Pat ElliottExpertHERWriterGuideBlogger(reply to Anonymous)
Hi Anon - Thanks for writing. If you weren't stressed during the holidays, you probably are now. I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with shingles, which occurs in people who already had chickenpox. Shingles is a reactivation of the dormant varicella zoster virus. After causing the initial chickenpox infection, the virus does not leave the body. Instead, it settles in the nerve roots near the spinal cord. Once reactivated, the virus travels along the nerve paths to the skin. There it causes pain and a rash.
While stress is one of the risk factors listed for shingles, it's not necessarily the cause. Most cases occur in those with no known risk factor other than age. While shingles can't be cured, it can be treated, and I hope your doctor is working with you to help you best manage your condition.
Take good care,
Pat
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Hi Anon - Thanks for writing. If you weren't stressed during the holidays, you probably are now. I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with shingles, which occurs in people who already had chickenpox. Shingles is a reactivation of the dormant varicella zoster virus. After causing the initial chickenpox infection, the virus does not leave the body. Instead, it settles in the nerve roots near the spinal cord. Once reactivated, the virus travels along the nerve paths to the skin. There it causes pain and a rash.
While stress is one of the risk factors listed for shingles, it's not necessarily the cause. Most cases occur in those with no known risk factor other than age. While shingles can't be cured, it can be treated, and I hope your doctor is working with you to help you best manage your condition.
January 11, 2010 - 5:14pmTake good care,
Pat
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