Each year people suffer or even die from diseases that could be prevented by vaccinating. Vaccination is a medical achievement representing an optimal treatment preventing from some virus. Evidence suggests that people suffering from cardiovascular system diseases are exposed to a higher risk of triggering complications from certain illnesses. It is believed that vaccines’ role in cardiovascular diseases is not only preventive but also immunomodulatory. Although, currently, there is no particular vaccine to treat circulatory disorders, there are some vaccines that reduce the risk of cardio-related symptoms.
Vaccination is a highly debated topic up to this day as the people’s opinion changes daily. The main advantage of vaccinating is that it ensures safety from severe contagious illnesses such as shingles, measles, or chickenpox and puts a stop to the spread and outbreaks of them. Moreover, it is believed to have positive side effects for people with certain illnesses. The disadvantage is that vaccines contain chemicals like formaldehyde and thimerosal that have long-term effects and cause such side effects as a lifetime allergic reaction. Also, it is thought that vaccines only cause autism or auto-immune disorder.
The circulatory system comprises the heart, blood, and complex pathways of blood vessels and implements three functions. The first function is the transportation of oxygen, hormones, and nutrients that flow throughout the cells providing disposal of metabolic wastes. Secondly, the function of regulation is performed by white blood cells and antibodies that circulate in the blood and defend the body against toxins. Finally, the function of management controls the body temperature, water supply in cells, and fluid pH.
Blood circulation helps to maintain homeostasis, which in turn provides the body with stable internal conditions that are subjected to external changes. Although all organs contribute to the homeostatic balance, the cardiovascular system has the most substantial impact on it. Blood pumps through the entire body, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the organs, that is, ensuring their functionality. For instance, supplying the nervous system with glucose and oxygen or regulation specific body temperature and pumping blood to the vital organs improves maintaining homeostasis. It means that circulation and other body systems complement one another, supporting the balance.
However, blood circulation fluctuates, causing adverse effects on the homeostatic equilibrium. If the circuit is disrupted, implying the lack of the nutrients delivered to the vital cells, the systems automatically start to work slower, resulting in severe complications. For example, the endocrine system is exposed to adverse effects as the hormones released into blood are under the control of stimulus that may affect thermoregulation, causing the rise of temperature. The shortage of oxygen affects the central nervous system, which is responsible for reacting. Undoubtedly, there are also severe conditions for the rise of blood pressure or atherosclerosis.
Meanwhile, the researchers discovered that there is an association between infection and the cardiovascular system, providing that after an influenza epidemic, the risk of heart illnesses was enormous (Katski, Antoniou, Manolakou, Toutouzas, & Tousoulis, 2019). Thus, influenza can trigger acute myocardial infarction or coronary heart disease, and, therefore, immunization can mitigate symptoms of these dysfunctions. According to some scientists, “The systematic analysis revealed that in randomized controlled trials that examined influenza vaccination as a mechanism of secondary prevention, significantly fewer cardiovascular deaths occurred in the vaccine group than in the control group” (Paules & Subbarao, 2018, p.427). It proves the cardiovascular effect of the influenza vaccination on an ill person.
In conclusion, it is necessary to state that blood circulation can maintain homeostasis, but it should not be affected by the misfunctions caused by diseases. Thus, vaccines are supposed to be a treatment for contagious diseases, but they can shrink the symptoms of cardiovascular sickness as well. More and more vaccines are subjected to specific testing to prove not only their direct treatment but to produce positive side effects. Therefore, vaccines are necessary for people with such kinds of diseases.
References
Katski, V., Antoniou, C. K., Manolakou, P., Toutouzas, K., & Tousoulis, D. (2019) What’s in a prick? Vaccines and the cardiovascular system. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology, 1-23.
Paules, C. I., & Subbarao, K. (2018). Influenza vaccination and prevention of cardiovascular disease mortality – Authors’ reply. The Lancet, 391(10119), 427–428.