Heart attacks and strokes are more common in the weeks after COVID-19 and flu infections, study finds

People who haven't gotten COVID-19 or flu shots this fall might be motivated by new research that shows viral infections increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

People are three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke in the first 14 weeks after having COVID-19 — and their risk remains heightened for up to a year, the study found. Also, people who had the flu were four times more likely to have a heart attack in the month afterward, and five times more likely to suffer a stroke. MORE: How to make healthier choices when eating fast food

The results were published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association .

"Preventive measures against viral infections, including vaccination, may play an important role in decreasing the risk of cardiovascular di