The same virus that causes chickenpox causes shingles. The varicella-zoster virus can lay dormant in your system for years, then reactivate as a painful rash, appearing most often as a band of blisters that wrap from your middle back to one side of your chest to your breastbone. Shingles belongs to a group of viruses that also cause genital herpes and cold sores, and is more common in older adults and people with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms
Shingles usually affect only one side of your body and include symptoms such as pain, burning, tingling or numbness; a red rash beginning a few days after the pain; itching; and blisters filled with fluid that break open and crust over, according to MayoClinic.com. Some people also experience chills and fever, achiness throughout the body, fatigue and headache. Pain is usually the first symptom, and until the rash occurs, can be mistaken for other problems. Some people never develop the rash.
Exercise
Many people cannot entertain the idea of exercising with shingles because the pain is too intense. Because cool baths and cool, wet compresses may help with pain and itching, the heat and perspiration from aerobic exercise could aggravate those conditions. On the other hand, gentle stress-relieving exercises like yoga and tai chi could help, according to MayoClinic.com. In general, exercise helps the immune system, so exercises such as gentle walking could assist as well.
Immunity
A study reported in the April 2007 issue of the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society" found that older people who participated in tai chi had a better immune response against the shingles virus than those who did not. Healthy adults from 59 to 86 years old either took tai chi classes three times a week for three months or attended health education classes. Both groups were vaccinated with a chickenpox vaccine. After six months, the tai chi group had almost twice the level of immunity against shingles than the group receiving only education.
Prevention
An estimated 1 million Americans suffer from shingles each year, and the condition commonly occurs in those age 50 or older. This could be due to lowered immunity, which occurs with aging. Nutritionally, you could add plenty of antioxidants to your diet to scavenge free radicals, which occur more with the aging process. Eat less saturated fat and high-fat dairy products and more fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Add fiber and drink plenty of water. Engage in a program of brisk walking of from 20 to 30 minutes five days per week to maintain a healthy immune response. Use guided imagery, yoga and tai chi to reduce stress.
