Many people think of shingles as a painful skin rash that mainly affects older adults. While the rash can be very uncomfortable, scientists are discovering that shingles may have effects that go far beyond the skin.
New research suggests that preventing shingles with vaccination could also help lower the risk of serious health problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus does not completely disappear. Instead, it remains hidden inside nerve cells for many years. In some people, especially as they get older or their immune system becomes weaker, the virus can become active again. When this happens, it causes shingles.
The condition usually appears as a painful rash on one side of the body or face. Many people describe the pain as burning, stabbing, or tingling.
The discomfort can last for weeks, and in some cases it continues for months or even years after the rash has gone away. This long-lasting nerve pain is one of the most common complications of shingles and can greatly affect a person’s quality of life.
Over the past decade, researchers have learned that shingles may also increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. Studies have found that the body’s inflammatory response to the reactivated virus may affect blood vessels and increase the likelihood of blood clots. As a result, the risk of heart attack and stroke rises after a shingles infection.
Research has shown that the first few weeks after shingles develops are particularly important. During the first month following the infection, the chance of experiencing a heart attack or stroke increases significantly.
When shingles affects nerves in the face or around the eyes, the risk of stroke may become even higher. Some studies have reported that the risk can double or even triple during this period.
Because of these concerns, scientists have become increasingly interested in whether shingles vaccination might provide benefits beyond simply preventing the rash.
A recent study led by researcher James Mbinta explored this question using health data from New Zealand. The research team examined information from 278,375 adults who received a shingles vaccine between 2018 and 2021.
Most of the participants were over the age of 70, which is important because older adults face the highest risk of developing shingles and its complications.
The researchers compared two different periods after vaccination. They looked at the first 42 days following vaccination and compared this with a later period between 72 and 162 days after vaccination. By examining hospital records, they measured how many people were admitted for heart attacks and strokes during these timeframes.
The results were encouraging. Fewer people were hospitalized for heart attacks or strokes during the first six weeks after receiving the vaccine. The findings suggested that vaccination reduced the risk of these serious events by about 50 percent during that critical period.
These results support earlier research from Australia, where scientists also observed fewer strokes among vaccinated adults aged 70 to 79. The consistency of findings across different countries strengthens the evidence that shingles vaccination may offer important cardiovascular benefits.
The vaccine’s value was already well established before this study. Previous research has shown that vaccination lowers the risk of developing shingles and reduces the chance of long-lasting nerve pain. Now, scientists are finding that preventing shingles may also help protect the heart and brain.
This is especially important because shingles is very common. Health experts estimate that about one in three people will develop shingles at some point in their lives. The risk increases steadily with age, making older adults particularly vulnerable.
As populations around the world continue to age, preventing shingles and its complications is becoming an increasingly important public health goal.
The findings also highlight a broader idea that is gaining attention among researchers. Vaccines are designed to prevent infections, but they may sometimes provide additional health benefits. By preventing inflammation and other harmful effects triggered by infections, vaccines may help reduce the risk of other serious diseases.
Of course, vaccination decisions should always be made in consultation with a healthcare professional. Every person has different health conditions, medical histories, and risk factors that should be considered. A doctor can help determine whether a shingles vaccine is appropriate based on an individual’s circumstances.
For many older adults, however, the evidence continues to grow that shingles vaccination offers important protection. It may help prevent a painful disease, reduce the risk of long-term nerve damage, and potentially lower the chances of life-threatening events such as heart attacks and strokes.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how vitamin D influences cholesterol levels, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
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The study was published in Nature Communications.
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