Chickenpox and Shingles Vaccines

Chickenpox and Shingles Vaccines

The chicken pox/shingles connection DISCLAIMER: The following is not intended as advice on whether or not to receive a chicken pox, shingles, or any other vaccine. The decision to receive a vaccine should be made in consultation with your healthcare practitioner. Chicken pox and shingles are both viral infections caused by varicella zoster Once infected with the virus in childhood (chicken pox) the virus stays dormant in the nerves If conditions are right that is, the immune system weakens - the virus can reactivate and cause shingles About 30% of people will experience a shingles outbreak during their lifetime; risk increases with age

Chicken pox vaccine Since 1995, the vast majority of children in the United States have received a chicken pox vaccine the vaccination rate is at least 90% Did you know? A child living in the United Kingdom does NOT get a chicken pox vaccine except in very special circumstances. Why do Americans vaccinate for chicken pox but the UK does not? In the UK they believe Chicken pox is a very mild disease of childhood If you are not vaccinated, or the vaccine doesn t work, you might not encounter the virus until adulthood, when the consequences of the disease are more serious It is much better to get the virus as a child and acquire natural immunity

What about shingles? Once infected with the virus you won t get chicken pox again, but it is true that you are now at risk for shingles Did You Know? If you get chicken pox as a child and are exposed to the virus AGAIN as an adult (when your children or grandchildren have it, for example) it acts as a natural boost to the immune system and reduces your risk of shingles later. If all children are vaccinated and you never see the virus as an adult, the opportunity for this natural immune boost is lost

Shingles Vaccine No doubt about it, shingles can be very painful For some people, the nerve pain continues for weeks after the rash disappears Did you know? The shingles vaccine is about 50% effective It can be expensive about $200 in many cases, depending on your insurance coverage Effectiveness wears off over time While you consider if you want the vaccine or not, here are some other things to think about

Keep Your Garden Beautiful If your body is a beautiful garden, a virus is a weed Keep your garden healthy by keeping out the weeds! If your immune system is strong it can fight off viruses the shingle virus reactivates when the immune system is weak Are you living to eat, or eating to live? Manage your stress burning the candle at both ends weakens your entire body Get enough sleep Exercise your body Don t smoke Consider carefully the use of prescription drugs that can weaken your immune system

Quick News Headline New Test for Heart Disease

FDA Approves PLAC Blood Test The PLAC blood test measures the activity of an enzyme called Lp-PLA2, a marker of vascular inflammation Other markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein, can become elevated due to factors OTHER THAN heart disease (for example, diabetes) Unlike CRP, the Lp-PLA2 marker is very specific and tied to one thing oxidized LDL cholesterol and atherosclerotic plaque that is about to rupture The higher the level of the Lp-PLA2 enzyme, the greater the risk of heart attack/stroke When a plaque deposit ruptures, it releases clumps of debris that clog the artery and can lead to a heart attack or stroke Remember: total cholesterol levels are not important. Controlling inflammation and preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol are what is going to prevent a heart attack!

Quick News Headline (2 slides) Hot Flashes

Chronic Hot Flashes A 17-year review of 1,449 women (said to be the largest such study to date) found that hot flashes can last up to 14 years for some women The women who had long-term hot flashes Were younger than average when they experienced their first hot flash Smoked Reported high levels of stress Had greater rates of anxiety and depression 80% of women will experience hot flashes and night sweats during menopause This new study confirms that these effects can last MUCH longer than generally thought

Stopping Hot Flashes Hormone replacement therapy is the conventional treatment for hot flashes A recent study found that even short term use of HRT increases risk of ovarian cancer by 40% Stop hot flashes without the risk of adverse effects with black cohosh High dose isn t necessary studies have found 13 mg daily effectively relieves hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause: Those with mild or moderate symptoms saw their symptom severity decrease by 17.8 points. (The placebo group saw an increase by as much as 12.2 points.) Those with severe symptoms saw a decrease of 20.9 points in the symptom severity score Overall, the total reduction in symptom severity was 69% for the 13 mg black cohosh group and 7% for the placebo group.