In today’s time, managing healthy behaviours such as diet, sleep and physical activity, and risk factors including smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose are central to reducing the risk of heart disease. Yet heart health is influenced by more than these familiar risk factors. Emerging evidence is drawing attention to the role of infections as well. One such infection is shingles.
What is shingles?
After a person has had chickenpox in childhood, the varicella-zoster virus remains latent in the body and can reactivate later in life, causing shingles. Shingles affects approximately one in three adults who have previously had chickenpox. As people age, the strength of the immune system response to infection decreases, increasing the risk of developing shingles. Shingles typically begins as a rash on one side with painful blisters erupting on the chest, abdomen or face. Research, however, shows its impact is not limited to the skin, but extends to cardiovascular health.
When shingles and heart health intersect
A study analysing data from more than 200,000 adults found that people who developed shingles had a significantly increased risk of a major cardiovascular event. Another global study found that the herpes zoster virus was associated with higher risks of cardiovascular events including stroke and myocardial infarction, commonly known as heart attack. Importantly, the elevated risk was observed for years following a shingles episode, highlighting why the infection deserves greater consideration as part of healthy ageing and long-term disease management.
Making shingles prevention part of healthy ageing
For adults over 50 years, prevention is increasingly about looking beyond a single disease and paying attention to the broader health risks like vaccine-preventable infections that can influence cardiovascular wellbeing.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adhering to prescribed treatment, attending regular health checks and staying up to date with recommended vaccinations for vaccine-preventable diseases can all form part of a comprehensive approach to healthy ageing. Anyone with underlying cardiovascular or metabolic conditions should discuss their individual preventive care needs with their healthcare provider. A conversation about shingles prevention can be especially valuable for adults aged 50 years or older who are already managing multiple health risks.
As cardiovascular care continues to evolve towards a more holistic approach, preventing infections that can potentially complicate long-term health deserves a place alongside the familiar pillars of heart health.
The author is DM Cardiology, at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
