Shingles Alert: The Hidden Link to Heart Attack and Stroke You Need to Know
- Researchers from Harvard University and Brigham Hospital Investigate the Link
- Research has shown that having shingles increases your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
- The research team, led by Saron Kerhan, professor of epidemiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard University, conducted a study for up to 16 years targeting 205,030...
Shingles and Cardiovascular Disease: Understanding the Risks
Researchers from Harvard University and Brigham Hospital Investigate the Link
A Follow-up Survey of 200,000 Adults Reveals Alarming Results
The Connection Between Shingles and Cardiovascular Disease
Research has shown that having shingles increases your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Shingles occurs when the “chickenpox virus” you suffered from as a child lies dormant in certain ganglia and then reactivates when your body weakens or your immunity decreases.
The research team, led by Saron Kerhan, professor of epidemiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard University, conducted a study for up to 16 years targeting 205,030 adults without a history of stroke or heart disease. During the study period, 3,603 subjects were diagnosed with stroke and 8,020 were diagnosed with heart disease.
Understanding the Risks of Shingles
Shingles causes a blistering, striped rash on one side of the body that is accompanied by severe pain. The rash and pain last 2 to 4 weeks before disappearing, but in 10 to 20 percent of patients, nerve pain may continue after the rash has disappeared.
people who had shingles had a 38 percent higher risk of stroke and a 25 percent higher risk of heart disease, the research team found. For stroke, the most dangerous time was 5 to 8 years after having shingles, and for heart disease, 9 to 12 years after.
The Biological Link Between Shingles and Cardiovascular Disease
The research team said that the results of this study took into account other variables such as age, chronic diseases, weight, exercise habits, and smoking. The research team said that while the results of this study cannot prove that shingles directly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, it is biologically possible.
When the chickenpox virus is reactivated by shingles, it enters the blood vessels and causes inflammation, which can contribute to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.