{"id":4835,"date":"2022-11-12T16:49:34","date_gmt":"2022-11-12T21:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlineseniorcenter.com\/?p=4835"},"modified":"2022-11-29T12:16:07","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T17:16:07","slug":"shingles-in-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlineseniorcenter.com\/resources\/shingles-in-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"Shingles and the Senior Adult\u2013Am I At Risk?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever had the childhood disease called chickenpox? If you are over 50, chances are you had it. The good news is most people only get it once, due to your body becoming immune to the virus afterwards, which the actual name is called the varicella-zoster virus. The bad news is that the virus is still with you, it\u2019s just dormant or inactive within your nerve cells since when you were young. And unfortunately, this virus can turn into shingles later in life. According to the CDC<\/a>, about one third of the nation\u2019s population will get shingles, especially those over 60. That\u2019s almost one million seniors! However, there are ways to take care of your health and prevent you or your elderly parents from getting this painful disease. First, let’s talk about what really is shingles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Shingles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shingles is actually a viral infection, which will affect your nerves and can cause a rash that is both unpleasant and very painful to the person dealing with it. For those who had chickenpox, the risk of shingles is even higher. In fact, your chances of getting it increases the older you become. Many scientists and medical professionals still do not understand what causes the shingles virus to become active, especially being dormant for so many years. Some believe it may be connected to a person\u2019s immune system and how it responds to infections.
Nearly all cases of the viral disease are of adults older than 60 years of age. According to the National Institute on Aging<\/a>, the chances are even greater for those who are over 70. Approximately, one in three adults will get shingles as they age. Fortunately, for some, the virus never becomes active throughout the body, and thus, does not develop into shingles. Now, let\u2019s talk about the symptoms or signs that are common to have if you get shingles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common symptoms and signs of Shingles <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several signs and symptoms to look out for if you suspect you have the shingles. Below are just a few common symptoms that people with Shingles may have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n