Contents:
- Medical Video: this is what happens to your body when you eat 1 garlic everyday !
- Which blood vessels can rupture during flu?
- Blood vessels break in the flu season
- How can flu cause aortic artery rupture?
- Prevent aortic arteries from rupturing due to flu
Medical Video: this is what happens to your body when you eat 1 garlic everyday !
Influenza or flu is usually spread during the changing seasons and in the rainy season. When transmitting and the rainy season, the air does get colder so people are more susceptible to viral infections. However, this flu disease does not seem to come alone. Recent research reveals that in the flu season, many people also experience broken blood vessels.
How can it be, huh? And is this condition dangerous? Check out the answer below.
Which blood vessels can rupture during flu?
In your body there are two main types of blood vessels, namely arteries and veins. These two blood vessels have different functions. Arteries are responsible for flowing blood from the heart to all other parts of the body. Back blood vessels are responsible for flowing blood into the heart.
The arteries themselves are still divided into several types. One of them is the aortic vessel. The aorta is the largest artery. If the lining of your aorta is broken, blood will escape its path and cannot drain all parts of the body. This is what is called aortic dissection.
If not treated immediately, broken blood vessels can cause the body to run out of oxygen. This is because oxygen is obtained from your bloodstream. So, it is not uncommon for cases of aortic dissection to cause sudden death. Possible symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and upper back pain.
Blood vessels break in the flu season
A team of experts from the University of Texas, headed by Dr. Harleen Sandhu found that during the flu season, many people had to go to hospital due to rupture of the aortic arteries. Heart health experts also find out whether there is a connection between flu and broken blood vessels.
The study, which lasted twelve years from 2001 to 2013, noted that the most cases of aortic dissection took place from November to March, with the largest number being when the flu was epidemic. Whereas in other months, complaints of aortic dissection are less frequently reported.
These findings are in line with the reports of a cardiac surgeon Dr. Eric Roselli from the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Eric Roselli also found something similar, namely the case of ruptured blood vessels increasing during the flu season.
How can flu cause aortic artery rupture?
Unfortunately both Dr. Eric Roselli and Dr. Harleen Sandhu hasn't found out how exactly flu can increase the risk of ruptured aortic arteries. They strongly suspect that due to influenza virus infection, the body's immunity decreases. If your aorta is already weak, the infection then triggers an inflammatory reaction in all parts of the body, including the aortic vessels. Inflammation if left unchecked will make the inner lining of the aorta break.
Weak aortic vessels are commonly experienced by elderly people, people who have connective tissue diseases such as lupus and Marfan syndrome, and people who have high blood pressure (hypertension). So, if you have these risk factors, chances are you have aortic rupture when the flu is greater.
Prevent aortic arteries from rupturing due to flu
To avoid the risk of broken blood vessels, do not ignore the symptoms of influenza disease that appears. Immediately check with your doctor and follow the recommendations given, including taking medication and taking enough rest. If you have hypertension or certain connective tissue diseases, ask for a flu vaccine at the Puskesmas or hospital. Especially when entering the flu season, namely November and March.
