Could Heart Disease Patients Be More Susceptible to Swine Flu?
The swine flu has become the most recent medical pandemic in the United States. Swine flu refers to a strain of influenza that is derived from pigs. Its properties are similar to the human strain of influenza but, as the name indicates, it originates in pigs. The concern associated with swine flu is how the human body will respond to a disease that is generated in different species. The symptoms are very similar to human influenza and include: chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. The extreme dangers arise out of its ability to rapidly develop and dehydrate the body. Due to its increased relevance in the news today, About.com published an article discussing the effects of swine flu on heart disease patients.
According to the article, heart disease patients do not possess an increased chance to catch swine flu but if infected, patients will have a significantly harder time coping with the symptoms. The reason for this is due to the increased stress the cardiovascular system experiences – breathing difficulty, changes in blood pressure, and a rapid heart rate – as a result of the swine flu. Due to these stresses, the swine flu is tremendously more dangerous for heart disease patients.
It is especially important for heart disease patients to take precautions in protecting themselves from being infected. The article offered the following guidelines for prevention against the swine flue that heart disease patients should adhere to.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, as germs spread more easily that way.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you get sick, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
To find out other risk factors that heart disease patients could be at an increased risk for visit NorthShore University HealthSystems cardiovascular care center.
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