Shingles – Painful but Easily Preventable

The risk of getting shingles increases as you age; in fact, it is estimated that 1,000,000 Americans get shingles each year. As the conversations around vaccinations continue to make headlines, MediNurse, the premiere provider of private duty nursing care and health related services, reminds the public that shingles is incredibly painful and inconvenient but preventable.

Shingles is a disease that affects your nerves—often causing burning, shooting pain, tingling, itching, as well as a rash and blisters on the skin. Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox; however, being vaccinated for chickenpox as a child does not mean you are immune to shingles. The virus can remain in your body for many years and later return as shingles.

There is no way of knowing who will get shingles and it is not contagious. But, there are some things that make it more likely. Half of the people who will contract the virus are 60 or older. As you age, your immune system weakens leaving you more vulnerable to infection. Even stress or a cold can weaken the immune system which puts you at risk for shingles.

The shingles vaccination is recommended for healthy adults 50 and older. If you believe you never had chicken pox, it’s still important to talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine. Unlike chickenpox, you can get shingles more than once. Getting vaccinated cuts the chance of getting shingles by 51% and reduces the risk of shingles-related nerve damage by 67%.

In the event you do get shingles, MediNurse provides tips to help you feel better:

· Apply a cool washcloth to your blisters to ease the pain and help dry the blisters.

· Do things that help take your mind off the pain—watch TV, read, visit with family, listen to music, etc.

· Avoid stress. It can make the pain worse.

· Wear loose-fitting, natural-fiber clothing

· Take an oatmeal bath or use calamine lotion to soothe your skin.

If you are allergic to gelatin or neomycin (an antibiotic), or if you have a weakened immune system or are pregnant, be sure to discuss the vaccine first with a healthcare provider.

MediNurse is St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing services. MediNurse provides services that are customized to the individual needs of the client or patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com.