Heart Disease and Swine Flu

It turns out that people with heart disease are at greater risk of having a severe case of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

This is partly because the swine flu produces significant stress on the cardiovascular system — breathing difficulty, changes in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and even direct effects on the heart — that make this illness particularly difficult, and even dangerous, for someone who has heart disease.

If you have heart disease and experience a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms, immediately contact your doctor. An anti-viral medication can be dispensed to you. If you do think you may have swine flu, you should be particularly cautious to prevent sickness by washing your hands regularly and remaining a comfortable distance from others while communicating to prevent the spread of the flu.

If you are pursuing a disability claim based on heart disease, I’m sure the last thing you need to deal with is something like the swine flu!  I have not yet heard any horror stories about claimants missing their Social Security hearing due coming down with swine flu…let’s just hope if that happens the Judge will have a little sympathy – and maybe even grant a favorable decision without you having to reschedule a hearing!