You Cannot Get Shingles From Someone With Chickenpox
You cannot get shingles from someone with shingles or chickenpox.
But you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles if you have not had chickenpox before.
When people get chickenpox, the virus remains in the body. It can be reactivated later and cause shingles if someones immune system is lowered.
This can be because of stress, certain conditions, or treatments like chemotherapy.
Foods That Help Heal Shingles Virus
In the medical world, shingles seems like an open-and-shut case. Youve got a patient with the textbook rash, nerve pain on the side or back, and thats all, folks. The truth is that the shingles virus is responsible for millions of peoples mystery symptoms, from rashes that confound dermatologists to neurological symptoms like twitching, tingling, burning, spasms, chronic migraines, headaches, and much more. Varieties of shingles are responsible for Bells palsy, frozen shoulder, diabetic nerve pain, colitis, vaginal burning, burning in other areas, TMJ, Lyme disease, sciatic pain, and even misdiagnosed MS.
What doctors dont yet know is that there isnt merely one type of shingles virus, but over 30 varieties. This matters because different types of shingles cause different symptoms. It also matters because medical communities dont even recognize the majority of shingles cases as being the result of a virus. For example, any of the more aggressive varieties of shingles can cause Lyme disease symptoms yet doctors currently believe Lyme disease is caused by bacteria.
To understand how shingles works in the body, the different types of shingles viruses, and how to heal, check out the chapter on this virus also in Medical Medium.
Green beans contain anti-inflammatory chlorophyll-based compounds that are beneficial for any symptom or condition caused by shingles.
Learn more about how to heal from the New York Times bestselling book Cleanse To Heal.
Tips For Managing Shingles
Helping Herpes zoster patients feel more comfortable
Prompt treatment of Herpes zoster with antiviral and pain medications within 72 hours of the rashs onset can help shorten its duration and reduce complications. But what can patients do to deal with the burning, tingling, numbness, and itching that accompany the rash? Here are a few ideas pharmacists can share with them.
1. Relieve Physical Symptoms
A healing oatmeal bath using cool water, or the application of cool compresses or ice packs, can help calm the itch. Allow the skin to air dry before covering the blisters with a light application of calamine or unscented lotion.
Tell patients not to open the blisters, which can cause permanent scarring. They should cover the rash with nonstick sterile bandages. Alternatively, the patient can wear loose-fitting, natural fiber clothing to allow the skin to breathe.
San Francisco board-certified dermatologist Marie Jhin, MD prescribes gabapentin for nerve pain. If its really painful, we give oral steroids or even a shot of steroids. A lidocaine or capsaicin patch can also help, she says.
2. Reduce Stress
Physical and emotional stress can weaken the immune system and act as a trigger for shingles. Stress can also cause a patient to feel the physical symptoms more intensely and suppress the immune system, delaying recovery and leading to serious complications like postherpetic neuralgia.
3. Improve Diet
4. Get Vaccinated
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Preventing The Virus Spreading
If you have the shingles rash, do not share towels or flannels, go swimming, or play contact sports. This will help prevent the virus being passed on to someone who has not had chickenpox.
You should also avoid work or school if your rash is weeping and cannot be covered.
Chickenpox can be particularly dangerous for certain groups of people. If you have shingles, avoid:
- women who are pregnant and have not had chickenpox before as they could catch it from you, which may harm their unborn baby
- people who have a weak immune system, such as someone with HIV or AIDS
- babies less than one month old, unless it is your own baby, in which case your baby should have antibodies to protect them from the virus
Once your blisters have dried and scabbed over, you are no longer contagious and will not need to avoid anyone.
Best Foods To Take When Dealing With Shingles
Some of the foods that can help you deal with Shingles include:
Garlic: It has antiinflammatory and antiviral properties, which makes it an excellent food to consume for shingles. The best way to use them is to take a couple of cloves of garlic and swallow them with water every morning. This may give you bad breath but ultimately its effect may help in healing Shingles.
Another way to use garlic is by making a garlic paste with crushed garlic mixed with water or coconut oil. Apply this paste directly on the affected areas for better relief of Shingles.
Fish: This is yet another food that can be of benefit when dealing with Shingles. Fish contain in them lysine, which is extremely useful in preventing the spread of the shingles virus. Another source of lysine is roasted chicken which can also be eaten for treatment of Shingles.
Whole Grains: The whole grains can be extremely beneficial in managing the symptoms of Shingles. They provide the body with abundant fiber and vitamins, which help in aiding the normal functioning of the digestive system. Some of the foods that can be taken are cereals, pastas, bread, rice, and oatmeal.
It should be noted here that diabetics need to be aware that white rice and bread can increase the insulin levels and thus need to be careful while using whole grains for treatment of Shingles.
