Patients with cardiovascular disease have a ten times higher risk of heart attack within three days of getting the flu and are more likely to have a heart attack even weeks after the flu. However, only two-thirds of cardiac patients are getting the flu shot. Effectively communicating the risk associated with flu and cardiovascular disease is rated as one of the top challenges clinicians face during a patient visit. The CardioSmart team has developed an infographic and a fact sheet to help patients understand how the flu shot works and why is important to get one every year. In addition, the ACC has created a risk communication tool to assist clinicians in explaining risks of flu to cardiac patients. For more tools and resources on this topic, visit CardioSmart.org/Flu.