*** I'm only 52 and rather lean and mean if I must say so, but my aortic valve was replaced with a carbon composite in '90. I take flu shots every year. ***
My Mitral valve was replaced same year. I'm 57 and have never taken a flu shot. I have not had flu in years but the common cold tears me up!
Years ago a physician said not to worry about flu as most people die as a result of complications from PNEUMONIA after having the flu. We still have plenty of pennicillin for that.
Yeah, I'm gonna go with multivitamins and echinaceae this year. I also generally keep away from the rest of the herd, but I work at a school. My greatest risk is that dash from the hot tub to the house on a cool evening.
In December 1999, I ended up with pneumonia after the flu and have gotten the shots since then, but am not going to panic this year...will call my doc and get a pneumonia shot and when the panic dies down get the flu shot. I'm 64, but don't consider myself high risk. I have only had the flu that one time.
I think some seniors nowadays think they can live forever if only they do everything right, diet, meds, etc. etc. My 85 year-old mother is on numerous meds that I think are ridiculous for someone her age, and suffering from side effects, but she takes everything the docs tell her to. I really don't believe a slightly elevated cholesterol at her age is that bad since she hasn't had any symptoms of stroke or heart disease. But, I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of people in that age bracket that are taking that expensive medication. I blame the doctors for this overprescribing. When she goes in complaining of aches and pains, instead of telling her that she should expect some discomfort at her age, they push another pill at her.