Shingles is a painful illness that many people recognize because of the burning rash it causes on the skin. It is caused by the varicella‑zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Most people catch chickenpox as children and recover, but the virus never truly leaves the body. Instead, it stays asleep inside nerve cells for many years. Later in life, especially when a person is older or their immune system becomes weaker, the virus can wake up again. When it reactivates, it appears as shingles.
Shingles is much more common in older adults, particularly people over the age of 60 or 70. Besides the painful rash, people may feel fever, tiredness, headaches, and sensitivity to light. In some cases, the pain can last for months or even years after the rash disappears. This long‑lasting nerve pain can greatly affect a person’s daily life, sleep, and mood.
Doctors have also discovered that shingles can affect more than just the skin and nerves. Research now shows that the illness can increase the risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
The danger is especially high during the first few weeks after the virus becomes active again. When shingles affects nerves in the face or near the eyes, the risk of stroke may become even higher because inflammation can affect blood vessels that supply the brain.
A recent study led by researcher James Mbinta looked at how vaccination against shingles might reduce these risks. The team analyzed hospital data from 278,375 adults in New Zealand, most of whom were aged 70 or older. They compared the number of people hospitalized for heart attacks and strokes before and after receiving the shingles vaccine.
The results were encouraging. In the six weeks after vaccination, hospital admissions for stroke and heart attack dropped significantly.
This suggests that the vaccine may cut the risk of these serious conditions by about half during that early period. Other researchers, including Colin Simpson, noted that similar findings have been seen in studies from Australia, giving more confidence that the vaccine offers real protection.
Earlier work by Mbinta’s team also showed that the vaccine can reduce hospital visits caused by severe nerve pain after shingles. This type of pain, known as post‑herpetic neuralgia, is one of the most feared complications because it can last long after the rash heals.
About one in three people will develop shingles at some point in their lives, and the chance rises sharply with age. Because of this, many health experts recommend vaccination for older adults as a simple way to prevent serious illness.
Getting vaccinated is not only about avoiding a painful rash. It may also protect the heart and brain by lowering the chance of stroke and heart attack during a vulnerable time.
Choosing to receive the shingles vaccine should involve a conversation with a doctor, especially for people with existing health conditions. For many older adults, however, the vaccine offers an important step toward staying healthy and independent. It shows how preventing infections can also prevent other life‑threatening problems that may follow.
Scientists continue to study the long‑term benefits of vaccination and how it protects the body. What is clear so far is that shingles is more than a skin condition. It is a serious health issue that can affect many parts of the body. Vaccination provides a powerful tool to reduce these risks and improve quality of life for aging populations around the world.
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