Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke Rises After COVID-19 and Flu Infections
Vaccines play 'an important role' in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, researchers say.
Viral infections, including COVID-19 and influenza, increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, a new study finds.
- People are three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke in the first 14 weeks after having COVID-19.
- Their risk remains heightened for up to a year.
- People who had the flu were four times more likely to have a heart attack in the month afterward.
- They were five times more likely to suffer a stroke.
Vaccines not only prevent illness, but they also play 'an important role' in reducing risk of cardiovascular events.
The results were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Author's summary: Vaccines reduce cardiovascular risk.