Vaccines are widely recognized for preventing infectious diseases, but did you know they also offer critical protection for your heart? This August, during National Immunization Month, WomenHeart explores how timely vaccination can help manage cardiovascular risk, especially for women with heart disease or other chronic conditions.
1. The Heart-Vaccine Connection
Emerging evidence from clinical and observational studies reveals multiple ways vaccines support heart health:
- Influenza and heart attacks: A large body of research shows that flu infections can trigger acute cardiac events. Annual influenza vaccination is associated with a 19–45% reduction in heart attack risk among high-risk adults. (1)
- COVID‑19 and myocarditis risk: While rare, COVID can cause damage to heart tissue and inflammation, particularly in individuals with underlying heart disease or cardiometabolic conditions. Vaccines significantly reduce severe COVID outcomes and related cardiac complications. (1)
- Pneumococcal disease and vascular injury: Pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal infections can strain the heart, especially in older adults and those with preexisting heart conditions.
2. Vulnerable Populations and Cardiometabolic Overlap
Women with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, or a history of high blood pressure carry increased risk if infected with influenza, COVID, or pneumonia. For many, vaccine-preventable respiratory infections can act as the tipping point for hospitalization or decompensated heart failure.
Ensuring that women receive recommended vaccines becomes a simple yet often overlooked part of cardiorenal metabolic care, particularly for those with overlapping chronic conditions.
3. How Vaccines Help Protect the Heart
Reduce inflammation and stress: Infections trigger systemic inflammation and can destabilize atherosclerotic plaques, leading to events like heart attack or stroke. Vaccination blunts that inflammatory cascade.
Prevent complications: For people with heart failure or arrhythmias, avoiding respiratory infections reduces hospital admissions and complications.
Support resilience during recovery: For heart patients recovering from procedures, even mild infections can delay recovery. Vaccines help reduce that risk.
4. What Women Should Know
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Heart Association, and Cardiorenal Metabolic guidelines recommend vaccination for individuals with cardiovascular risk, including annual influenza, COVID boosters (if eligible), and pneumococcal vaccines for those over 65 or with chronic illness.
If you are living with heart disease:
- Ask your provider about your vaccine status.
- Don’t assume pregnancy, medications, or chronic illness automatically exclude you. Many vaccines are safe and recommended.
- Plan ahead for travel, events, or high-risk seasons (e.g., flu season begins in fall).
5. Vaccines as Heart Care
Vaccinations are not just about preventing illness; they are part of preventive cardiovascular care. Heart health begins with proactive prevention: managing cholesterol, blood pressure, lifestyle, and staying ahead of infections.
5. WomenHeart’s Role
At WomenHeart, we emphasize holistic, evidence-based care for women. Our resources, including a network of WomenHeart Champions trained to provide peer support, Heart Scarves, Red Bags of Courage, and patient advocacy materials, help support women through steps that protect not just their heart, but their entire well‑being. This August, let’s champion vaccines as an important tool in preventing heart disease progression and hospitalization.
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