Shingles Tied To Higher Likelihood of Stroke, Heart Attack

A new study has found that having shingles while young increases a person's risk of heart attack or stroke later in life.

Shingles, which presents as a painful rash, lies dormant in the nerve roots of anyone who has had the chicken pox.

During the study, researchers found that people aged 18 to 40 who had had shingles were more likely to have a stroke, warning stroke or heart attack later in life.

Other findings included:

• People under 40 were 74 percent more likely to have a stroke if they had shingles 
• The sane group 2.4 times more likely to have a warning stroke if they had shingles
• People under 40 were 50 percent more likely to have a stroke if they had shingles

The researchers urged anyone who has had shingles, especially younger people, to be screened for stroke risk factors. 

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