What Causes Shingles?
Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella - zoster virus (chicken pox).
Many individuals who contract the infection wonder what causes shingles, what the cures are, and how long it will last.
Depending on the way in which you contract it, there may be different forms of treatment.
For those who have had chicken pox, the virus lies and remains inactive in the body's nerve roots; the roots remain inactive, until in some individuals, they flare up again, which is what is considered to be the onset of the shingles virus.
When this does occur, and when the virus becomes active in the body again, the result is shingles, as opposed to getting chicken pox again.
For individuals who want to learn what causes shingles, you will also learn that even if you have had only a mild case of chicken pox, you can get shingles if the virus activates itself in the body again.
Individuals who have a weaker immune system are far more likely to contract shingles than individuals who have a stronger immune system, and take the proper preventive measures to ensure the virus does not flare up at a later date in their lives.
The main cause of the shingles virus is a weak immune system, which will in turn lead to the flaring up, and the virus becoming active.
Some things that will lead to (or are the cause of) a weaker immune system includes: - recent surgeries (generally anything within the last 6 months to 1 year) - being age 50 or older (regardless of how healthy you are or how much you take care of yourself) - certain medications (things like chemo which is used to kill cancer, or medications which are used to reduce tumors) - serious illnesses (cancer, AIDS, HIV, or other viruses and illnesses which directly trigger the immune system) - radiation therapy - poor diet and nutrition, stress, injuries, chronic diseases - organ transplant Regardless of which of these (or any other factors that lead to a weakened immune system), these things are likely to leave the body open to the reactivation, and to the possibility that the individual may contract the shingles virus.
Knowing what causes shingles and how to protect yourself, are some things that individuals who are older (50 or older), and have had the chicken pox virus, should consider, in order to ensure they do not contract the shingles virus.
Although there are not many medications or specific methods of preventing it from occurring, making sure you lead a healthy lifestyle, and try to ensure you take preventive measures to slowing down the weakening of the immune system, are some things to consider if you want to prevent shingles.
Many individuals who contract the infection wonder what causes shingles, what the cures are, and how long it will last.
Depending on the way in which you contract it, there may be different forms of treatment.
For those who have had chicken pox, the virus lies and remains inactive in the body's nerve roots; the roots remain inactive, until in some individuals, they flare up again, which is what is considered to be the onset of the shingles virus.
When this does occur, and when the virus becomes active in the body again, the result is shingles, as opposed to getting chicken pox again.
For individuals who want to learn what causes shingles, you will also learn that even if you have had only a mild case of chicken pox, you can get shingles if the virus activates itself in the body again.
Individuals who have a weaker immune system are far more likely to contract shingles than individuals who have a stronger immune system, and take the proper preventive measures to ensure the virus does not flare up at a later date in their lives.
The main cause of the shingles virus is a weak immune system, which will in turn lead to the flaring up, and the virus becoming active.
Some things that will lead to (or are the cause of) a weaker immune system includes: - recent surgeries (generally anything within the last 6 months to 1 year) - being age 50 or older (regardless of how healthy you are or how much you take care of yourself) - certain medications (things like chemo which is used to kill cancer, or medications which are used to reduce tumors) - serious illnesses (cancer, AIDS, HIV, or other viruses and illnesses which directly trigger the immune system) - radiation therapy - poor diet and nutrition, stress, injuries, chronic diseases - organ transplant Regardless of which of these (or any other factors that lead to a weakened immune system), these things are likely to leave the body open to the reactivation, and to the possibility that the individual may contract the shingles virus.
Knowing what causes shingles and how to protect yourself, are some things that individuals who are older (50 or older), and have had the chicken pox virus, should consider, in order to ensure they do not contract the shingles virus.
Although there are not many medications or specific methods of preventing it from occurring, making sure you lead a healthy lifestyle, and try to ensure you take preventive measures to slowing down the weakening of the immune system, are some things to consider if you want to prevent shingles.
