Influenza Causes Heart Problems

Those who likely die from the flu are many young people and many older ones.

Others at risk are pregnant women and chronically ill people. But seemingly healthy people also die.

Jen Ludwin didn't worry much when he was touched by the flu. She was 23 years old and healthy.

I thought I'd spend seven days in bed and fight it. But I was wrong”, Jen Ludwin says.

Her organs began to weaken, including her lungs.

I was already in septic shock and my organs were starting to weaken. Above all, I had a respiratory syndrome, and then I had an internal bleeding. All these complications together led to gangrene on my limbs, and I cut off their” foot.

The body's response to infection is essentially a major inflammatory response that can cause all kinds of problems in various organs”, says Eric Adkins, a physician at the Wexner medical centre in Ohio.

But why would healthy people develop heart problems as a result of the flu? Researchers at Ohio State University's College of Medicine found a connection.

We produce this protein and it prevents viruses from entering our” cells.

Jacob Young and his team of researchers discovered that some people have a genetic mutation that blocks the production of this protein, and without it, the flu virus is more likely to infect the heart and lead to heart injury.

“can actually block the electrical circuit that travels through the heart”.

This consisting can help doctors care for future flu patients.

If you know they're short-term, then you can adapt medical therapy differently from”, Eric Adkins says.

But now, the best protection is getting a flu vaccine. Researchers say that millions of people worldwide are likely to have this genetic mutation, including about one fifth of those of Chinese origin. Now that scientists know what might cause the problem, they are looking for treatments that can prevent or protect these heart complications in the future. / VOA