World Heart Day 2025: 3 Reasons Why Heart Patients Need Protection Against Infections

Infections can be discomforting at any stage of life. Whether it is fever and cough, all of these can cause an extended period of discomfort before recovery. But for people living with heart disease, even a seemingly minor infection is far more than just a passing inconvenience. It can stretch an already weakened cardiovascular system and sometimes trigger a series of critical complications.

This is concerning especially in India, where cardiovascular diseases have become a leading cause of mortality and common infections such as the flu, pneumonia and shingles continue to affect large numbers of people every ywe reached out to Dr Viveka Kumar, Vice Chairman & Chief of Cath Labs (Pan Max), Cardiologist at Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi who explained three main reasons why infections are catastrophic for heart patients.

Why Infection Prevention And Control Is Important For Heart Patients

For those with heart disease, safeguarding themselves against infections is not only about comfort but also about survival. Preventive steps, such as maintaining good hygiene and consulting a doctor about vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases, can make a real difference.

Also Read: Why Is Flu Risky For People With Heart Conditions?

Here are three reasons why people with heart disease need to be especially cautious about infections.

1. Heart Disease Weakens Resilience Against Infections

“People living with heart disease are more vulnerable to infections because their immune system doesn’t respond as effectively,” shares Dr Viveka Kumar.

Research shows that people with heart disease often have a slower and less effective immune response, which means their body’s capability to fight off viruses is lowered. This reduced immunity makes them more susceptible to infections such as pneumonia or shingles. Because their immune defenses are not as strong, people with heart disease need to take extra precautions to protect themselves from infections. This includes maintaining good hygiene, staying active, eating a balanced diet, and consulting with a healthcare provider about taking steps to prevent infections.

Also Read: India Has The Second Highest Number Of Unvaccinated Children

2. Infections Often Lead To Hospital Admissions And Slower Recovery In Patients With Heart Disease

According to Dr Viveka Kumar, “When infection strikes, the immune system requires more oxygen and energy. A healthy heart can pump harder to meet this demand. A diseased heart may not function properly, which is why infections often cause more complications in people with cardiovascular disease. Infections are among the leading reasons why people with heart failure are hospitalised.”

What may be a week of illness at home for a healthy person can escalate into an emergency admission for someone with cardiovascular disease. The problem does not end once patients leave the hospital. Infections can leave a lasting impact on the heart, slowing recovery and raising the risk of relapse. While infections can be inconvenient even for a healthy individual, the prevention of infectious diseases with vaccinations becomes even more important in people with heart disease.

Also Read: Beware Of These Subtle Symptoms Of A Heart Attack

3. Infections Can Increase The Risk Of Heart-Related Complications

“Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection, but it may also disturb cardiovascular health. Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox,” shares Dr Viveka Kumar.

A study reported that adults with shingles had a significantly higher incidence of major cardiovascular events compared to adults without shingles. Prevention against shingles is recommended for all ageing adults (50 years and above) and especially for those with heart disease to lower the risk of shingles infection & its complications.

Another study found that people hospitalised for infections such as pneumonia or sepsis faced a higher risk of heart attack and were more likely to develop heart failure in the years that followed.

This suggests that infection-related stress and inflammation can weaken the heart over time, leaving patients vulnerable even after the immediate illness has passed.

Final Word

Dr Viveka Kumar concludes by saying, in a landscape like India, where pneumonia and flu are major causes of hospitalisation, especially in ageing adults, prevention through vaccination and early medical care becomes even more important for those living with heart disease.

For people with heart disease, every infection carries added risk. This World Heart Day, let’s remember that prevention and timely vaccination, guided by a doctor, are simple steps to help protect heart health.