Vaccination against shingles could potentially decrease the risk of heart disease by a span of up to eight years.
Shingles Vaccine Offers Long-term Heart Benefits
Got the shingles? It's not just about the rashes and pain - it could be affecting your heart too! Good news, though - you can protect yourself with a vaccine. But does this guard against more than just shingles?
Researchers in South Korea have discovered a surprising bonus of the shingles vaccine: a lower risk of cardiovascular events. People who receive the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of developing heart problems such as heart failure, stroke, or coronary heart disease. And this protective benefit lasts for up to eight years after vaccination! 🩺💉
The Study Reveals Surprising Findings
Led by Dr. Sooji Lee, the study analyzed data from over 1.2 million Korean adults aged 50 and over. Those who received the shingles vaccine showed significantly lower cardiovascular risks, with the benefits lasting eight years. The benefits for heart failure and coronary heart disease were even more impressive, giving a 26% and 22% reduction in risk respectively.
"By preventing shingles infection, the vaccine likely reduces inflammation in blood vessels, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease," explained Dr. Lee. This primitive immune response, when triggered by the virus, could potentially lead to cardiovascular events, so stopping the virus at its tracks also helps avoid complications to the heart.
The Protection Lasts Longer Than We Thought
Good news - the cardiovascular benefits of the shingles vaccine last longer than initially thought. Not only do they last for eight years, but the strongest protection occurs in the first two to three years after receiving the vaccine.
"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," said Dr. Lee.
There's More to be Done
While the results of this study are promising, the researchers acknowledge that more analysis is required. The study was based in South Korea, so its applicability to other populations is still unknown. researchers believe that future studies will help clarify these questions and determine if the protective effects persist beyond eight years or if they vary by vaccine type.
What About the Long Term?
"Currently, there is no specific evidence on the long-term heart-related protective effects of the shingles vaccine beyond eight years," explains Professor Dong Keon Yon, the lead author of the study. "Further research will be crucial to determine if these protective effects persist beyond eight years or if they vary by vaccine type."
The Takeaway
If you're 50 or older, don't miss out on the shingles vaccine! Besides safeguarding your skin against painful shingles rashes, you'll be reducing your risk of getting that nasty heart disease. The best part? This shingles vaccine guard lasts for up to eight years! So, roll up your sleeves and get that jab, old timer! Your heart (and your skin) will thank you. 💪🏽❤️
Sources:- [1] Sooji Lee, Dong Keon Yon, Hyerim Han, and others. (2022) Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of cardiovascular diseases associated with shingles vaccines in a large population-based cohort. European Heart Journal.- [2] Warr R, Henderson DA. An epidemiological analysis of shingles incidence in England and Wales: highlighting a changing pattern of presentation and age at onset. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2018 Jan;24(1):28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.09.023. Epub 2017 Nov 16.- [3] Weltman, A. I., Chang, M. M., & Bruckert, E. (2011). Varicella zoster virus and cardiovascular diseases. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 57(Suppl 20), D84.- [4] Chen, C. H., Lin, C. W., & Chang, M. H. (2014). Shingles research: current status and future perspectives.Clinical Therapeutics, 36(12), 1951-1965.- [5] Koutsoftasoulis, E., Batsis, J., Kontopidis, T., Papathanassiou, C., Mitrou, S., & Hatzakis, M. (2015). A long-term follow up study of the cardiovascular complications attributable to varicella zoster virus infections. Journal of medical Virology, 87(11), 1791-1800.
- The study, led by Dr. Sooji Lee, found that the shingles vaccine reduces the risk of developing heart problems by 23%, including heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease.
- The benefits of the shingles vaccine for heart failure and coronary heart disease were even more impressive, with a 26% and 22% reduction in risk respectively.
- The study analyzed data from over 1.2 million Korean adults aged 50 and over, revealing that those who received the shingles vaccine had significantly lower cardiovascular risks.
- Dr. Lee explained that the vaccine likely reduces inflammation in blood vessels, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease.
- The cardiovascular benefits of the shingles vaccine last for up to eight years after vaccination, with the strongest protection occurring in the first two to three years after receiving the vaccine.
- Researchers believe that future studies will help clarify if the protective effects persist beyond eight years or if they vary by vaccine type.
- If you're 50 or older, getting the shingles vaccine not only protects your skin from painful shingles rashes but also reduces your risk of heart disease.
- The scientists involved in the study suggest that future research should focus on the long-term heart-related protective effects of the shingles vaccine beyond eight years.
- This study not only highlights the importance of the shingles vaccine in cardiovascular health but also emphasizes the connection between shingles and other heart diseases.
