Whats the Best Way for Someone With Heart Disease to Prevent Colds?
Whether or not you have heart disease, good hygiene helps to prevent respiratory infections such as colds. Stop the spread of a cold virus by making sure you and your family members wash your hands regularly. While there is no vaccine against the cold, there are immunizations that can help prevent other respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and the flu. The CDC recommends that people with chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, be among the first to get a flu vaccine each year. Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May. October or November is the best time to be vaccinated, but you can still get vaccinated in December and later. The pneumonia shot helps prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcus bacteria. It’s usually required only once. Both the flu and pneumonia shot become effective about two weeks after your vaccination. In addition, avoid crowds during cold and flu season, since colds and particularly the flu can cause serious problems for peo