Shingles - no need to suffer!

Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the chicken pox virus. A person who has had chicken pox, usually as a child, retains the virus which comes out from a dormant stage at the end of a nerve root. This occurs more commonly after the age of 50 and can cause pain, irritation, numbness and a rash. It occurs on one side of the body and, when involving the face, can cause serious eye complications.

It is only contagious to persons who have never had chicken pox and cannot be transmitted as shingles per se. The condition often presents initially as pain in one side of the body and is difficult to diagnose at this stage, but is often suggestive. Once the rash occurs, the diagnosis can be confirmed and at this stage, it's important for you to see a doctor immediately because effective treatment in the form of antiviral medication is now available. The drugs are most effective if taken as soon as possible following the outset of the rash, and are provided by most provincial government plans if this criterion is met.

Treatment may not only lessen the signs and symptoms of the acute phase, they may also minimize the duration of "post-herpetic" neuralgia, if it develops. This is the debilitating continued pain from which elderly persons in particular may suffer for months or years after the rash has gone.

Shingles is no longer a condition considered to be untreatable. If you suffer the signs and symptoms of possible shingles, seek attention early. You never know what you may be missing!

Hormone Replacement Therapy Hazards

A recent study in the United Kingdom involving over 1 Million women who used progestagen-estrogen or estrogen only Hormone Replacement Therapy determined that as many as 22% faced an increased risk of death from Breast and Ovarian Cancers compared to women who never used hormones.

It was also concluded that the women studied were more likely to develop symptoms of dementia and even increased risks of Alzheimer's disease. Ironically, many women were taking the therapy to prevent the development Alzheimer's disease as well as post menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis.

Research has also found an increased incidence of strokes, heart attacks and blood clots in women utilizing HRT.

Source: The Lancet

Get your flu shot!

Each year, influenza kills 36,000 Americans and between 250,000 and 500,000 people worldwide. A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that flu shots reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalization by up to 32 per cent, and the risk of death from any cause by 50 per cent.

Source: The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50