Sussex Exclusive Magazine. Issue 7

HEALTH
HEALTH
Treating Shingles
where it remains dormant. It reappears in
the form of shingles, only if the immune
system is weakened, or as a result of a more
severe or lengthy illness, extreme stress, or
treatment that has involved suppression
of the immune system. Overall health and
nutrition tend to determine the severity of
illness and length of recovery.
Dietary modification
Whole grains and legumes provide B
vitamins, which are important for nerve
health. Eggs and fish provide vitamins
B12 and B1, which are especially
important in treating shingles. Yellow,
orange and green vegetables - particularly
carrots - and citrus fruits provide vitamins
A and C, which assist in the healing
of skin lesions. Green, leafy vegetables
provide calcium and magnesium,
important for the health of nerve endings
and the transmission of nerve impulses.
Lifestyle modification
Stress and depression do seem to increase
the likelihood of a shingles outbreak.
How a stressful event is perceived
appears to be more significant than the
event itself.
Nutritional supplement
treatment options
Adenosine monophosphate (AMP),
a compound that occurs naturally in
the body, has been found to be effective
against shingles outbreaks. Double-blind
trials have shown that AMP promoted
faster healing and reduced the duration
of pain of the shingles. In addition, it
appeared to prevent the development of
post-herpetic neuralgia.
Vitamin B12 may relieve the symptoms
of post-herpetic neuralgia. Injections are
likely to be more effective, but results
can also be seen with oral supplements.
Vitamin E has also been shown
effective in reducing the symptoms of
postherpetic neuralgia, even in those
who have had the problem for many
years. Vitamin E oil can also be applied
topically to the skin to relieve the pain.
Several months of continuous vitamin
What is Shingles?
Varicella zoster, the virus that causes
shingles, is a herpes virus. Shingles, or
herpes zoster, is an acute infection caused
by reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
Shingles is known for its extreme pain
and long recovery time, although not all
infections are so severe. It typically appears
along the branch of one nerve on one side
of the body – most commonly along the
back and chest or on the face. Initially the
skin is highly sensitive and burns with pain.
Shingles can also begin with general flu-like
symptoms such as aching, chills and fever.
Over the course of several days, the skin
becomes red and very painful to touch.
Water-filled blisters then emerge, which
ultimately open and form crusts as they heal.
In most cases, recovery occurs within
about two or three weeks from the
appearance of the rash, although the
nerve pain can last longer. Scarring is
rare. Nerve pain occasionally lasts for
years, but this is much more likely in the
elderly. Rarely, shingles on the face may
affect the eye and lead to more serious
complications. Shingles is more likely
to occur in people over the age of fifty,
though it can arise at any age.
Causes
The pain of shingles is caused by an
inflammation of the affected nerve that lies
just beneath the skin’s surface. After causing
the childhood illness of chicken pox, the
virus retreats into the nervous system
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHICKENPOX AND SHINGLES
Chickenpox
Shingles
Chickpox can be passed on
New varicella-zoster virus
Itchy rash over body
Milder illness
Affects children more
Shingles can't be passed on
Reactivated chickenpox virus
Painful rash localised
More serious illness
Affects adults more
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