Contents:
- Medical Video: Shingles in & around eye, Varicella / Herpes Zoster Virus - A State of Sight #73
- Overview of shingles
- Shingles that are not treated properly can increase the risk of stroke
- How can shingles cause strokes and heart attacks?
- What should be done if you have shingles?
Medical Video: Shingles in & around eye, Varicella / Herpes Zoster Virus - A State of Sight #73
Herpes zoster usually attacks someone who has been exposed to chickenpox before. If you experience signs and symptoms that lead to shingles, immediately see a doctor for treatment. According to a recent study, if herpes zoster is not treated well, its complications can increase your risk of having an ischemic stroke and heart attack. Here's the explanation.
Overview of shingles
Shingles (shingles; snake pox) is an infectious skin disease caused by the Varicella zoster virus. The symptoms are the appearance of a painful, resilient resilience that is painful, gathered to form a small area on the surface of the skin - similar to chickenpox. The difference is that the collection of important features of herpes zoster is only centered on one side of the face or body.
Shingles occurs when a virus that causes chicken pox becomes active again in your body. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus will remain in your body in a state of "sleep" or not active. But in some people, especially those who have a weak immune system, this virus can be active again. Some drugs can also trigger the virus to reactivate and cause shingles.
Most people who suffer from herpes zoster will recover and will not be affected again, but it is still possible to get herpes zoster more than once.
Shingles that are not treated properly can increase the risk of stroke
A British study tried to find out the link between complications of herpes zoster and the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Researchers collected data from 42,954 participants diagnosed with herpes zoster and ischemic stroke, and 24,237 participants diagnosed with herpes zoster and heart attack. After that they calculated the risk of having a stroke or heart attack within 12 months after being diagnosed with shingles.
Researchers found that people diagnosed with herpes zoster had a 2.4-fold higher risk of ischemic stroke and 1.7 times higher for a heart attack within one week after exposure to shingles. But this risk will gradually decrease after six months from the diagnosis of shingles. The incidence of ischemic stroke and heart attack is not different in individuals who have been vaccinated against herpes zoster or not.
How can shingles cause strokes and heart attacks?
In the body, the varicella zoster virus causes inflammation of the blood vessels and nerves. Inflammation of blood vessels can cause blood clots so that it may cause strokes or heart attacks. Inflammation of the nerves can cause severe pain, which is called post-herpetic neuralgia.
What should be done if you have shingles?
Researchers found that herpes zoster which is handled as quickly as possible with oral antiviral drugs can reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack dramatically. Shingles patients who are not treated with antivirals have almost twice the risk of a greater stroke compared to patients who get treatment.
Researchers advise people who have shingles to consult their doctors about antiviral treatment. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that anyone aged 60 years or older to get a herpes zoster vaccine so that the risk of a stroke or heart attack can be prevented.
