of routine health care for all individuals and especially for people who are already living with chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk for heart attacks or strokes,” said Megan Clancy, M.D., an infectious disease physician who provides care at Providence Alaska Medical Center. “The potentially serious complications of the flu are far, far greater for people with chronic diseases. This is true even for those age 50 and younger who have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.” 

Most adults can get a flu vaccine at no out-of-pocket cost at a local pharmacy, their primary care provider, or through the Alaska Department of Health. 

  • COVID-19 – The American Heart Association established the COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry at the onset of the pandemic. The registry has produced a number of studies showing that people with or at risk for cardiovascular disease were more likely to become infected and die from COVID-19. Additionally, the research has found many people are experiencing new heart and vascular disease after they get COVID-19.
    • A study from the registry and published earlier this month in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology found new-onset atrial fibrillation (AFib) in 1 in 20 patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
    • Research from the registry presented at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference earlier this year found that people hospitalized with COVID-19 had a higher risk of stroke, compared with people who had similar infectious conditions such as influenza or sepsis.
    • A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in February 2021 found that obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart failure – all risk factors related to CVD – were four of the top risks for COVID-19 complications. 

“There is clear evidence that people who have heart and vascular disease and with CVD risk factors are more likely to have severe complications from COVID-19. We also know that COVID is not just a respiratory disease, it can cause heart-related diseases and blood clotting in people who have never had those before,” said Benjamin Westley, M.D., an infectious disease physician who provides care at Providence Alaska Medical Center. “We urge everyone who is eligible to get the vaccine and all recommended boosters. The side effects are minimal and far outweigh the greater risk of getting COVID.” 

While flu and COVID-19 vaccines are important, there are also a number of other immunizations that can help keep people heart-healthy. 

  • The pneumococcal vaccination protects against a common cause of severe pneumonia and is especially important in people 65 and older and others with certain underlying medical conditions. This type of pneumonia can be deadly, especially for people already at high risk for health complications, including CVD. 
  • Shingles, a viral infection caused by the chickenpox virus, has been linked to an increased risk of stroke. More than 99% of people aged 40 or older in the United States may carry the dormant chickenpox virus, also known as the varicella-zoster virus, and not even realize it. A study presented at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference in 2021 found that the shingles vaccine may reduce stroke risk by about 16% in older adults. 
  • There is research that links human papillomavirus, or HPV — a common sexually transmitted infection — to cardiovascular disease. A 2019 study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research found that Korean women infected with high-risk strains of HPV were 22% more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than women not infected with the virus. While this vaccine is not currently among those recommended by the Association for cardiovascular benefits, the research points to growing evidence about the connections between viral infections and cardiovascular disease. 

Learn more about important immunizations and other preventive health tips at heart.org

Providence Alaska Medical Center is a local sponsor of Live Fierce, Life is Why. 

Additional Resources:

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public's health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with the American Heart Association, Alaska via heart.org/Alaska, on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

### 
 

For Media Inquiries

Valerie Koch: Valerie.Koch@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org