Town nurse Laura Murphy R.N. will talk about shingles – what is it, who gets it, how to treat it and how to avoid it at the Chilmark Public Library on Thursday, May 17 at 4p.m. Murphy, who administers community nursing programs with the Vineyard Nursing Association, says shingles can be debilitating and extremely painful.
According to the Center For Disease Control, almost 1 out of every 3 people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster at some point in their lifetime. There are an estimated 1 million cases each year in this country.
Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox is at risk. Even children can get shingles. However the risk of disease increases as a person gets older. About half of all cases occur among men and women 60 years old or older.
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Murphy will talk about how to decrease your risk of experiencing the scourge of shingles and discuss treatments to minimize the severity of the disease if you do get it. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Chilmark Public Library.