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Reason #: There Is Another Time When Its Best For Virtually Everyone To Steer Clear Of Nuts And Seeds
When you have a viral infection of any kind, take special care as seeds and nuts contain high levels of the amino acid arginine. Unfortunately, they dont contain much lysine, the amino acid thats been shown to help fight herpes and other viral infections.
In fact, excess arginine actually blocks the effects of lysine and can create a lysine deficiency. And while research has been conflicting, some studies show that arginine may even encourage attacks of herpes-like viruses.5,6
Basically, a diet with too much arginine enhances the growth of both acute and low-grade, chronic viral infections. This means the seasonal flu, COVID-19, and certainly bouts of chickenpox, shingles, Epstein Barr , or even just a common cold sore !
So, when you feel a virus coming on, or you suspect youre harboring low-grade, chronic viral infections, be sure to avoid arginine-containing nuts and seeds.
What Are Risk Factors For Shingles
A weakened immune system might wake up the virus. After youâve had chickenpox, youâre more likely to get shingles if you:
- Are 50 or older
- Are under a lot of stress
- Have cancer, HIV, or another disease that lowers your bodyâs defenses
- Have had a serious physical injury
- Take long-term steroids or other medicines that can weaken your immune system
But many people who get shingles donât fit into any of these categories.
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Creamed Chipped Beef On Toast
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast Also known fondly as Shit on a Shingle, this Creamed Chipped Beef recipe is a classic breakfast staple that is simple to make and oh-so-satisfying to enjoy.
Theres no better way to start the day than with a good breakfast.
Some mornings you want something light and healthy, like a smoothie, to get going. Other days you need a rich breakfast meal that really sticks to your ribs, as my mom would say. Something served hot thats heavy, meaty, salty, and truly scrumptious.
We are big fans of biscuits and gravy, but its a yummy combination that can take quite a bit of time and effort to make. This Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast recipe has a similar rich and satisfying taste, but takes only a few minutes to whip up for a quick breakfast.
Youve probably had this dish before, sometimes called Shit on a Shingle or simply SOS. It has been a staple for generations as a cheap, simple, and hearty go-to breakfast And, despite the nickname, should definitely be in your regular rotation of breakfast and brunch recipes!
How Is Shingles Diagnosed
The clinical appearance of shingles, with characteristic painful blisters localized to the region of a specific nerve on one side of the body, is usually sufficient to establish the diagnosis. No diagnostic tests are typically required. However, particularly in people with impaired immune function, shingles may sometimes not display the characteristic clinical pattern. In these cases, samples from the affected area may be tested in a laboratory, either by culturing the tissue or blister drainage for growth of the virus or by identifying the genetic material of the virus.
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Avoid Intense Or Irritating Movement
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, shingles rashes most often appear on the trunk of the body, which includes your:
Shingles rashes can also occur on the:
With that in mind, its best to avoid activities that require you to lay on these areas, like exercising on the floor or a workout bench. For instance, if youre doing gentle yoga, skip any poses that have you lying in the prone or supine position, where your belly or back are touching the floor, respectively.
Additionally, intense cardiovascular exercise like running or cycling may irritate a shingles rash, especially in the early stages.
As you heal, consider switching to lower-intensity workouts like walking until the blisters dry up and crust over. According to the National Institute on Aging , this generally takes around 7 to 10 days after a rash appears.
If possible, hold off on high intensity exercise until the scabs are completely cleared up, which may take 2 to 5 weeks.
Is Coffee Ok To Drink With Shingles
Skip coffee.
I know I know, some of us are coffee addicts! Avoid stimulants which can exacerbate stress while having shingles. One common symptom in shingles sufferers is that they have high-stress levels. Avoid coffee and make sure you are doing self-care to allow your mind and body to relax!
If you need a hot drink in the mornings, consider herbal tea or warm water with lemon.
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What Is The Best Treatment For Shingles
The condition of shingles can be suppressed by the use of medications that can control infection, inflammation, pain and improve the healing process. Medical professionals are generally prescribing antiviral drugs like Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir within the third day of the first occurrence of symptoms.
Other medications such as painkillers , antihistaminic, numbing medicine and tricyclic antidepressant agents are also given to patients suffering from shingles.
To avoid itchy skin reaction, doctors are prescribing calamine lotion to soothe these skin conditions. For severe pain during this condition, capsaicin topical patch, codeine like narcotics, gabapentin like anticonvulsants, injections of corticosteroids and local anesthetics are also advised to people.
Heal Your Inner Ecosystem To Support Your Immunity
A diet that builds the immune system and doesnt feed a virus is essential. Our highly effective Antiviral Protocol is ideal for times when you suspect a viral exposure or when you feel an outbreak coming on.
On a daily basis, the Body Ecology Way of Living provides a great way to strengthen your body against viral and fungal infections by cultivating a robust and balanced inner ecosystem of beneficial microbes.
