Thought you were done with the chickenpox as a kid? Think again. Shingles, a disease caused by the same virus as chickenpox, affects roughly one million Americans each year. As people age, their risk of getting shingles increases but despite its incidence many people are completely unaware of the disease.
“People don’t really know about shingles unless they know someone who has had shingles, or they develop it themselves,” said Stephen Tyring M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.
The results of a recent national survey by the American Pain Foundation support Trying’s position. The survey revealed that many older adults were not aware of their risk for the disease. More than half of the respondents who reported having heard of shingles were not sure of the risk factors. And many respondents were unaware of the relationship between chickenpox and shingles.
After a person gets the chickenpox, most often during childhood, the inactivated virus can live on in certain nerve cells in the body. In healthy people, the body’s immune system usually keeps the virus at bay. As people age or their immune system becomes compromised, the virus can reactivate and result in shingles.
The risk of shingles increases with age. “With each decade, a person’s immunity weakens, so that by 60 years of age, the likelihood of shingles significantly increases,” says Tyring. “In fact, one out of two people who live to the age of 85 will have had shingles.” And although seniors are at higher risk, shingles can affect people of all ages.
The first signs of shingles may not be visually noticeable. People often experience tingling, burning, itching or pain. During the first few days of symptoms, fluid-filled blisters will break out in a rash, usually on one side of the body or face. The rash is often painful and will heal in two to four weeks, in most people. However, some people experience post-herpetic neuralgia, or long-term nerve pain which can persist for months or even years after the initial rash. Long-term nerve pain caused by shingles can vary and has been described as burning, throbbing, stabbing or shooting. The older a person gets, the more he or she is at risk for long-term nerve pain.
Men and women are affected equally by shingles. “I have seen, however, in my practice that women come into the doctor’s office sooner, while men tend to wait,” Tyring said. Shingles patients, both men and women, are often given analgesics along with antiviral medications for treatment. “Antiviral medicines for shingles may help speed up healing and reduce pain in some patients, but if possible, treatment should begin within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms,” according to Tyring.
Although the disease affects the sexes equally, its greater impact on older adults should capture the attention of women.
“Women make up more than 60 percent of population 85 years and older, so any condition that is prone to strike older people is of special concern to women,” said Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, president and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research. “Older Americans should talk to their health care providers about their risk for shingles.”
To raise awareness about shingles and complications that can arise from the disease, the American Pain Foundation is sponsoring a national education program called “Spotlight on Shingles” that features a Web site and a toll-free number that people can call to receive a free informational brochure about shingles. For more information, visit http://www.spotlightonshingles.com/ or call 1-877-RISK-4-SHINGLES to request a free brochure.
###
Written by: Jennifer Wider, M.D.
Society for Women’s Health Research
© January 16, 2007 Society for Women's Health Research
***********************************************************************
Visit http://www.womenshealthresearch.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_newsservice to find more articles on sex differences in women's health.
Sigu up for our e-newsletter now to receive the lastest research and advocacy news on sex differences in women's health.
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 1
As the name implies this virus belongs to the infamous Herpes family. Herpes virus are notorious for staying inactivated within the nerve cells, so your body can never kill them all, and they always stay with you. Nobody really knows what re-activates them, but it is speculated that some of the reasons are trauma, stress, weak immune system, etc.
For people that have post herpetic neuralgia (pain after the blisters have healed), there is a very effective remedy that comes from the active ingredient of hot peppers: Capsaicin. You can purchase Capsaicin cream without a prescription at you local drug store. Make sure that you read and follow the directions carefully.
If you apply too much Capsaicin cream to the affected area you will feel like you are being burned by a hot iron. Though it will not damage your skin, it is not a very pleasant sensation. If this happens to you, just apply ice as needed to sooth the burning sensation.
Apply in very small amounts at the beginning (you will have some burning sensation, that will fade with time) and increase the amount gradually as needed. After using it, wash your hands well so you don't accidentally apply it to your eyes or your mucous membranes. Eventually the pain will go away permanently for most people.
Also, after applying Capsaicin, wait for at least a few hours before taking a hot shower or bath (the hot water will open your pores and allow the Capsaicin to penetrate deeper in your skin and give you that unpleasant burning sensation).