Overview

Each year, the flu strikes up to  1 out of 5 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The infection, which spreads easily through tiny droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes, sends more than 200,000 people on average to the hospital for flu-related complications yearly. 

Getting a flu shot is your best protection. According to the CDC, during the 2017 flu season, vaccination prevented:

• 7 million flu illnesses
• Over 100,000 flu-related hospitalizations
• 8,000 flu deaths

Just like eating heart-healthy foods, exercising regularly and following up with routine health visits can help protect your heart health, so can rolling up your sleeve and getting a flu shot each year.