If You Have Asthma Get Your Flu Shot

by Barbara McPherson | November 21, 2008 at 09:49 am

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Contracting the flu is bad enough it you have healthy airways, but if you have asthma, it can be life threatening. The statistics coming from the US are sobering -- 36 000 deaths per year. Getting an annual flu shot won't guarantee immunity to the bug but it will almost always lessen the effects of it.

If you have asthma, you need to take steps to prevent flu. With asthma, any respiratory infection — like flu — can affect your lungs, causing inflammation and airway narrowing. It is important to take preventive measures to stay healthy and be aware of any asthma symptoms, even mild symptoms, so that you avoid an asthma attack or severe asthma emergency.

About 5% to 20% of Americans get the flu each year. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized, and about 36,000 people die, according to the CDC. This is largely due to other infections and complications that can occur when you have the flu, particularly pneumonia.

People with lung problems, including people with symptoms of asthma, are at higher risk of respiratory problems associated with flu. A flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu and subsequent respiratory problems associated with flu and asthma.

We are coming up to the peak flu season. There is still time for your vaccination to be effective.
For those in BC who are over 65 or have compromised respiratory systems, there is another vaccination that can protect against a variety of pneumonias. Talk to you health care provider.

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