Most people think shingles is just a painful skin problem that happens later in life. But what many don’t know is that it can also quietly affect your heart. Surprising as it sounds, the same virus that causes chickenpox in childhood can come back years later, not just as a rash, but with a long-term risk of heart attack and stroke. And now, studies are showing that this risk can last for over a decade after a shingles episode.
We spoke to Dr Pradeep Haranahalli, Consultant - Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Whitefield, Bengaluru, who explained how shingles can lead to heart problems.
What Causes Shingles?
Shingles is caused by a virus called the Varicella Zoster virus. This virus commonly causes chickenpox among children, and the same virus, which remains in the body from the childhood infection, can reactivate in adulthood, causing shingles.
How Shingles Affects More Than Just the Skin
"Shingles has lately been under intense discussion for the reason that it has demonstrated that an episode of shingles can increase the risk of heart attack or cardiovascular events, including brain stroke. An episode of shingles can increase the risk of cardiac events for up to 12 years after the episode,” said Dr Haranahalli.
Also Read: Feeling A Little Itchy? Ways In Which Shingles Can Affect Your Skin
Shingles And Chickenpox
Most of us get exposed to this virus, Varicella Zoster, during childhood. During childhood, we often suffer from chickenpox, and this virus remains dormant within the nerves. “It can be reactivated later during adulthood due to various factors, such as stress, acute illnesses, infections, or other medical conditions. These factors can trigger the reactivation of the virus that remained dormant for many decades, leading to shingles. This, in turn, has been demonstrated to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke events,” explained Dr Haranahalli.
The Inflammation Link
The mechanism has been predicted to be due to inflammation of blood vessels caused by shingles, leading to damage of the blood vessels, plaque buildup, and clot formation as a result of this inflammation.
Not Just the Inflammation: Pain and Stress Play a Role Too
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or the long-term nerve pain following a shingles outbreak, can cause ongoing psychological stress. Chronic pain is a known risk factor for elevated blood pressure, disturbed sleep, and increased cortisol levels, all of which can add to cardiovascular strain.
What the Research Says
A 2023 cohort study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA|ASA) followed nearly 200,000 adults and found that individuals who had shingles were 30% more likely to experience a stroke or heart attack in the following years.
An analysis of 9 cohort studies (including over 370,000 participants) found that shingles (herpes zoster) increased the risk of stroke, especially within the first-month post-infection, where risk rose by ~78%. This likely is one of the core studies underpinning the broader findings.
The Shingles Vaccine: A Game Changer
Fortunately, shingles vaccine can significantly reduce the risk. “The vaccine has demonstrated its ability to reduce cardiovascular and stroke risk. The effect of the shingles vaccine can last up to eight years post-vaccination, and it is recommended for anyone aged 50 years and above, and for children with immune-compromised conditions. This vaccine is administered as two injections, given four weeks apart,” said Dr Haranahalli.
The vaccine has shown encouraging results in people who have already had shingles, with a 23% reduction in the risk of stroke and heart attack events, according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your professional if you are dealing with any health issue to avoid complications.]