The Flu
There is no significant link between having the flu and having a heart attack. This is because flu affects the respiratory system, while heart attacks are caused by artery blockage. However, there are numerous cases where symptoms were at first thought to be caused by the flu but which, upon further investigation, were shown to be signs of an impending heart attack.
In one of the survivor stories published by the American Heart Association (AHA), a math teacher named Liz Johnson, who had never had high blood pressure or high cholesterol, experienced sudden symptoms that she mistook for the flu. Johnson did not have a family history of heart disease. However, after a series of examinations, it was discovered that she was experiencing a heart attack at the time.
On average, nearly 50% to 80% of the cases are silent heart attacks, making it difficult to determine. Medical professionals advise not dismissing symptoms similar to the flu, particularly if they continue for a prolonged period or appear in conjunction with other symptoms that are crucial indicators of a heart attack. This includes nausea, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
