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Earlier this week, I shared my proven guidelines for avoiding the flu and any need for a vaccine. My recommendations will certainly come in handy, according to a British study of some 40,000 patients, considering those who are ill with respiratory or urinary tract infections face a higher risk of heart attack or stroke while they are sick.
Your odds of suffering a heart attack or stroke during the first three days of an infection:
- Respiratory infection = 395 percent (heart attack) and 219 percent (stroke)
- Urinary tract infection = 66 percent (heart attack) and 172 percent (stroke)
Although the risk of heart attack or stroke declined gradually over time, it was still elevated for up to 28 DAYS!
The key motivations for this study: Previous research that found an infection could have an immediate damaging effect on the endothelium, the delicate lining of the blood vessels, and because inflammation is known to play a long-term role in cardiovascular disease.
ABC News December 15, 2004
Forbes.com December 15, 2004