Does herpes zoster increase the risk of ischemic stroke?

The increase in stroke risk appears to be strongest right after the shingles outbreak, which could be linked to the body’s inflammatory response during active viral reactivation. As the infection resolves, this heightened risk fades, suggesting the connection is temporary rather than long-term. We did not find any data showing that shingles causes permanent changes to blood vessels or clotting systems that would explain a lasting stroke risk.

What we’ve found so far points to a short-term association between shingles and stroke, particularly in the earliest weeks after symptoms appear. There is no indication that everyone who gets shingles will have a stroke, nor that the risk remains elevated beyond one year. The evidence does not clarify whether age, vaccination status, or other health conditions affect this pattern, as those details were not included in the studies we reviewed.

If you’ve recently had shingles, it may be helpful to pay attention to stroke warning signs—like sudden numbness, confusion, or trouble speaking—and to follow up with your doctor, especially in the first few weeks after the outbreak.