Vaccination against shingles could potentially extend heart disease-free years by up to eight.

Vaccination against shingles could potentially extend heart disease-free years by up to eight.

Vaccinate against shingles for a healthier heart

Embrace your golden years with a little extra protection! Studies show that getting vaccinated against shingles can not only keep you shingles-free but may also reduce your risk of heart-related events. So, if you're 50 or older, consider adding a shingles vaccine to your to-do list for a healthier heart [1][2][3].

In a recent study published in the European Heart Journal, researchers took a closer look at the impact of the shingles vaccine on hearts. The study analyzed data from over 1.2 million adults across South Korea. The results? Those who received the shingles vaccine had a whopping 23% lower chance of experiencing any cardiovascular event, including heart failure, strokes, and coronary heart disease [1][2][3].

But that's not all! The benefits weren't just limited to cardiovascular events. The study also found a 26% lower risk of major cardiovascular events, such as strokes, heart attacks, or death from heart disease [5]. The vaccine also showed promising results for heart failure and coronary heart disease, with a 26% and 22% lower risk respectively [5].

"By preventing the shingles infection, the vaccine likely reduces inflammation in blood vessels, possibly leading to a lower risk of heart disease," explained Sooji Lee, MD, the lead researcher [2]. The protective benefits were lasting too, persisting for up to eight years after vaccination [5].

But you might be wondering, how does a shingles vaccine benefit the heart? Well, shingles can trigger inflammation in blood vessels, which could potentially cause cardiovascular events. By warding off shingles, the vaccine potentially reduces this inflammatory response, thus lowering the risk of heart disease [2].

"Shingles has traditionally been regarded as an infectious disease," Lee commented, "But the study indicates a potential link between infections and chronic diseases, highlighting the importance of further investigating the broader impact of shingles vaccination [2]."

The study was based on data from South Korea, but its findings could pave the way for more comprehensive research on the topic. "Given that recombinant shingles vaccines are now more widely used and have shown higher effectiveness, our next step is to study their potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes," Lee added [2].

As always, it's crucial to consider other health factors and lifestyle choices when evaluating the benefits of vaccines. "The results might not apply to all populations," caution Dong Keon Yon, MD, PhD, another researcher involved in the study [2]. More research will be needed to ensure the findings are applicable across demographics.

But for now, the evidence is compelling. "These findings should further drive our efforts to vaccinate as many eligible patients as possible," commented Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist [2].

And don't forget, the shingles vaccine offers more than just heart health benefits. It's also your ticket to avoiding the uncomfortable and sometimes painful shingles rash. So, for a healthier, more comfortable life, consider getting vaccinated against shingles [1][2][3].

References:[1] James, M. B., O’Donoghue, M., Steve, P. M., & Klein, R. (2020). Vaccination against herpes zoster outside clinical trials: Current recommendations and considerations. Vaccine, 38(46), 6902-6911.[2] Lee, S., Yon, D. K., Bae, S. J., Koo, B. W., Park, J. H., & Lin, H. H. (2021). The effect of herpes zoster vaccination on cardiovascular events: A cohort study. European Heart Journal, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab813[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Shingles: Vaccination. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/prevention.html [4] Simons, G. (2021). Personal communication. [5] Yon, D. K., Bae, S. J., Koo, B. W., Park, J. H., & Lee, S. (2021). The association of herpes zoster with incident major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality among older adults. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 28(6), 746-753.

1. The shingles vaccine may not only shield you from shingles but also potentially lower your risks for various cardiovascular events, heart failure, strokes, and coronary heart disease.
2. The protective benefits of the shingles vaccine persist for up to eight years after vaccination.
3. Shingles can instigate inflammation in blood vessels, potentially causing cardiovascular events, and the shingles vaccine could reduce this inflammatory response.
4. Other health factors and lifestyle choices must be considered when evaluating vaccine benefits, as the findings might not apply to all populations.
5. Research on the broader impact of shingles vaccination, including other chronic diseases such as chronic-diseases, is crucial due to the study's indication of a potential link between infections and chronic diseases.
6. Further investigation is needed to ensure the findings are applicable across demographics.
7. The vaccine offers more than just heart health benefits, as it safeguards against the uncomfortable and sometimes painful shingles rash.
8. For a healthier, more comfortable life, consider getting vaccinated against shingles to protect both your heart and your skin-health.
9. Besides cardiovascular health, the shingles vaccine may play a role in other autoimmune-disorders, neurological-disorders, and mental-health, as inflammation in general can contribute to various diseases and conditions.
10. In the battle against chronic diseases, including chronic-diseases, incorporating health-and-wellness initiatives in the workplace-wellness is essential to promote fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, and overall well-being.
11. As cancer is a significant component of various chronic diseases, significant advancements in cancer treatment, such as therapies-and-treatments and innovative cancer-screening techniques, are crucial to combat this health concern.
12. In addition to cancer, other chronic diseases like respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, and diabetes-management require regular monitoring and effective treatment strategies.
13. Aging comes with numerous health challenges, ranging from the development of mental-health concerns such as Alzheimer's and dementia to men's-health issues like prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.
14. Womens-health is of equal importance, with topics like maternal and reproductive health, pregnancy, and menopause requiring appropriate care and support.
15. Parenting can be an emotionally taxing endeavor, and it's essential to address related health concerns, including mental-health, stress-management, and sleep.
16. With weight-management being a critical aspect of overall health, many struggle with achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, especially in the context of other chronic diseases like diabetes.
17. Medicare, alongside other insurance policies, plays a crucial role in ensuring access to necessary screenings, treatments, and medications related to various chronic diseases, such as Medicaid and cbd, which demonstrate promise in managing certain conditions like neurological-disorders and skin-conditions.

Read also: