Cooperative Living May 2017 - 22

HealthyTake
Protect Yourself Against Shingles
The virus can reactivate after being dormant for years and cause shingles.
he painful skin rash known as
shingles, more formally known
as " herpes zoster, " is caused by
the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the
same virus that causes chickenpox.
Anyone who has had chickenpox is at
risk for getting shingles. For reasons
not completely understood, the virus
can reactivate after being dormant (inactive) for years and
cause shingles.
The Centers for
Disease Control
Advisory Committee
on Immunization
Practices advises that
all adults 60 years
of age or older
receive the shingles
vaccine, whether
or not they've had
chickenpox.
20 | Cooperative Living | May 2017
Almost one out of three people in the United States will develop
shingles during their lifetime. For some, the pain that results from
this condition can last for months or even years after the rash goes
away. Those afflicted have described the pain from shingles as
excruciating, aching, burning, stabbing and shock-like. Others
have compared it to the pain of childbirth or kidney stones.
Shingles can interfere with activities of daily living like dressing,
bathing, eating, cooking, shopping and travel, and can lead to eye
complications and even vision loss. The condition, if not treated,
can also lead to depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, loss
of appetite and weight loss.
Because one's risk of suffering from shingles increases with age,
and a person with active shingles can spread the disease when it's
in the blister phase, the Centers for Disease Control Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices advises that all adults
60 years of age or older receive the shingles vaccine, whether or
not they've had chickenpox.
Vaccination is the only way to reduce your risk of shingles and its
associated symptoms. In a clinical trial involving thousands of senior
citizens, the vaccine was found to reduce the risk of shingles by about
half. And even if the vaccine does not completely prevent shingles in
everyone, the study found that it can still reduce the chances of
experiencing long-term pain.
The shingles vaccine being used today has undergone testing
before being licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006.
The Centers for Disease Control and FDA continue to monitor
all types of vaccines after they are licensed, and found that the
shingles vaccine is safe for most people unless they have weakened
immune systems or allergies to certain components of the vaccine.
Side effects, such as a headache or itching in the part of the body
where the shot was given, are usually mild and temporary. The
shot is also safe for people taking most prescription medications,
but as always, consult with your healthcare professional before taking
the vaccine. 
Source: www.vaccines.gov
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Cooperative Living May 2017

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