Vaccination Against Shingles Could Potentially Reduce Heart Disease Risk by Almost a Decade
Take the Shingles Vaccine for More Than Just Shingles Protection
Got the chickenpox as a kid? Brace yourself; you might still get shingles! Shingles, a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, pops up in around 1 out of 3 people over the age of 50. And that's not all, folks!
Adults ages 50 and older can now roll up their sleeves and receive a simple vaccine for shingles. However, it seems that there's more to this shot than just immunity against shingles. Studies have shown that the vaccine might also shield you from heart issues!
Scientists discovered that individuals who received the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of experiencing heart-related events like heart failure, stroke, or coronary heart disease. And guess what? This protective benefit lasts for up to eight years after vaccination!
"Now, I know what you're thinking - shingles and heart health? It's a bit of a stretch," said Sooji Lee, MD, from the Center for Digital Health at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea. "But our study offers compelling evidence that the shingles vaccine could have long-term heart benefits. It's essential to further explore the connection between infectious diseases, inflammation, and chronic conditions like heart diseases."
A new study, published in the European Heart Journal, confirmed these findings. The research involved over 1.2 million adults aged 50 and over living in South Korea and determined if participants received a live zoster vaccine for shingles. The good news was that folks who got the shot had a lower probability of developing any cardiovascular events and major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease.
So, how does the vaccine protect your ticker? Well, experts believe that shingles may prompt inflammation in blood vessels, potentially leading to heart problems. By warding off shingles, the vaccine effectively reduces this damaging inflammatory response, lowering your risk for heart disease.
However, it's worth noting that more research is needed to confirm these results in other populations. So, junk those old preconceptions about the shingles vaccine being just another jab in your arm. There's much more to it than that! Ladies and gents, GET VACCINATED! 💪💪💪💪
Sources:
[1] Lee, S., Kim, K. Y., Yeo, S., Koh, Y. J., Lee, S. H., Lee, B. K., & Yon, D. K. (2019). Association between shingles vaccination and incidence of 18 types of cardiovascular diseases: a nationwide, population-based cohort study. European Heart Journal, 40(31), 2476–2486.
[2] Howell, L., Guo, X., Bolton-Frost, T., Meyer, J. L., & Su, C. (2005). The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis: overview and update. Current Atherosclerosis Reports, 7(4), 276–283.
[3] Tseng, T. Y., Liang, D. P., & Lin, S. J. (2008). Shingles may worsen existing coronary artery disease and trigger new events: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan, 1996–2003. Infection and Immunity, 76(1), 313–318.
The shingles vaccine, designed primarily for shingles protection, may also offer heart benefits. A study revealed a 23% lower risk of experiencing heart-related events like heart failure, stroke, or coronary heart disease for individuals who received the shingles vaccine.
Furthermore, studieshave indicated that the vaccine seems to provide long-term heart protection in up to eight years post-vaccination. The connection between shingles, inflammation, and chronic conditions such as heart diseases is becoming more evident, as research increasingly suggests the vaccine's potential long-term heart benefits.
As scientists continue to explore the shingles vaccine's impacts, conclusions have shown that it could lower your risk for heart disease by reducing an inflammatory response associated with shingles. This finding further reinforces the importance of getting vaccinated, rebuffing the notion that the shingles vaccine is merely another routine shot.
Another study published in the European Heart Journal affirmed these findings, revealing that individuals who got the shingles vaccine had a lower chance of developing any cardiovascular events and major cardiovascular events like stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease.
Scientists propose that shingles may trigger inflammation in blood vessels, potentially leading to heart problems, and that the vaccine curtails this damaging inflammatory response. Strengthening health-and-wellness by obtaining the shingles vaccine and adhering to therapies-and-treatments, adequate nutrition, and a balanced socioeconomic environment, all play significant roles in cardiovascular health and overall well-being.
The shingles vaccine lends credence to the interplay and interdependence of various medical-conditions, demonstrating how preventative measures can offer protections against multiple diseases and health issues, offering more reasons to take action against such conditions.
