Immunization against shingles potentially extends heart disease-free lifespan by approximately 8 years.
Kickin' It Over 50: Shingles Vaccine's Hidden Heart Benefits
Getting vaccinated against shingles isn't just about avoiding that pesky rash - it could also slash your risk of heart disease! Here's the scoop on why you should roll up your sleeve and protect your ticker, too.
The shingles vaccine offers more than meets the eye. Past research indicates that, along with shielding you from shingles, it may also provide other health perks, such as a lower risk of heart-related issues.
"Shingles has traditionally been seen as an infectious disease," says Sooji Lee, MD, a research whiz at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea. But she and others suspect that it might be linked to chronic conditions like heart disease. That's why they're digging deeper into the broader effects of shingles vaccination.
Lee, the first author of a brand-new study, has some breakthrough insights: People who get the shingles vaccine could see a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease. This protective effect lasts for up to eight years post-vaccination.
The CVD-lowering kick lasts for years
Researchers analyzed medical data from over 1.2 million adults aged 50 or over in South Korea, Determining whether they received the live zoster vaccine for shingles, which contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus. At study's end, they discovered that vaccinated individuals had a 23% lower chance of experiencing any cardiovascular events, along with lower risks for major cardiovascular events (like stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease). The vaccine also reduced the risk of heart failure by 26% and coronary heart disease by 22%.
"The discovery that vaccination was associated with a 23% reduction in cardiovascular risk even in previously healthy populations highlights the potential of shingles vaccination as a preventive measure against heart disease," Lee said.
How it works its magic
Shingles can trigger inflammation in blood vessels, potentially leading to cardiovascular events. By preventing the shingles infection, the vaccine probably cuts down on this inflammatory response, lowering the risk of heart disease.
Enrichment Insight:There are varying hypotheses about how the vaccine may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some theories suggest that by lowering inflammation in the body, the vaccine may help protect against CVD[5]. Shingles itself is associated with increased inflammation, which may contribute to a higher risk of heart-related issues[5].
Talking about her findings, Lee also shares, "This suggests that the shingles vaccine provides a long-term protective effect on heart health, with the most significant benefits observed in the first two to three years post-vaccination."
Up next: testing the recombinant shingles vaccines
With recombinant shingles vaccines becoming more common, soon it'll be time to study their potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes, says Lee.
Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist, echoes this sentiment. "The study's findings are significant for public health recommendations regarding vaccination in older adults," Chen comments. "Varicella-zoster, the virus that causes shingles, has been shown to increase inflammation, cause blood vessel damage, and increase clotting, all of which can lead to serious cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. The shingles vaccine, by preventing varicella-zoster infection, would thus decrease cardiovascular risk by preventing the adverse reactions associated with the virus."
Enrichment Insight:Recombinant shingles vaccines contain pieces of the varicella-zoster virus genetic material and offer higher effectiveness compared to live attenuated vaccines[5]. Given the promising results from Lee's study on the live zoster vaccine, it's now important to investigate their potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes[5].
There's still more research to be done, especially in other demographics, but one thing's for sure - getting the shingles vaccine could be a game-changer for your heart health!
Enrichment Insight:Further investigation is required to confirm whether the findings apply to a wider demographic. While the study was conducted on an Asian cohort, potential bias from underlying factors should be considered[3].
- The shingles vaccine, aside from preventing shingles, could potentially provide other health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart-related diseases.
- Sooji Lee, a researcher at Kyung Hee University Medical Center, and her team suspect that shingles could be linked to chronic conditions like heart disease.
- The study by Lee and her team revealed that people who get the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of experiencing any cardiovascular events.
- The shingles vaccine reduces the risk of heart failure by 26% and coronary heart disease by 22%.
- By preventing the shingles infection, the vaccine probably cuts down on the inflammatory response in blood vessels, lowering the risk of heart disease.
- The study's findings suggest that the shingles vaccine provides a long-term protective effect on heart health, with the most significant benefits observed in the first two to three years post-vaccination.
- With recombinant shingles vaccines becoming more common, it's now important to investigate their potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes.
- Recombinant shingles vaccines offer higher effectiveness compared to live attenuated vaccines and could potentially reduce cardiovascular risk by preventing adverse reactions associated with the virus.
- Further investigation is required to confirm whether the findings apply to a wider demographic, considering potential bias from underlying factors.
