Cardiovascular Diseases and Shingles: Understanding Their Connection and Impact

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) can lead to a diminished quality of life due to physical and emotional factors, with implications for daily activities and overall well-being.¹ Symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and exhaustion are common in cardiovascular diseases and can significantly impact daily life.^1,2

Shingles (herpes zoster) also impacts quality of life. It interferes with aspects like sleep, enjoyment of life, and general activities.³ Research suggests an almost 30% higher risk of major cardiovascular events like a heart attack in patients who had shingles.⁴

Let’s take a closer look at the connection between cardiovascular diseases and shingles.

Cardiovascular Diseases and Shingles: Understanding Their Connection and Impact

What is a Cardiovascular Disease?

These diseases (CVDs) are a group of cardiovascular disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels.⁵

Types of cardiovascular disease include: ⁶

• - Coronary heart disease: A condition that affects the blood vessels providing the heart muscles with blood.
• - Cerebrovascular disease: A disorder of the blood vessels that supply the brain.
• - Peripheral arterial disease: A condition involving blood vessel issues in the arms and legs.
• - Rheumatic heart disease: Heart muscle and valve damage due to rheumatic fever, caused by streptococcal bacteria.
• - Congenital heart disease: Birth defects affecting heart development and function due to heart structure abnormalities.
• - Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: Formation of blood clots in leg veins that can break loose and travel to the heart and lungs.

Several factors can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), including: ⁷

• High blood pressure
• High LDL cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking and second hand smoke exposure
• Obesity
• Unhealthy diet
• Physical inactivity

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CVDs are the leading cause of death globally, with risk factors such as high blood pressure and smoking contributing to their development.⁵

How do Cardiovascular Diseases Increase Your Risk for Shingles?

People with coronary artery disease (CAD) are more likely to experience the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) and the development of herpes zoster or shingles.⁸

Research states that certain cells in the body (macrophages) do not work properly in people with CAD, making it harder for the immune system to fight the VZV virus. These macrophage cells from CAD patients actively suppress T cell activation and expansion, leading to defective VZV-specific T cell immunity.⁸

What is Shingles (Herpes Zoster)?

The varicella-zoster virus causes shingles, the same virus that leads to chickenpox. After an initial episode of chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body and can emerge later in life as shingles. The known identifier for Shingles is a painful skin rash accompanied by blisters.¹⁰

As people age, the risk of developing shingles rises due to the natural weakening of our immune systems.¹⁰

It was found in a seroprevalence investigation involving Indian participants that a majority, exceeding 90% of individuals, carried the varicella-zoster virus in their systems by the time they reached 50 years of age, thereby making them prone to developing shingles.⁹

Shingles Symptoms

Shingles is identified by several symptoms, including a painful rash typically appearing on one side of the face or body. The rash often brings about sensations of pain, itching, or tingling.^11,12

In the days leading up to the rash's appearance, various symptoms might arise, including headache, heightened sensitivity to bright light (photophobia), and a general feeling of malaise.¹²

Additional manifestations encompass fever, chills, and upset stomach. ¹¹

Shingles Prevention

Vaccination can help prevent shingles. It is advised for individuals aged 50 or older.¹³

Disclaimer: A public awareness initiative by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 030, India. Information appearing in this material is for general awareness only. Nothing contained in this material constitutes medical advice. Please consult your doctor for medical advice or any question or concern you may have regarding your condition. Please consult your doctor for the complete list of vaccine-preventable diseases and the complete vaccination schedule for each disease.All scientific information is validated, for details write to us on askus@gsk.com.

CL Code: NP-IN-HZU-WCNT-230016 DoP: Sep 2023

References:

1. Komalasari R, Nurjanah, Yoche MM. Quality of Life of People with Cardiovascular Disease: A Descriptive Study. Asian Pac Isl Nurs J. 2019;4(2):92-96.
2. CDC. Heart attack symptoms, risk, and recovery [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2022 [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm
3. Drolet M, Brisson M, Schmader KE, et al. The impact of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia on health-related quality of life: a prospective study. CMAJ. 2010 Nov 9;182(16):1731-6.
4. Shingles associated with increased risks for cardiovascular disease [Internet]. NHLBI, NIH. [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/2022/shingles-associated-increased-risks-cardiovascular-disease
5. Cardiovascular diseases [Internet]. Who.int. [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases
6. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) [Internet]. Who.int. [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)
7. Heart disease and stroke [Internet]. Cdc.gov. 2022 [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/heart-disease-stroke.htm
8. Watanabe R, Shirai T, Namkoong H, Zhang H, Berry GJ, Wallis BB, Schaefgen B, Harrison DG, Tremmel JA, Giacomini JC, Goronzy JJ, Weyand CM. Pyruvate controls the checkpoint inhibitor PD-L1 and suppresses T cell immunity. J Clin Invest. 2017 Jun 30;127(7):2725-2738.
9. GSK launches Shingrix in India- A vaccine for the prevention of shingles in adults aged 50 years and above [Internet]. Gsk.com. 2023 [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://india-pharma.gsk.com/en-in/media/press-releases/gsk-launches-shingrix-in-india-a-vaccine-for-the-prevention-of-shingles-in-adults-aged-50-years-and-above/
10. Shingles: Overview [Internet]. Nih.gov. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2019. [Accessed 2023 Sep 7] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279624/
11. Signs and symptoms [Internet]. Cdc.gov. 2023 [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/symptoms.html
12. Clinical overview [Internet]. Cdc.gov. 2023 [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/clinical-overview.html
13. CDC. Shingles vaccination [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Accessed 2023 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html