Over 50? You’re at increased risk for shingles A few years ago, a Harris Interactive-spon-sored poll found that Americans consider 50 to be the “perfect age” to live forever in good health. For many, the half century mark can be a time when experience and opportunity balance perfectly - as told by the saying “50 is the new 30.” At 50, there may be more time to spend on your hobbies or other activities that interest you. At 50, the last thing anyone would want is to be blindsided by illness. Yet risks of cer-tain medical conditions increase with age. For example, shingles is a condition caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox - a virus that 98 percent of adults have had ac-cording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention (CDC). Even after recovery from chickenpox, the virus never leaves the body. At some point later in life, it can unexpectedly reactivate and emerge as shingles - a painful blistering rash that can last for 30 days. When Edwin DePeiza discovered he had shingles, he learned the meaning of the ad-age: “You don’t miss something until it’s gone.” DePeiza, who is in his 60s and resides in Massachusetts, first noticed a burning sensation on his torso. By the time he saw his doctor, a rash had developed. Upon see-ing 26 BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM BROOKLYN’S TOP DOCTORS the rash, his doctor quickly diagnosed it as shingles. DePeiza, a passionate guitar player, witnessed how shingles can inter-rupt the moments that matter in life. His guitar playing had taken him all over the world, but the intense pain of shin-gles forced him to put his passion on hold. According to the CDC, one in three peo-ple will get shingles in their lifetime, and every year, about one mil-lion cases are diagnosed in the United States. Adults aged 50 and older are especially at risk for shingles, as the risk increases with age due to naturally declining immune sys-tems. There is no way to tell who will get shingles, nor how severe the case will be. Shingles most commonly surfaces on a single side of the torso, but it can appear anywhere on the body - even the face. For most people, after the shingles rash and blis-ters heal, the pain and itch subside - though some people may experience permanent scarring even after the rash heals. In some cases, shingles can cause compli-cations like postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a long-term nerve pain that can last for months or even years after the blisters heal and the rash disappears. Speaking with a healthcare professional to understand one’s personal risk for shin-gles is important. Learn more about Edwin’s shingles experience, and talk to your doctor or pharmacist about a vaccine that can help prevent shingles. For more information go to www.ShinglesInfo.com. (BPT) We care about your health, not your immigration status. We respect the privacy of all patients, regardless of immigration status. We want you to get the care you need today, before you get sick, and before it becomes an emergency. All New Yorkers should seek care without fear. #NYCHealth4All
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