Dr. Brian Adler speaks to WEZV‘s Jim Morgan about shingles and the importance of a shingles vaccination after the age of 60.

Shingles is caused by the virus that causes chicken pox, which most of us carry in our system.

As we get older our immune system weakens, which can reactivate the virus as shingles.  While shingles is not life-threatening, it can be extremely painful.

A shingles vaccine is recommended for adults after 60 years of age.  Speak to your health care provider at South Strand Internists & Urgent Care to make sure you’re a good candidate to receive the vaccine, which is safe for most people who do not have a compromised immune system.

The symptoms of shingles usually only affect one side of the body as the virus follows nerve roots, which is why if often comes around from the middle of your back toward your chest. It can also appear on your face around one eye.
Symptoms include:

• Headache and/or sensitivity to light
• Flu-like symptoms without fever
• Pain, burning, tingling or numbness in an area on your body with irritation and/or redness
• Blistering rash appears, possible itching and oozing
• Extreme aching, burning, stabbing pain with extreme sensitivity to touch

Contact your doctor promptly if you suspect you have shingles.