With a focus on adding specificfermented foods and drinks, following the Body Ecology program populates your intestines with probiotics that help aid digestion, increase nutrient absorption, and improve your immunity making you less susceptible to infections of all kinds.
Obtain your protein from these sources:
Alkalizing is key:
- As soon as you feel the slightest sign of a potential viral outbreak, stop everything you are doing. Sit down, put up your feet, and slowly sip on a 12-ounce glass of water with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar added to it. If its too sour for you, then add a few drops of BE Sweet to taste.
- Eat mostly veggies, especially raw because raw is cooling. Use them to make smoothies. But avoid sweet veggies like baked sweet potato.
- Eat alkalizing, fermented vegetables and homemade pickles. And, please, dont throw away the juice they are fermenting in. That fermented juice is excellent for you, as are our probiotic liquids: InnergyBiotic and CocoBiotic.
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The Most Important Tip For Shingles
I know that this is a lot of information so give yourself time to take it all in. Perhaps, more importantly take this one piece of advice: RELAX. Shingles is usually brought on by stress in your life. While I didnt think I had a lot of stress , when I listed everything on my plate its easy to see how my body was overburdened.
The biggest lesson learned through this process is how important it is to really, truly support your body. People often mentioned how lucky I was to be able to have a job that works from home, but when youre sick its easy to just reach for your phone in bed or work on a project while recovering on the couch. The boundaries are less clear. Though I did the bare minimum I needed to do, I mostly took a lot of time to rest, nap, journal, watch TV and essentially do nothing.
I would have loved to have gone on walks or been outside but the pain of the wind on my face made it impossible. I was upset over this but C reminded me that compassion is a big part of the recovery process. So even though I felt stir crazy, I also knew that going outside actually created more stress in my life. Acknowledging those stressors and putting in plans of action to eliminate or diffuse them is the key to getting over shingles.
* * * * *
Overall I can tell Im drastically improved from where I was and also have learned one of lifes most important lessons: STRESS IS REAL and it can manifest physically, so dont ignore it!
What Are The Very First Signs Of Shingles
Shingles is a painful infection of the skin and underlying nerves normally caused by a virus, varicella-zoster, and also known as Herpes Zoster. The sensations of pain along with numbness, itching, tingling, and burning are considered as the first signs of shingles. Once a person gets infected with this virus, skin rashes can be observed over the skin of faces, eyes, mouths, and ears within one to five days of time period of pain.
Skin rashes may get converted into fluid-filled blisters and look like chickenpox. People may experience symptoms like fever, chills, feeling of tiredness, pain in muscles, headaches which are the same as a flu infection. If this disease occurs near the eyes then it can show symptoms like pain, redness, swelling, and sensitivity to light because of damage to the optic nerve.
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Natural Remedies For Shingles
Researchers believe that imbalances in natural amino acids contribute to the prolonged reaction time many have to the virus.
Two amino acids that seem important that are found in the human body but also in foods we eat are L-arginine and L-lysine. Studies show that if you have a greater level of arginine in the body, the herpes zoster virus will thrive. Arginine is found in nuts, tomatoes, and chocolate. On the other hand, lysine is a potent inhibitor of arginine. It is found in protein-based foods, dairy, and most vegetables. We also found writing on vitamin C being essential and oral doses of Colloidal Silver being helpful as well.
Heres a list that shows other foods with both amino acids in them.
Why Does Shingles Appear Mostly On One Side Or In One Area Of The Body
The virus travels in specific nerves, so you will often see shingles occur in a band on one side of the body. This band corresponds to the area where the nerve transmits signals. The shingles rash stays somewhat localized to an area it does not spread over your whole body. The torso is a common area, as is the face.
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Foods To Avoid When You Have A Shellfish Allergy
If youre allergic to shellfish, you need to avoid all shellfish or risk a potentially severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis. This may seem like a simple taskit means you must steer clear of obvious shellfish like lobster, shrimp, and clams.
But there are actually many other types of shellfish, some of which you might not immediately recognize as shellfish. For example, you might not realize that sea urchins and octopus are shellfish. As a person with a shellfish allergy, you have to avoid all of them.
Shellfish are not the same type of creatures as fish. People with a shellfish allergy may be able to eat fish with no problem, and people with fish allergy may be able to consume shellfish.
But to protect yourself, you need to know exactly what types of sea creatures qualify as shellfish, and where theyre typically found in meals, both in restaurants and at home. Read on for a comprehensive guide to shellfish.
When To Seek Medical Advice
Shingles is not usually serious, but you should see your GP as soon as possible if you recognise the symptoms. Early treatment may help reduce the severity of your symptoms and the risk of developing complications.
You should also see your GP if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system and you think you have been exposed to someone with chickenpox or shingles and haven’t had chickenpox before.
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