Health experts and researchers have long suspected that shingles can lead to stroke and coronary heart disease.
New research has found that the association between shingles and cardiovascular events is more significant than previously thought.
The long-term study reveals that the association also lasts for a much longer duration than previously understood.
The best strategy for self-protection, according to experts, is to get a shingles vaccine and prioritize heart health through diet and lifestyle modifications.
Experts have known for some time that an association exists between shingles, stroke, and coronary heart disease.
A new prospective, longitudinal study from researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, adds greater depth to this understanding, finding a stronger association between shingles and these cardiovascular events than previously thought.
The findings show that adults who’ve had shingles were nearly 30% more likely to have a subsequent first stroke or develop coronary heart disease.
The study, which followed individuals for up to 16 years, suggests the risk extends for a longer duration after an active case of shingles than what was previously known.
In addition, people who’ve had shingles are more likely to experience cardiovascular problems for 12 years or more.
The study was recently published in the
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Shingles linked to 30% increased risk of stroke, coronary heart disease
By Robby Berman on November 30, 2022 — Fact checked by Dana K. Cassel
New research has found that the link between shingles, stroke, and coronary heart disease is much stronger than previously understood. Anastasia Mihaylova (para)/Stocks
Health experts and researchers have long suspected that shingles can lead to stroke and coronary heart disease.
New research has found that the association between shingles and cardiovascular events is more significant than previously thought.
The long-term study reveals that the association also lasts for a much longer duration than previously understood.
The best strategy for self-protection, according to experts, is to get a shingles vaccine and prioritize heart health through diet and lifestyle modifications.
Experts have known for some time that an association exists between shingles, stroke, and coronary heart disease.
A new prospective, longitudinal study from researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, adds greater depth to this understanding, finding a stronger association between shingles and these cardiovascular events than previously thought.
The findings show that adults who’ve had shingles were nearly 30% more likely to have a subsequent first stroke or develop coronary heart disease.
The study, which followed individuals for up to 16 years, suggests the risk extends for a longer duration after an active case of shingles than what was previously known.
In addition, people who’ve had shingles are more likely to experience cardiovascular problems for 12 years or more.
The study was recently published in the Journal of the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source.
A large cohort with no prior history of stroke or heart disease
The study analyzed data from 205,030 adults who participated in three separate studies.
The cohort included 79,658 women from the Nurses’ Health Study, 93,932 women from the Nurses’ Health Study II, and 31,440 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.
People with prior histories of strokes or coronary disease were excluded from the research.
Participants completed questionnaires at enrollment in their respective studies and completed follow-up questionnaires every 2 years. All were health professionals.
Although shingles cases and subsequent coronary events were self-reported, crosschecks with participants’ physicians found that the self-reports were highly accurate.
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