Tag Archive for: postherpetic neuralgia

Should You Get the Shingles Vaccination?

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I think everyone over 60 should get the shingles vaccination, and the older you are, the more important it is. You’re going to get a lot of opinions on this one, so here’s how I arrived at this recommendation.

Remember, one out of three or 33% of those over 60 will get shingles. The shingles vaccine is effective only 51% of the time. If the vaccine is effective half the time, that lowers your chances by half so your odds are only about 17% that you’ll get shingles. But that isn’t the reason I would recommend it.

The reason is because of the postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) that some people develop. Shingles is bad but PHN is worse; I’ve heard excruciating stories from people, mostly due to the region that was affected. You cannot predict where it will occur and the rash and pain is debilitating. Here’s the important point: the shingles vaccination will lower the risk of getting PHN by 67%. That lowers the risk of getting PHN to less than 10%. Those are odds I like.

It’s not known what increases your risk of shingles. The best predictor is family history: if your parents or siblings have had shingles, the probability is greater that you’ll get it. And that makes the vaccination an even better bet.

I have no family history of shingles, but I got the shingles vaccine about a year ago. I’m neither an advocate for nor against vaccinations. I look at the science and determine the odds; I don’t always get the flu vaccine. In this case, because I intend to live a long time and the odds of getting shingles increases with age, I decided it was the right decision. Yes, it’s an expensive vaccination, but check your coverage; Paula just discovered she can get it for about half price through her prescription plan and with her sensitive redhead skin, she’s not taking any chances.

It’s your body. Only you can decide what’s right for you. For more information, check out the link below.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet

 

Reference: http://bit.ly/2sNdd1r

 

What Causes Shingles?

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“What’s your opinion on getting the shingles vaccination? It’s expensive and my insurance doesn’t cover it. Is it worth it?”

A little background first. Shingles is a viral infection. One million people will get shingles this year, and one out of three people 60 and older will get shingles in their lifetime. It’s caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox; if you’ve had chicken pox, you’ve still got the virus lying dormant in your body. It hides in your nerve cells until for some unknown reason, it begins to multiply and cause the pain and blisters of shingles.

The virus manifests itself with burning and pain, even before a rash breaks out. Generally speaking, it lasts two to three weeks and goes away by itself. While it’s inconvenient, it’s not life threatening; itching and burning can be treated. However, what is much more serious is when shingles turns into postherpetic neuralgia. The pain and inflammation can last for weeks, even months, and sometimes years. It can be debilitating. We don’t know what makes some cases serious while others clear up on their own.

That brings us back to the vaccination—and I’ll cover that on Saturday.

What are you prepared to do today?

Dr. Chet
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/index.html