Shingles – Painful and Preventable

MediNurse, now in its fourth decade as the premier provider of private duty nursing in St. Louis, reminds the public that shingles is a condition that you do not want to have! About 1 million Americans get shingles every year, caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox.

Shingles produces shooting pain, rash, headache, chills and upset stomach. Some people who get shingles have long-lasting nerve damage, leading to severe pain for weeks, months or years after the rash has cleared.

Even if you had chickenpox as a child, the virus can remain in your body for many years and later return as shingles. Shingles can develop at any time, though the risk increases with age. About half of the people who get shingles are 60 or older. People with weakened immune systems due to chemotherapy or with conditions like HIV are also more likely to get shingles.

The shingles vaccination is recommended for people 60 and older, and approved for people as young as 50. If you believe you never had chicken pox, you should still talk to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine. Studies show that 99 percent of Americans over 40 have had chicken pox.

Unlike chicken pox, you can get shingles more than once. Getting vaccinated will lower your chances of getting it again. The vaccine cuts the chance of getting shingles by 51 percent, and reduces the risk of shingles-related nerve damage by 67 percent. If, per chance, you get shingles after being vaccinated, the vaccine could help prevent the most serious complications.

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.