Every year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about 36,000 people die from influenza (flu) and more than 200,000 are hospitalized due to complications from it. According to health officials scientific studies have shown that death from the flu is more common among people with cardiovascular disease than any other chronic condition.

Obviously heart patients are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as flu shots are available however even if they wait it would still be beneficial because the flu season often lasts well into March.

"Heart patients need to be as vigilant about preventing flu as they are about managing their cholesterol and blood pressure," said Harlan Krumholz, M.D., spokesperson for the American Heart Association and a professor of internal medicine and cardiology at the Yale University School of Medicine. "Getting a flu shot is an important way for people with heart disease to lower their risk."

Heart patients who catch the flu or a cold this season should consider the medications they take to alleviate their symptoms. Most over-the-counter cold and flu products contain decongestants, and people with high blood pressure should know that using decongestants may raise blood pressure.

With winter approaching people's activities can also cause cardiac emergencies. According to research by health officials cardiovascular events like sudden cardiac arrest increase during cold winter months.

Activities like shoveling snow, often done by those who don't get regular physical activity, can trigger such cardiovascular emergencies and CPR needs to be administered early. Some estimates show that CPR done within 10-12 minutes of an event usually predicts if the person survives.