Vaccination against shingles might reduce the likelihood of heart disease for up to 8 years.
Taking the Shingles Vaccine Could Be Your Ticket to Heart Health
Roll up your sleeves, folks, because there's a new (old) vaccine on the block that just might keep more than those pesky shingles at bay. Yes, we're talking about the Shingrix shot!
Did you know that adults age 50 and over are eligible to safeguard themselves against shingles? This reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus is the very same villain responsible for chickenpox.
But here's the exciting part: Past research suggests that besides shielding you from shingles, the vaccine could offer additional health perks, such as a potentially lowered risk of heart conditions, including heart disease and even stroke.*
Sooji Lee, MD, researcher from the Center for Digital Health in the Medical Science Research Institute at Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea, says, Shingles has traditionally been regarded as an infectious disease. However, previous studies suggest an association between shingles and chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Lee, the first author of a groundbreaking study, found that individuals who receive the shingles vaccine have a 23% lower risk of experiencing cardiovascular events – yes, you read that right – heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease.*
This fascinating discovery was published in the European Heart Journal.
The shingles vaccine: Your secret weapon against heart disease?
For this enlightening study, scientists pored over the health records of over 1.2 million adults aged 50 and above residing in South Korea since 2012. The research team pinpointed whether participants dallied with a live zoster vaccine for shingles, which entails a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus.
Upon conclusion, the researchers uncovered that folks who received the shingles vaccine boasted a 23% lower chance of experiencing any cardiovascular events, as well as a 26% lower risk for any major cardiovascular event, such as stroke, heart attack, or death from heart disease.*
Intriguingly, the researchers also found that the shingles vaccine lowered an individual's risk for heart failure by 26% and coronary heart disease by 22%.
"The finding that vaccination was associated with a 23% reduction in cardiovascular risk even in a previously healthy population highlights the potential of shingles vaccination as a preventive measure against heart disease," Lee remarks.
How Does the Vaccine Provide Heart-Related Protection?
All this chatter about inflammation and blood vessels might leave you scratching your head. Well, let's break it down. Shingles can initiate an inflammatory response in blood vessels, potentially triggering cardiovascular events. By preventing the shingles infection, the vaccine presumably reduces this inflammatory flare-up, thus lowering the risk of heart disease.*
The Protection Lasts a Sweet Eight Years
And here's another nifty tidbit: Dr. Lee and her team discovered that the cardiovascular protective effects of the shingles vaccine last for a whopping eight years. The strongest protection materialized during the first two to three years following the vaccine.*
The Future of the Shingles Vaccine: Brighter Than Ever
"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," Lee explains. "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."
"Our study, which followed a healthy general population for up to 12 years, is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind to date," says Dong Keon Yon, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Digital Health at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in South Korea and lead author of the study. "We were able to examine the association between shingles vaccination and 18 different types of cardiovascular disease. We accounted for various other health conditions, lifestyle factors, and socioeconomic status, making our findings more robust."—Dong Keon Yon, MD, PhD
Though the study was conducted within an Asian cohort, the findings might not apply universally. In future research, it's essential to confirm whether the discovered benefits extend to a broader demographic.
"These results highlight the significant morbidity and mortality associated with shingles and should further drive our efforts to vaccinate as many eligible patients as possible," Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, remarks. "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."—Cheng-Han Chen, MD
"The varicella-zoster virus can cause complications with many different organ systems, including the heart and nervous system," Chen adds. "Research on the shingles vaccine can help us better understand and reduce the health effects of varicella-zoster infection. This study was performed specifically in an Asian population; further research will be needed to confirm whether the findings are applicable to a wider demographic."
A Step Forward in Shingles Research
The scientists' observational findings offer compelling evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of the shingles vaccine, with a stronger and longer-lasting protective effect than previously anticipated. However, more research is necessary to fully elucidate the specific pathways involved.
Grant Simons, MD, chief of Heart Rhythm Services at Hackensack University Medical Center, agrees wholeheartedly. "While a link between shingles and cardiovascular events has been established, the extent of the risk reduction associated with the shingles vaccine shown in this study is notable," Simons observes. "The magnitude of the risk reduction (22-26%) across various cardiovascular events is higher than some might have anticipated, which is surprising."
"Previous studies have suggested potential benefit, but this very large study provides stronger evidence and quantifies the potential impact more definitively. The duration of protection (up to eight years) is also a positive surprise," Simons concludes. "The study provides compelling evidence for the cardiovascular benefits of the shingles vaccine, with a stronger and longer-lasting protective effect than previously anticipated. Although this is an observational study, its large size is somewhat compelling. While the biological mechanisms are still being investigated, the findings are significant for public health recommendations regarding vaccination in older adults."
"However, it's essential to note that more research is needed to fully elucidate the specific pathways involved," Simons adds. "This study provides strong observational evidence for the association, but further investigation is required to confirm and detail the causal mechanisms."
The shingles vaccine's potential benefits extend beyond shingles prevention, as research suggests a lower risk of other heart diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.
Several studies have shown a 23% lower risk of experiencing cardiovascular events, such as heart failure, stroke, and coronary heart disease, for individuals who receive the shingles vaccine.
The discovery of these reduced risks was published in the European Heart Journal and might contribute to the shingles vaccine being considered a secret weapon against heart disease.
Though the shingles vaccine lowers the risk for 18 different types of cardiovascular disease, further research is needed to confirm whether the discovered benefits apply to a broader demographic.
Besides the cardiovascular protective effects, the shingles vaccine also potentially strengthens overall immune and mental health, as well as aids in skin care, fitness, exercise, nutrition, and various therapies and treatments.
The long-term protection of the shingles vaccine lasts for eight years, providing the most significant benefits during the first two to three years following the vaccine.
As more research is conducted on the shingles vaccine and its impact on various medical conditions like chronic diseases and workplace-wellness initiatives, it may serve as a valuable resource for health-and-wellness practitioners across the globe.
Improved cardiovascular health through the shingles vaccine could lead to more effective management and prevention of related conditions, positively impacting the lives and well-being of millions worldwide.
*The inclusion of CBD-based therapies and treatments in research on the shingles vaccine might further uncover its vast potential for promoting holistic health and well-being, covering both mental and physical aspects.
