Report: Flu shot halves chance of heart attack

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A startling new report out is making some waves of its own in the medical field. It claims those who get flu shots are 50 percent less likely to have a heart attack.

In the midst of the on-going controversy over vaccines comes a report that might make even the staunchest opponent think twice.

"I'm very optimistic about these findings," said IU Health Cardiologist, Yazid Fadl.

Fadl is reacting to findings from two Canadian researchers who looked at clinical trials dating back to the 1960's.

Their findings showed those who get the flu vaccination have a 50 percent reduction in the risk of a major cardiac event and are 40 percent less likely to die from one.

It's an unexpected correlation for some but Doctor Fadl says when you think about the flu it makes a lot of sense.

"It causes your body to rev into a higher mode of metabolism, almost like running a marathon, and if you think about it that way, if you're not fit to run a marathon normally, you don't want to do something like catch a bad flu which is going to put your body through the same stress."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of Americans who got the flu vaccine this year dropped slightly to under 42 percent.

"There are some physicians out there that don't get the flu shot themselves and it's really hard to convince them too so it's challenging," said Fadl.

Doctor Fadl hopes that challenge will lessen with findings like this report.

"My hope is that this brings up a conversation with the doctors. I'm hoping this will allow the doctors' advice to be more accepted and that people will listen to it and say, 'Yeah, maybe I should get the flu shot this year. It may help me out.'"