DO
I NEED A SHINGLES VACCINE?
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The problem is that once you get the virus, it may not go away. It just lies dormant. Then, if your immune system weakens -- because of illness, medication, or age -- the virus can become active again. The very same infection that gave you chickenpox as a toddler can give you shingles seventy years later.
The illness causes a painful rash that usually appears in a band or belt on the body. (The word has nothing to do with the shingles on your roof, but from the Latin word meaning "belt") Shingles can be painful in itself, but some of its complications are worse. About 20% to 30% of people who get it go on to develop severe neurological pain called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. It can last for months, years, or the rest of a person's life. If the pain lasts for at least four months after the shingles rash appeared, a person is diagnosed with PHN.
Usually the first symptom is pain and they can’t find a cause for the pain - then you break out in a rash -usually just on one side of the body. 500,000 Americans get the painful illness shingles every year. FDA approved the first shingles vaccine in May of 2006 -- called Zostavax -- for people 60 and older. "It's a very important vaccine," says Robert H. Dworkin, PhD, a professor in the department of anesthesiology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, N.Y. "It cuts the risk of developing shingles in half."
While shingles could be treated with antiviral drugs to lessen its impact, up until now, doctors had no way to prevent it. Side effects are usually pain, swelling and itching at the injection site but the prevention of shingles far outweighs these side effects.
Shingles is a disease that primarily affects older people. So a shingles vaccine could make a huge difference as baby boomers reach their sixties. Please ask your doctor about this important vaccine and check with your insurance for coverage.
This Healthy Thought has been brought to you by the Peace Health Team & by R. Morgan Griffin, WebMD Feature, reviewed by Louise Chang, MD.
BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS
Did
you know that you can get your blood pressure checked between services for FREE each
month by a member of the Faith Community Nurse team? The third Sunday of each month is
Health Sunday. Stop by Youth Director Allie’s office and get your blood
pressure checked this month!
If
you are a nurse and would like to join our Faith Community Nurse team, contact Laura
Allton, Team Coordinator.
