What does an old case of chickenpox have to do with your heart? The same virus that caused chickenpox causes shingles, which has been linked to irregular heartbeats and other heart complications. Thankfully, there are ways to help prevent shingles and its potential negative impacts on your cardiovascular health.

Keep reading to discover how shingles affects heart rate and overall heart health, what you can do to prevent a flare-up, and when to talk to your doctor.

What Is Shingles?

Shingles is a painful rash triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox: the varicella-zoster virus. If you’re infected with chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in the body’s nerves and can reactivate due to stress or immune issues. Once reactivated, the virus can cause shingles (also known as herpes zoster).

Shingles can attack the vagus nerve, which helps regulate your heart rate and blood pressure.

About one-third of Americans may develop shingles at some point in their lives, and 1 million people experience it every year.

Symptoms

Shingles triggers inflammation along certain nerve pathways, usually on one side of the body. Shingles can be extremely painful. “I had open heart surgery. Shingles hurt more than that,” wrote one MyHeartDiseaseTeam member. Symptoms include:

• Pain, itching, or burning
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Upset stomach
• Damaged vision or hearing (if nerves in the eye or ear are affected)

One of the more serious complications of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a condition where the nerves remain painful for more than three months, even after the rash has cleared. Postherpetic neuralgia can be difficult to treat, especially for older adults.

Treatment

Make sure to call your doctor as soon as you recognize symptoms. Your doctor may recommend an antiviral drug within the first 72 hours. They may also recommend pain medication or home remedies to help relieve symptoms.

Can Shingles Affect Your Heart Rate?

Some research has linked shingles to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), which can cause the heart to pump too fast, too slow, or irregularly for a period of time.

One study found that people with severe shingles cases that require hospitalization have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) within two years of their shingles infection. AFib occurs when the upper chambers of the heart beat out of sync with the rest of the heart. Scientists think this could be due to increased inflammation in the body, but more research is needed.

People hospitalized for shingles may have a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Shingles doesn’t just target nerves that go to the skin. It can also attack other nerves in your eyes or ears or deep inside your body. One nerve, the vagus nerve, helps regulate your organs to help you digest food, breathe, and regulate temperature. It also regulates your heart rate and blood pressure. Some shingles cases can affect the vagus nerve with serious consequences for the organs, including your heart and its rhythm.

More Links to Cardiovascular Disease

There is more research linking shingles to cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems like heart attack and stroke.

The American Heart Association reported that adults with a history of shingles have a 30 percent increased risk of future cardiovascular issues. For example, people are 38 percent more likely to experience a stroke and 25 percent more likely to have coronary artery disease (which includes heart attack).

How the Shingles Vaccine Can Help

Shingles can impact your life in many ways. It’s often extremely painful and makes everyday activities uncomfortable. Also, shingles can increase your risk for serious health issues impacting your heart and other organs.

You can protect yourself from shingles by getting the recombinant zoster vaccine (also called Shingrix), which is over 90 percent effective at preventing the infection.

Research also links the shingles vaccine to lower rates of related heart disease and serious complications. Studies suggest that people who received the vaccine could have a 50 percent lower risk of vascular dementia (decline in brain function due to poor blood flow), 27 percent lower risk of blood clots, 25 percent lower risk of heart attack or stroke, and 21 percent lower risk of death.

Who’s Eligible for the Vaccine?

Your doctor can tell you if you’re eligible for the shingles vaccine. Generally, the vaccine is recommended for people 50 and older. It’s also recommended for adults 19 and older with weakened immune systems due to a health condition or medical therapy.

The vaccine is not recommended for people who are allergic to it, are experiencing an active shingles infection, or are pregnant.

When To See Your Doctor

You should talk to your healthcare provider if you’ve had chickenpox or shingles and are concerned about developing an abnormal heart rate, especially if you have a history of heart disease. Your doctor will decide if you’re eligible for the shingles vaccine and suggest other ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular complications. And if you’re experiencing abnormal heart rhythms, work closely with your doctor to find a treatment plan that works for you.

Join the Conversation

On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, people share their experiences with heart disease, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you developed shingles since being diagnosed with heart disease? Let others know in the comments below.