Hello SoWal
We’ve had a lot of folks calling about the Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax). If you’ve ever had chickenpox, the virus (Herpes Zoster) that causes it lies dormant in your nerve roots. In some cases the virus will stay dormant forever, but in others it can “awaken” when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. If the virus becomes active again it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox. You can’t catch shingles from someone who has an active case, but if you have a shingles rash, it can be spread to another person who hasn’t had chickenpox or who hasn’t gotten the vaccine for chickenpox. Yes, there is a vaccine for chickenpox and it is readily available at any of our ProHealth locations.
The symptoms of shingles happen in stages. Initially you may have a headache or be sensitive to light. You might also have flu like symptoms without having a fever. A few days later you may feel an itching, tingling, or pain on one side of your body, usually but not limited to the torso. In that same area, a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur. The rash then may turn into clusters of blisters that may take 2-4 weeks to heal and could leave scars. Some people may only get a mild rash and sometimes no rash at all. On the other hand, some may experience long term pain. If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned initial symptoms, check with your physician. If caught early enough, there are medications that can be very effective in treating shingles. If the rash occurs on your face it could affect your vision, how well you think, or the rash could spread. If those symptoms occur, call your Doctor immediately. If you are at least 60 years old or older, the sooner you get the Zostavax vaccine the better your chances of protecting yourself against shingles. Talk to your physician to make sure the vaccine is right for you. If you’re a good candidate, give ProHealth a call and we’ll endeavor to keep you protected.
ProHealth SRB: 850-267-0360
Be safe and take care!
We’ve had a lot of folks calling about the Shingles Vaccine (Zostavax). If you’ve ever had chickenpox, the virus (Herpes Zoster) that causes it lies dormant in your nerve roots. In some cases the virus will stay dormant forever, but in others it can “awaken” when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. If the virus becomes active again it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox. You can’t catch shingles from someone who has an active case, but if you have a shingles rash, it can be spread to another person who hasn’t had chickenpox or who hasn’t gotten the vaccine for chickenpox. Yes, there is a vaccine for chickenpox and it is readily available at any of our ProHealth locations.
The symptoms of shingles happen in stages. Initially you may have a headache or be sensitive to light. You might also have flu like symptoms without having a fever. A few days later you may feel an itching, tingling, or pain on one side of your body, usually but not limited to the torso. In that same area, a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur. The rash then may turn into clusters of blisters that may take 2-4 weeks to heal and could leave scars. Some people may only get a mild rash and sometimes no rash at all. On the other hand, some may experience long term pain. If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned initial symptoms, check with your physician. If caught early enough, there are medications that can be very effective in treating shingles. If the rash occurs on your face it could affect your vision, how well you think, or the rash could spread. If those symptoms occur, call your Doctor immediately. If you are at least 60 years old or older, the sooner you get the Zostavax vaccine the better your chances of protecting yourself against shingles. Talk to your physician to make sure the vaccine is right for you. If you’re a good candidate, give ProHealth a call and we’ll endeavor to keep you protected.
ProHealth SRB: 850-267-0360
Be safe and take care!
