Shingles: What you need to know about causes, symptoms, and prevention.

♫♫♫ Herpes: What You Need to Know Ruth is 67 years old and suffers from severe pain in her neck and shoulder. She has

shingles

. Ruth's

shingles

caused her so much pain that she could not bear to put on her clothes or have the sheets touch her skin. Her shingles

symptoms

lasted for several months. George had it easier. The shingles only made him feel sick for a few days. He felt a little itchy for a while. But he was back to his old self in a few weeks. What is shingles? Shingles is a disease that affects the nerves. It is caused by the same virus as chickenpox.

After recovering from chickenpox, the virus remains in her body. The virus could become active again and cause shingles. About 1 in 3 people will get shingles. Your risk increases as you get older. About half of all shingles cases are in adults 60 years of age or older. Ruth and George experienced some common shingles

symptoms

, such as a rash with fluid-filled blisters on one side of the body. Other symptoms include burning and shooting pain. Tingling, itching, numbness of the skin. Chills, fever, headache and upset stomach. Even when the rash goes away, the pain can remain long-term. For some people, the symptoms of shingles are mild.

They may just be a bit itchy. For others, shingles can cause intense pain that can be felt by the slightest touch or breeze. After the shingles rash clears up, some people may be left with ongoing or long-term pain called postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN. This pain can cause depression, anxiety, insomnia, and weight loss. Talk to your doctor about medicines that can help PHN pain. The chickenpox virus

causes

shingles. If you have had chickenpox, you may develop shingles. Shingles is not contagious. You can't get it from someone. But you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles. To limit the spread, it's important to keep the rash covered.

Do not touch or scratch it. Wash your hands frequently. If you think you might have shingles or notice blisters on your face, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Most cases of shingles last 3 to 5 weeks. Most people get shingles just once, but it is possible to get it more than once. Healthy adults age 50 and older should talk to their health care provider about the shingles vaccine. It's safe and easy. The vaccine is an effective way to prevent shingles and PHN. People age 50 and older should get the shingles vaccine, which is given in two doses. You should try to get the second dose of the vaccine between 2 and 6 months after the first dose.

You can get the shingles vaccine at your doctor's office and at some pharmacies. Most health insurance plans will cover the cost. You should get the shingles vaccine if you have already had chickenpox, the chickenpox vaccine, or don't remember having chickenpox. If you had shingles or received a different shingles vaccine, you should also get vaccinated. You should not get vaccinated if you have had an allergic reaction to the vaccine or if you currently have shingles. If you're sick and have a fever, you usually have to wait until you're well to get vaccinated, so talk to your health care provider before getting vaccinated or if you have other health problems.

Here are some tips on how to deal with shingles. Get plenty of rest, eat well-balanced meals, and try simple exercises like stretching or walking. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine. Avoid stress. It can make the pain worse. Do relaxing things to take your mind off the pain. Read or listen to music. Take an oatmeal bath or use calamine lotion. Share your feelings about your grief with family and friends. Ask for your understanding. For more information on shingles, visit www.nia.nih.gov.