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COVID-19 Vaccine Reduces Risk Of Heart Complications Linked To The Virus: Study
A recent study reveals that while rare heart-related side effects can occur after a COVID-19 vaccine, the benefits of full vaccination outweigh these risks. Fully vaccinated people are significantly less likely to suffer from severe heart issues, including heart attacks and strokes, associated with COVID-19 infections. Read on to know more.
COVID-19 Vaccine Reduces Risk Of Heart Complications Linked To The Virus: Study (Image Credits: iStock)
New research reveals that while rare heart-related side effects can occur after a COVID-19 vaccination, the benefits of full vaccination in preventing severe heart issues far outweigh these risks. The study, published in the European Heart Journal on September 30, emphasizes that fully vaccinated people are significantly less likely to suffer from serious heart problems caused by COVID-19 infection.
Conducted by Fredrik Nyberg, a visiting professor at the University of Gothenburg's Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden, the research examined the effects of COVID-19 vaccines on heart health. It used data from over 8 million adults in Sweden, who were tracked from the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in December 2020 until the end of 2022. The study analyzed the impact of vaccination on several heart conditions, including inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), heart failure, arrhythmia, and stroke.
Nyberg and his team focused on "risk windows" — the time immediately following each vaccine dose — and compared heart health outcomes in vaccinated people to those who had not received the vaccine. Their findings highlight that the risks of heart-related problems associated with vaccination are typically temporary and much less severe than the heart complications that can result from a COVID-19 infection.
"The increases in cardiovascular risk we saw following COVID-19 vaccination are temporary and do not apply to more serious conditions," Nyberg said. While some rare cases of heart inflammation were observed, particularly after the first or second doses, the study confirmed that these risks were minimal compared to the benefits of being fully vaccinated.
The most serious heart issues, such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, were significantly reduced in fully vaccinated people. The risk of heart events dropped by 20 per cent to 30 per cent after full vaccination, especially after the third dose. The research indicated that vaccination offered substantial protection against severe cardiovascular outcomes linked to COVID-19, providing a clear heart health advantage for those who completed the full vaccination schedule.
However, the study did identify a slight increase in heart inflammation one to two weeks after a single dose of the vaccine, along with a temporary 17 per cent higher risk of extra heartbeats after the first dose and a 22 per cent higher risk after the second dose. These increased risks were more pronounced in men and older people. While the risk of transient ischemic attacks (TIA, or "mini-strokes") temporarily increased by 13 per cent after one dose, particularly in older men, the overall risk of stroke decreased after full vaccination.
Nyberg emphasized that the study reinforces the heart-protective benefits of full vaccination. Despite some temporary risks, the overall reduction in heart-related complications, especially from COVID-19 infection, highlights the importance of completing the full vaccination schedule to safeguard cardiovascular health.
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Pallavi Mehra author
Pallavi Mehra is a Copy Editor at Times Now and covers Health beat extensively. In her leisure time she likes to read, travel, explore cafes and binge...View More
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