Each year, cardiovascular diseases are among the main causes of mortality around the world, hitting without distinction and leaving behind a heavy price. Heart crises, strokes or heart failure accidents are all serious attacks on the circulatory system, often linked to factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking or even sedentary lifestyle. However, these conditions are not only influenced by these classic elements: Viral infections can also weaken the heart, accentuating the risk of complications. Faced with this observation, recent work, published in l’European Heart Journalhighlight a preventive role previously mentioned: that of vaccines in the reduction in cardiovascular risks.
Vaccination: extended protection beyond the infection
With the pandemic of COVID-19the researchers studied the impact of vaccines on patients with cardiac vulnerabilities. They observed that these people are particularly exposed to the severe forms of the virus and to prolonged syndrome after infection. By being vaccinated, They decrease their probability of being confronted with such problems, reducing in parallel by around 30 % the occurrence of serious cardiac events such as infarction or stroke. This protection is significant enough for vaccination to be now considered as a fundamental pillar of the prevention of heart disease, alongside medical treatments and changes in lifestyle.
Flu: a convincing example of cardiovascular vaccine prevention
This approach does not only concern coronavirus. Flu vaccines offer an already well -established example: By reducing the risk of infection of more than half, they also limit cardiac complications which can follow a viral infection. Information infections are known to cause systemic inflammation and an increase in stress on the heart, mechanisms that can precipitate heart attacks in fragile patients. Vaccination therefore contributes to preserving cardiovascular health by preventing these virus -related inflammatory episodes.
A new strategy for the prevention of heart disease
These discoveries invite to rethink the way in which cardiovascular prevention is discussed. While attention has long focused on controlling conventional factors such as cholesterol, tension or tobacco, vaccination turns out to be a great value tool. It brings an additional defense layer by reducing the impact of infections that aggravate cardiac pathologies. Promoting vaccination among populations at risk could therefore lead to a significant drop in serious complications and improve the quality of life for many patients.
Published results recall that heart health also depends on effective immune protection. By integrating vaccination into common medical strategies, we open the way to a more global prevention, capable of reducing the load of cardiovascular disease and saving lives.
